Former NBA player Sean Rooks, a Fontana High School grad, dead at 46

Former Lakers and Clippers center Sean Rooks died Tuesday, his mother confirmed in a statement released by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rooks, 46, a Fontana High School graduate, recently served as a player development assistant for the Sixers.

The cause of his death was not yet known.

“It is with deep sadness and overwhelming grief that we mou the sudden loss of my son, Sean,” Deborah Brown said in the statement. “Our family asks that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this incredibly difficult time.”

Rooks was the leader of the Fontana High team that went 24-4 in 1986-87 season. as the Steelers won their first league title in more than 40 years. Fontana lost in the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs. Former major leaguer Greg Colbru graduated in the same class.

Rooks spent four years playing for coach Lute Olsen at Arizona before a 12-year playing career in the NBA.

“This is just a horrible shock. Sean was such a wonderful young man with a great disposition,” Olson said in a statement. “During his time at Arizona, he was always one of the most pleasant individuals to be around. His positivity was something I’ll always remember. This is a tough day and a terrible loss for Arizona basketball. We send our condolences to Sean’s family and friends.”

Rooks also played for the Lakers from 1996-99 and the Clippers from 2000-03.

“He was a big guy who understood how to play and he understood his role,” said former Lakers coach and player Byron Scott, who played with Rooks during the 1996-97 season. “He could make shots. He was a decent post-up player and a very good team defensive player. He was a very solid basketball player.”

A burly, 6-foot-10 Rooks was selected 30th overall in the 1992 draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He played for seven teams with career averages of 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

His most productive seasons came in his first years in the NBA. He averaged 12.5 points his first two seasons in Dallas. Then, Rooks averaged 10.9 points in his third season after being traded to the Miesota Timberwolves. Rooks later retued to the Mavericks for the 1999-2000 season before being traded to the Clippers. There, Rooks averaged 17 minutes in 213 games.

“RIP Sean Rooks,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrote on Twitter. “You made plane rides my first year fun. Can’t believe we talked just a few weeks ago. You will be missed Wookie.”

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After signing with the Lakers as a free agent in 1996, it did not take long for he and Scott to form what he called “a real good relationship.” Scott recalled both he and Rooks often teased each other for attending rival schools at Arizona (Rooks) and Arizona State (Scott).

“I’m sending my condolences to his family,” Scott said. “Sean was a great guy. He was a great teammate and a good friend. I’m very sad to hear the news.”

After playing overseas in 2005, Rooks tued to coaching. He became an assistant coach in the Development League with stints in Bakersfield (2007-08), New Orleans (2010-11) and Sioux Falls (2012-16).

Rooks’ son, Kameron, is a sophomore center at Cal.