Mel Turpin, 80's Basketball Star, Commits Suicide

Former UK basketball star Melvin Turpin committed suicide Thursday at his home in north Lexington. He was 49.

The incident was reported at about 4:40 p.m. at Turpin's home on Princess Arch Way in the Masterson Station subdivision.

A 6'11" center, Turpin attended the University of Kentucky for four seasons from 1981-84. He was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the first round by the Washington Bullets in the 1984 NBA Draft, and immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A dominant center in college, Turpin scored 42 points against Tennessee as a junior, making 18 of 22 shots from the field. He similarly dominated LSU as a senior, shooting 15 of 17 from the floor and five of six from the foul line.

As a professional, however, Turpin struggled with his weight.  After five seasons with the Cavaliers, Jazz, and Bullets, he retired.

As evidenced in post-retirement interviews, Turpin maintained a healthy sense of humor in regards to his disappointing career, telling Sports Illustrated: "In my day, they thought the big man was supposed to be thin. They didn't know too much. It was medieval."

Turpin was a Lexington native who attended Bryan Station High School.