Former NCAA, NBA player Alton Ford dies at 36

Former University of Houston center and NBA player Alton Ford has died at the age of 36 after a battle with cancer, UH confirmed.

The Houston native played one year with the Cougars in 2000-01 before entering the NBA draft. He was selected in the second round in 2001 by the Suns, playing two seasons in Phoenix before joining his hometown Rockets for his final NBA campaign in 2003-04.

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound Ford also played in Europe and the G League.