Justin Love

Justin Love (November 6, 1978 – June 23, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach.

College career

A native of San Francisco, Love attended Sacred Heart Cathedral High School. He played collegiately at Cañada Junior College and Saint Louis University, leading the latter team to an NCAA Division I appearance and receiving a Conference USA First Team selection and Tournament MVP award in 2000. For his contributions to the university's basketball program, Love was inducted into the Saint Louis's hall of fame in 2009.[1]

Professional career

After graduation, Love went undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft, making him an unrestricted free agent. After participating in the Phoenix Suns' training camp, Love signed a multi-year agreement with the team on August 1st. On October 25th, the Suns decided to waive him.[2] Love went on to play for the Kansas City Knights, a newly-founded team which competed in the American Basketball Association's inaugural season.

In February 2001, he accepted BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque's offer to play in the LNB Pro A league, but was released a month later due to difficulties in European basketball adaptation. He returned to St. Louis, briefly starring in the local St. Louis SkyHawks of the USBL before moving to China.

In 2002, Love signed with Beijing Olympians and played two seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), locking in an Asia-Basket All-CBA Imports 2nd Team selection in 2004. After briefly returning with St. Louis SkyHawks, he moved to Latvia, signing with BK Ventspils. Over the next four seasons, he would carve out a solid leadership role within his teams, consistently posting double digit scoring averages and maintaining a high three-point shooting percentage (40%). Despite his 1.88m (6ft 2in) stature, his remarkable rebounding skills yielded nearly a rebound every seven minutes of playing time in the ULEB Cup.

He spent the last six years of his professional career in Ukraine, signing with MBC Mykolaiv for two seasons in 2009 and then with BC Odessa for another four seasons. He continued to show impressive consistency, even with age, averaging double figures in scoring, solid outside shooting percentages and rebounding averages until his last season (2014-15).

Coaching career

Two years after his retirement, Love became Mascoutah High School boys' basketball head coach. In his three-year stint with the Indians, he coached the team to a 55-42 record, winning the IHSA Class 3A regional championship in 2019, and was subsequently named the Illinois Basketball Association's boys Coach of the Year.

Personal life

On June 23, 2020, Love was found unresponsive on the grounds of Mascoutah High School. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.[1] Love was married to his wife, Katy Walter, for 14 years before his death, together they had three kids.

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References
  1. "Former Sacred Heart Cathedral basketball standout dies at 41". Jun 24, 2020. Retrieved Jun 25, 2020.
  2. "Justin Love Player Profile, Saint Louis, NCAA Stats, International Stats, Game Logs, Awards - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved Jun 25, 2020.
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