OGDEN — Willie Sojourner, whose basketball career at Weber State included Big Sky Conference records in scoring and rebounding, died in a car crash in Italy, the conference said Friday.
Sojourner, 58, died Thursday.
Sojourner played at Weber State from 1968-71, leading the Wildcats to three consecutive Big Sky Conference regular-season titles. He was the third Big Sky Conference men's basketball player to be named all-conference three times.
He finished his career with 1,563 points and 1,143 rebounds, which both were Big Sky Conference records at the time. Sojourner still ranks second in rebounding and first in career rebounding average at 14.1 per game.
Sojourner went on to play in the American Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires and New York Nets. He was traded to the Nets along with Julius Erving and was the best man at Irving's wedding, the conference said.
Sojourner also played professionally in Italy. He returned to Italy in September to coach a pro team in Rieti.