Reggie Warford Obituary, Cause Of Death, Wife, Children

Reggie Warford, Kentucky’s second Black men’s basketball player and first Black basketball player to graduate, has died aged 67.

Warford became a starter for Kentucky late in his senior season and averaged 6.5 points per game and his 14 points rallied Kentucky past UNC-Charlotte 71-67 for the NIT championship in New York.

Spokeswoman for Kentucky Basketball, Deb Moore revealed that Warford’s wife, Marisa, notified coach John Calipari that her husband passed away Thursday (May, 26, 2022) in Pittsburgh.

Though a cause of death was not stated, Warford had dealt with numerous health issues the past decade and underwent a series of transplants.

Upon receiving the news, Calipari, who coached with Warford at Pittsburgh, tweeted:

“I’m going to miss my brother, may God bless you Reggie.”

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart expressed condolences to Warford’s family, friends and teammates, and cited Warford’s “important role” in Kentucky sports history.

Barnhart said;

“His career as a player and student, and his presence as a native Kentuckian, helped set the stage for the continued growth of integration of Kentucky basketball and our entire athletics program.”

Warford was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Warford leaves behind his wife Marissa and sons Grant and Tyler.