Max Hooper's Dad Chip Dies from Cancer

Chip Hooper, the father of Oakland men's basketball player Max Hooper, died Saturday, four years after being diagnosed with cancer, Golden Grizzlies coach Greg Kampe announced early Sunday morning.

"All Grizz fans. Chip Hooper, Max's father lost his battle with cancer tonight," Kampe tweeted. "Please put the Hooper family in your [prayers]. Chip Hooper was as loving and down to earth father of any player I've ever had. He will be missed; I lost a friend, and Oakland lost a fan."  

Chip suffered a stroke in October and had not seen Max play at Oakland this season until Senior Night last month. He watched on as Max scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds in Oakland's 108-97 win over Detroit Mercy. 

“It’s something we both embody, that will, that we won’t be denied,” Max said, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. “Him being here tonight is such a moment. You can’t replicate this moment. It comes around once in a lifetime. He didn’t promise me but said, 'I’m going to be at a game.' I believed he would.”

The two shared an embrace in the stands after the game. Chip was confined to a hospital bed due to his condition, and the team placed it in the arena concourse so he could watch the game. He previously served as the head of worldwide music for Paradigm Talent & Literary Agency, where he helped manage acts like the Dave Matthews Band and Phish.

"This is a very sad day for the Oakland Basketball family," Kampe said in a statement, per Kirkland Crawford of the Detroit Free Press. "Max is traveling to California to spend a day with his family. We ask that you offer your prayers to his family. Please wait to reach out to him."

Oakland enters the Horizon League tournament as the second seed. It is unclear if Max will be back with the team before its semifinals game in the conference tournament.