How the late Caleb 'Biggie' Swanigan fared at Purdue, in high school, NBA
Caleb "Biggie" Swanigan, the 2015 IndyStar Mr. Basketball from Homestead High School and a two-year star at Purdue, has died at age 25. Here is what he achieved on the court.
Swanigan leads Homestead to state championship
Swanigan scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had six assists as he led the Spartans to a 91-90 win over Evansville Reitz in the 2015 Class 4A state championship game. Homestead trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter before rallying. He averaged 22.6 points and 13.7 rebounds as a senior.
Unusual path: How Matt Painter recruited Swanigan to Purdue
Caleb Swanigan weight loss
There's not a long, complicated story to explain Caleb Swanigan's nickname.
"It started when I was a little kid," he said. "One of my aunts started calling me 'Biggie' and it stuck. There's not much of a background to it. That's just what people started calling me."
He weighed more than 350 pounds before he reached high school but played closer to 260 at Purdue. Swanigan's father, Carl Swanigan Sr., died in 2013 from complications related to diabetes at age 50. According to an ESPN.com story in 2017, Carl Sr. was 6-8 and nearly 500 pounds at the time of his death.
Caleb Swanigan is an All-American at Purdue
Swanigan started all 69 of his appearances with the Boilermakers in 2015-17, averaging 14.4 points and 10.4 rebounds.
He made the Big Ten's all-freshman team in 2015-16, averaging 10.2 points and 8.3 rebounds.
From 2021: Caleb Swanigan pleads guilty to marijuana possession
As a sophomore, Swanigan was Big Ten Player of the Year, averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds. The Boilers made the Sweet 16 that season, and he had four games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.
Caleb Swanigan in the NBA
The Portland Trail Blazers picked Swanigan 26th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He appeared in 75 games over three seasons with Portland and the Sacramento Kings.
Trevion Williams recalls Caleb Swanigan's influence
Trevion Williams, who played at Purdue from 2018-2022, hopes to be selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. His path is similar to Swangian's, as he related during a recent workout for the Utah Jazz.
"He played a huge role in me going to Purdue in the first place — just watching what they did with him. And, you know, obviously, both of us having the same problems, weight problems, other stuff at home. ... Me and him, we talked a lot in the summer, we trained, and I played against him in open gum a couple times. And we've built our relationship to where he passed the keys down for me to successful."
When Purdue star and current NBA draft prospect Trevion Williams came to Salt Lake City for a predraft workout, he had this to say about the impact Caleb Swanigan had on him both on and off the court: https://t.co/KgRfYunqlT pic.twitter.com/w7nnIvJHfO
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) June 21, 2022
“Always be you, you’re more than good enough and kill everything in front of you”, rest easy Big 🤞🏾💔 https://t.co/e288kA1Hws
— Trevion Williams (@twill___) June 21, 2022
Twitter reaction to Caleb Swanigan's death
Purdue teammate Vincent Edwards
This one hurt different. 💔 pic.twitter.com/bxB10I4cce
— Vincent M Edwards (@VE_12) June 21, 2022
IU alum Yogi Ferrell
I played with Caleb in sacramento, he was one of the nicest and most humble dude i played with. RIP 💔 https://t.co/dRScL4c5Oe
— Kevin Yogi Ferrell (@YogiFerrell11) June 21, 2022
Purdue coach Matt Painter
Terribly saddened by this. Biggie had a positive influence in everyone’s life. Was such a thoughtful person and gentle soul who had to overcome so much in his life.
He will be greatly missed. https://t.co/Ivm5MiaCUm— Purdue’s Matt Painter (@CoachPainter) June 21, 2022
Purdue teammate Isaac Haas
Love yourself and those around you. Life is too short to be unhappy and not love ❤️
— Isaac Haas (@theoriginalhaas) June 21, 2022
Purdue alum Rapheal Davis
Two Hometown Hero’s that turned Purdue Legends. I’ve always said Fort Wayne produces the toughest Boilers #260 #765 https://t.co/CD3z3v8eKX
— Rapheal Davis (@RaphealDavis3) June 21, 2022
Purdue alum Jaden Ivey
Never know what somebody else going through..count your blessings everyday
— Jaden Ivey (@IveyJaden) June 21, 2022
Purdue teammate P.J. Thompson
RIP 50. We love you! pic.twitter.com/QRhp6gTLUj
— Pj Thompson (@pj_thompson11) June 21, 2022
Former IU basketball coach Tom Crean
Caleb Swanigan was someone I truly rooted for. No matter if it was his work ethic to change his game and weight or when he got his degree at @LifeAtPurdue The connection that Matt Painter and @BoilerBall had with Caleb brought the best out in all of them. God bless his soul.
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) June 21, 2022
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caleb Swanigan dies: How 'Biggie' fared at Purdue, in high school, NBA