Syracuse, N.Y. -- Frank Hamblen, who played at Syracuse in the late 1960s before embarking on a long NBA coaching career, died on Saturday at the age of 70.
Hamblen played at Syracuse from 1966 to 1969. He averaged 4.0 points per game in his three-year varsity career. As a junior in 1968, he scored 6.8 points per game. He was a career 87.2 percent free throw shooter.
Hamblen was a student of the game, though. Immediately after his college career ended, he got a job as a scout with the San Diego Rockets. That began a 42-year career in the NBA.