Joel Cornette, a starter on three Butler teams that made the NCAA Tournament and a member of the school’s all-century team, died early Tuesday morning at the age of 35. Butler released this statement:
Former Butler star Joel Cornette dies at age 35
The Butler basketball community was dealt another difficult blow in what has already been a tragic year.
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Sad news to share... pic.twitter.com/txiGTvW6zq
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) August 16, 2016
Cornette played in every game for Butler between 1999 and 2003 and was a part of four Horizon League championships. He led the Bulldogs in rebounding in three of his collegiate seasons, and in blocked shots in all four. His crowning achievement at Butler came when he was named to the 2003 East Region All-Tournament Team after he helped his team upset fourth-seeded Louisville, a victory which got the Bulldogs into their first Sweet 16 since 1962. He led the team in scoring one round later when they were knocked off by Oklahoma.
After coaching stints at Butler and Iowa and then two years working as a commentator for ESPN, Cornette had spent his last four years working as a sports agent and serving as the Director of Basketball Recruiting at Priority Sports.
The news of Cornette’s passing comes just seven months after the Butler basketball community lost Andrew Smith, who died on Jan. 12 at the age of 25 after a lengthy fight Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
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