Former Baylor Men's Hoops Player Dies After Surgery
1/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2002
The Baylor Athletic Department expresses its condolences to friends and family of former Baylor men's basketball player Ben Echols, who died early Tuesday morning following surgery.
Echols, who played for Baylor from 1997-2000, was admitted to a hospital in Houston Sunday and had routine surgery the next day for an abdominal infection. Echols went into cardiac arrest at 11:30 p.m. Monday and died less than two hours later.
Echols transferred to Baylor in 1997 from Centenary College. After sitting out his first year, Echols played sparingly for coach Harry Miller and averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds.
The next season, however, under new coach Dave Bliss, Echols blossomed. The 6-11 senior averaged led the team in blocks and averaged 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds while starting every game.
Echols graduated from Baylor in May 2000. Since then, he had played overseas in Lebanon and Russia.
Echols' father, Ben Echols Sr., told the Waco Tribune-Herald that a wake will be held Friday night, and funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston.
