![]() ![]() In 2000, Collier was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round (15th overall) from Georgia Tech, where he received a degree in management. The 7-foot, 260-pound Collier averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in a five-year career with the Hawks and Houston Rockets. I thought he was in the best shape of his life, coming into training camp." "He did everything I asked of him as a player. Collier "was a first-class pro," said Woodson, in his second season with the Hawks. Howell said that Collier "was as healthy as you could be." Woodson said he didn't notice anything abnormal with Collier after practice Friday. The results of the autopsy are expected to be released today. The Hawks will practice today, then head to Charlotte for a preseason game against the Bobcats tomorrow. The Hawks canceled an open scrimmage yesterday at an area high school where Collier, the longest tenured player on the Hawks roster, was supposed to give the welcome. ![]() Those guys are like brothers to each other." Whenever you go to war with guys on the floor, it's tough. "It's something I'll live with for the rest of my life. Woodson, General Manager Billy Knight and Atlanta Spirit LLC President and Chief Executive Bernie Mullin broke the news to the team when the players arrived at a morning workout. He had a great present and a wonderful future. "It's devastatingly sad to have something like this happen out of the blue. Enjoyed life inside and outside of basketball," Howell said of Collier. "He was just a very nice, outstanding, thoughtful person. Paramedics rushed Collier to Northside Hospital in Cumming, Ga., where he was pronounced dead. Howell said Collier's wife, Katie, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation before calling 911. yesterday, said Richard Howell, Collier's agent. The cause of death was not immediately known, but Collier complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing around 2:30 a.m. He's a 28-year-old kid and his life is taken away from him." It's really a tragedy," Woodson said when contacted by phone yesterday afternoon. The news was obviously difficult to receive but it was even harder to deliver, Hawks Coach Mike Woodson said. The initial shock gave way to a somber mood yesterday as several Atlanta Hawks players broke down in tears when they were informed that center Jason Collier had died early in the morning. ![]()
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