The Enquirer has confirmed that former University of Cincinnati Bearcats point guardMichael Horton has died.
An official cause of death is not available. Horton had just turned 50 in May.
Horton came to the Bearcats basketball as a junior college All-American from Allegany (Maryland) Community College and played his high school ball at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he averaged 30 points and nine assists his senior season.
Michael Horton's career with Bob Huggins, Cincinnati Bearcats
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound guard played on two UC teams that both went 27-6. They were Conference USA season champions both years and C-USA Tournament champions in 1998. Horton played with future NBA players Ruben Patterson and Kenyon Martin.
Martin mentioned Horton's passingon his Instagram account Aug.
24, writing: "Got some very Unfortunate news yesterday that my college teammate Michael Horton passed away! Sad day for our Bearcat family!!! Rest Easy Mike!!!!"
Former UC player and Bearcats broadcaster Terry Nelson spoke of Horton's passing and tenacity.
"Michael Horton was one of the best on-the-ball defenders we've had at UC in the past 25 years," Nelson said. "His toughness, his ability to fight through screens, really made him valuable as a point guard on our defense."
Michael Horton's Cincinnati Bearcats highlights
Horton started 26 of 29 games in 1997-98, averaging 6 points and 4.8 assists per game. He had a career-high 17 points in a C-USA quarterfinal tournament win over Louisville, with seven rebounds and seven assists. In the C-USA semifinal vs. UAB, he dished out 10 assists and made the all-tournament team.
He was injured the first month of his senior year, but returned in December, starting 14 of 24 games and averaging 3.6 points and 3.5 assists. He later had an ankle sprain but returned against Xavier in late January 1999 with 10 points and eight assists in an 87-77 win at then-Shoemaker Center.
Also on UC's team in Horton's final season were Shawn Myrick, Jermaine Tate, Alvin Mitchell, Melvin Levett, Steve Logan, Ryan Fletcher, Pete Mickeal, Eugene Land, Aaron McGhee, Donald Little and Alex Meacham. Meacham posted of his friendship with Horton on X.
The Bearcats were as high as No. 10 in the AP poll in 1997-98 and No. 11 in 1998-99 during Horton's time in Cincinnati
The story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Cincinnati Bearcats point guard Michael Horton dies
