Former UCLA Bruins basketball player Billy Knight was found dead in Phoenix early Sunday morning. He was only 39 years old.
Knight's body was found at 2:45 a.m. on a local roadway where he was pronounced dead by the Phoenix Fire Department. According to Phoenix police, there are no signs of foul play. Knight's official cause of death has yet to be determined, but will be examined by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
Hours before his death, a chilling video was published by the former Bruin titled "I am Sorry Lord." Knight starts off the roughly 6-minute clip by saying, "This is probably my last message on Earth." He follows by admitting to a life of sin, discussing mental illness, and apologizing to his family and friends. He continues by saying, "If you are feeling like this, please get help." A teary-eyed Knight finishes his message stating, "I'm sorry Lord."
Hours after Knight's death was confirmed, TMZ Sports reported that the athlete had been arrested last month for the alleged sexual abuse of a girl under the age of 15. He was reportedly charged with six felonies and faced up to 50 years in prison.
The outlet reports Knight was released after posting $100,000 bail and was ordered to wear a monitoring device to ensure he stayed away from the child. His brother, however, claims Knight violated the terms of his bail by showing up to the girl's home on multiple occasions. Knight was scheduled to reappear in court later this month.
Knight played for the Bruins from 1997-2002 alongside former NBA players like Matt Barnes and Jason Kapono. He would go undrafted by the NBA, but played until 2016 for various teams around the world in countries like France and Japan. Following his playing career, he would become a basketball operations assistant for the G-League's Northern Arizona Suns, an affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, from 2016-2017.
His death comes just days after another former UCLA Basketball star Tyler Honeycutt shot and killed himself during a police standoff last Friday.
Many former players and friends took to Twitter to give their condolences following Knight's tragic passing.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Related Stories
Tyler Honeycutt’s Former Coach Provides More Details on His Death
Tyler Honeycutt, a former UCLA Bruins standout who had a brief career in the NBA, died Friday after a shootout with police. Now, his former coach has provided more details on the circumstances leading to his death.
Here Are the NCAA Violations That Could Cost Kevin Ollie $10 Million
An investigation reveals the NCAA violations which UConn says justified the firing of men's hoops coach Kevin Ollie back in March.
Former NBA First-Round Pick Clifford Rozier Dies at 45
Former NBA player Clifford Rozier has died after suffering a heart attack. During the 1994 draft, Rozier was the 16th overall pick for the Golden State Warriors.
