Former New York Knicks first-round pick dies at age 55

New York Knick short Jerrod Mustaf has died at age 55, according to longtime NBA writer Brandon Robinson.

Mustaf played one season with the Knicks after the team selected him with the 17th pick of the 1990 NBA Draft out of Maryland. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 62 appearances before being sent to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Xavier McDaniel deal.

Mustaf originally made a name for himself in Maryland basketball: Before playing for the Terrapins, he played at DeMatha Catholic. He later spent three seasons as a reserve with the Suns and played a supporting role in the team's run to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

Mustaf's NBA career ended after he was designated as “lead investigator” in the 1993 murder of his girlfriend Althea Hayes, who was pregnant at the time of her death. His cousin Lavonnie Wooten was eventually convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison in 1996. Hayes' family filed a civil manslaughter lawsuit against Mustaf, but the two parties settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

SI's Jon Wertheim profiled Mustaf's story in 2019.

After leaving the league following the case, Mustaf continued his professional career abroad, playing in Greece, Andorra, Spain, France and Turkey. In the 2000s, he returned to Maryland and served as CEO and president of the Street Basketball Association, a short-lived “baskettainment” league. Mustaf later led Take Charge, a “collaborative, community-based 501c3 nonprofit organization specializing in preteen and teen behavioral health, youth development and family strengthening programs” founded by his father, Shaar.

Mustaf is survived by his son Jaeden, who is currently on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball squad.

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