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SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah lost one of its beloved members of the basketball family Friday.
Walter Watts III, a key member of Rick Majerus’ first Sweet 16 squad in 1990-91, passed away Friday of an apparent heart attack. He was 47.
Watts was recruited to Utah with the body of an offensive lineman. Originally a 300-pounder, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound center averaged 10 points and seven rebounds in the Sweet 16 season, and even took a training camp invite with the Utah Jazz in the fall of 1991. But he was one of the last players cut, and move to a different sport: football.
Watts played in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders, but spent time on the injured reserve and never became an active player.
During his freshman year at Utah, Watts pitched at the rookie level in the Minnesota Twins’ organization. The three-sport athlete was considered among the best in school history by several Utah teammates and colleagues.
Watts’ son Walter IV also played on the offensive line for Utah from 2006-10, and his daughter Bri current plays basketball for Colorado. Watts is survived by his wife and five children.
