Former Michigan basketball player Darius Moore passes away

It’s a sad day for the Michigan basketball community as Darius Morris, a former standout for the Wolverines under head coach John Beilein, has passed away according to a report from Shams Charania of ESPN.

Four-year NBA veteran Darius Morris has passed away at the age of 33. Morris played for the Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Grizzlies and Nets from 2011-2015.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 4, 2024

Morris played two seasons for Michigan basketball and averaged 9.9 points during his two-year career with the Wolverines. However, Morris is best known for the 2010-2011 season.

During that campaign, he averaged 15 points and 6.7 assists per game. He was incredibly dynamic getting to the bucket and was a tremendous finisher.

Morris helped Michigan basketball to a 21-win season, as well as a win over Tennessee in the NCAA tournament. Michigan came up two points short of upsetting Duke in the NCAA tournament.

Following that season, Morris was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft 34th overall by the Lakers. He went on to play four seasons in the NBA spending time with the Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Grizzlies, and Nets.

Former Michigan basketball head coach John Beilein reacted to the death of Morris with a post on social media.

Saddened to hear about the passing of former Wolverine Darius Morris. In 2010-11 Darius was our starting pt gd . He was a leader in that program changing 21 win season that laid the foundation for Michigan’s next decade of success.
RIP DMo and condolences to the Morris family.

— John Beilein (@JohnBeilein) May 4, 2024

“Saddened to hear about the passing of former Wolverine Darius Morris,” Beilein wrote in a post on X. “In 2010-11 Darius was our starting point guard. He was a leader in that program-changing 21-win season that laid the foundation for Michigan’s next decade of success. RIP DMo and condolences to the Morris family.”

RIP to Darius Morris.

He was really one of the foundational pieces under John Beilein's Michigan program. His 2010-11 season was special. https://t.co/fJ5OiaVjB8 https://t.co/U6t3aXtOV2

— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) May 4, 2024

Dylan Burkhardt of UMHoops, who has covered the program as well as anyone since the Beilein era, also wrote in a post on X about the importance of Morris to Michigan basketball.

“RIP to Darius Morris. He was really one of the foundational pieces under John Beilein’s Michigan program. His 2010-11 season was special.”

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