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Thursday’s funeral service in Fort Wayne was bittersweet — a joyful remembrance of who Caleb Swanigan was, and a reminder that he is gone far too soon. He died of natural causes June 20 at the age of 25. “He was a gentle giant — not because of his height, but because his heart was so big,” said Susan Thomas, a friend who was one of the first people to meet Swanigan when he came to Fort Wayne before his eighth-grade year. “He had friends everywhere. People were drawn to him.”
Swanigan’s brother Courtlynd says his little brother was “one of the greatest people I’ve known in my life. He was the best little brother anybody could ever ask for.” His brother Corey said that “most people look up to people with more wisdom or more experience, but my baby brother made his legacy. I tried to be there any way I could. If he needed me, I was there for him anyway I could. No questions asked.” His mother, Tanya Swanigan, said, “Caleb is my hero.”
Swanigan’s love was mentioned time and time again during the service that lasted three hours — love for his family, his friends, his sport and for strangers. His sister Crystal said Caleb’s love “overshadowed everything.” “It overshadowed pain. It overshadowed insecurities,” she said. “If you don’t have love, you have nothing on this earth. And he was rich in love. He loved everyone he met and treated them all the same. We can all learn from him that love covers all.”
Fort Wayne basketball star Caleb Swanigan will be laid to rest later this week. Swanigan passed away of natural causes June 20. He was 25.
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NBA: The NBA family is profoundly saddened by the passing of Caleb Swanigan, who played three seasons in the NBA after a decorated career at Purdue. We send our heartfelt condolences to Caleb’s family, friends, and former teammates.
Purdue Mens Basketball: 💔 Devastated. Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night. Love you Biggie.
💔 Devastated.
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 21, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night.
Love you Biggie. pic.twitter.com/spU2hQtJdi
Michael Scotto: Jabari Parker offered public support for Caleb Swanigan at the end of his media availability today. Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard also recently offered support for Swanigan, his former teammate.
Jabari Parker offered public support for Caleb Swanigan at the end of his media availability today. Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard also recently offered support for Swanigan, his former teammate. pic.twitter.com/VJPIDdJGlg
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 23, 2021
Former Portland Trail Blazers big man Caleb Swanigan was a member of the team just last season, but it appears he has fallen on some tough times of late. The former Purdue star pleaded guilty to a marijuana possession charge on Monday, and pictures have surfaced of him carrying a lot of added weight since he was in the NBA in 2020. People are naturally curious what happened to Swanigan in the last year, but former Blazers teammate Damian Lillard had a strong message about the situation in response.
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Damian Lillard: If you gone post this s--- with real concern that’s cool. But don’t ask “how does one go from “this to that” ... he clearly having real life issues. That’s how... you don’t know WHAT it is he’s going through to cause a drastic change . If you gone be supportive then do that but don’t ask no shit like that like it’s not possible when you naturally a big dude and go down a dark road.
Former Purdue University basketball standout Caleb Swanigan on Monday pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge in Whitley Superior Court. Swanigan, 24, was given a 180 day suspended sentence with two days time served as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to court officials. He will avoid jail time.
Former Homestead and Purdue star and NBA player Caleb Swanigan has pleaded guilty to a minor drug charge in Whitley County.
In court Monday, Judge Douglas Fahl said he was concerned about the large amount of marijuana Swanigan was found with, but he accepted the plea agreement as written because Swanigan was a first-time offender. Fahl sentenced Swanigan to 180 days suspended. He was ordered to complete a substance abuse evaluation and comply with any prescribed treatment.
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