Aron Stewart, Former Cavaliers Draft Pick and Richmond Scoring Standout, Dies at 75
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RICHMOND, Va. — Aron Stewart, a two-time All-American at the University of Richmond and a sixth-round selection of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1974 NBA Draft, has died at 75, the school announced.
The 6-foot-5 forward transferred to Richmond from Essex County College in 1972 and quickly became one of the nation’s most prolific scorers. In only two seasons with the Spiders, he averaged a program-record 28.1 points per game, a mark that still tops the school’s career list more than five decades later.
During the 1972-73 campaign, Stewart poured in 30.2 points per game, the fifth-highest figure in the country that year and still Richmond’s single-season record. Despite the team’s 8-16 finish, he was named Southern Conference Player of the Year.
As a senior in 1973-74, he posted 26.5 points and 12 rebounds per contest, guiding the Spiders to their first winning season since the late 1950s. Stewart collected First Team All-Southern Conference recognition and earned All-America honors for the second straight season.
The Cavaliers selected him in the 1974 draft, but Stewart opted against an NBA career and instead devoted his life to serving the Richmond community. His scoring feats, however, cemented his place among the greatest players in Spiders history.
Richmond’s current NBA head-coaching alumnus, Kenny Atkinson, suited up for the Spiders from 1986 to 1990.
Source: Hoops Wire
