Basketball world mourns death of former center Sean Rooks at age 46

Sean Rooks, a former Arizona Wildcats star who played center for 12 seasons in the NBA, died Tuesday at age 46.

Multiple outlets reported the news and the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, both of whom Rooks worked for, announced his death. His mother, Deborah Brown, released a statement through the Sixers. No cause has been revealed.

Yahoo reported that Rooks interviewed for a job on new New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek's staff just hours before he died. 

The 6-foot-10 Rooks was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft and also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Orlando Magic and New Orleans Hornets. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in his career.

Rooks went into coaching after his retirement, first as an assistant in the NBADL and then with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, where he coached the Sixers' young big men the past couple of seasons.

Rooks' son Kameron is a 7-foot center for the Cal Bears.