Former Mansfield, Louisiana High School, NBA Star Dies

According to The (Shreveport) Times, former Mansfield, Louisiana high school, college and NBA star Orlando Woolridge has died at age 52.

"The Big O" as he was known, Woolridge, according to The Times, died at his parents home in Mansfield Thursday night. The Desoto Parish coroner was quoted as saying Woolridge had been under hospice care as the result of a chronic heart condition.

Woolridge played college basketball at Notre Dame, where his Irish team went to the 1978 Final Four. He began his pro career in 1981, as a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Bulls. Woolridge played with several teams, until he retired in 1994. During the 1987-88 season, Woolridge was suspended by the league for substance abuse.

Following retirement, Woolridge coached in the WNBA and the ABA.

Earlier this year, Woolridge was arrested for theft--accused of stealing aluminum water lines used to transfer water to natural gas drilling sites.