Former Klein Forest High School star and University of Texas center Jason Klotz died this week at 44 years old.
“Damn dawg. This one hurts,” Tucker wrote. “1 of 1! (If you know, you know) When I first got to Austin, you (were) one of few that looked out for me. Too many memories. Love you, brother, forever.”
Officials at Texas confirmed the death to the Houston Chronicle on Thursday. No cause of death has been revealed.
Klotz spent five years at Texas and played on three straight Sweet 16 teams, including the 2003 group led by T.J. Ford that reached the Final Four. In his senior season in 2004-05, the 6-foot-9 center averaged 11.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, which earned him co-MVP honors on the team along with Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, another former Houston high school star.
Klotz was known for his physical style of play and work ethic, leading then-Texas Tech coach Bob Knight to say after a 2005 Red Raiders’ loss in Austin that if he could take any Big 12 player and add him to his team, he would choose Klotz.
Klotz led Klein Forest to the state title game in 2000 where the Golden Eagles fell to Ford’s illustrious Willowridge team in an all-Houston final. In the state semifinal, Klotz dominated a matchup against McDonald’s All-American and future Texas teammate Brian Boddicker in a 30-point blowout of Duncanville.
After college, Klotz played on the Orlando Magic summer league team, but never appeared in the NBA, instead playing professionally overseas for six years with stops in China, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Holland and Uruguay.