IOWA CITY – Former University of Iowa men’s basketball player Michael Reaves passed away on Saturday at the age of 54 surrounded by family at his home in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Reaves was a four-year lettermen playing for both head coaches George Raveling (1985-86) and Tom Davis (1987-88). Reaves and the Hawkeyes won a combined 95 games during his four years, which are the second most in program history over a four-year span. Reaves and the Hawkeyes competed in four NCAA tournaments, including reaching the 1987 Elite Eight and 1988 Sweet 16.
Reaves averaged 5.5 points per game as a senior and holds the school record for best 3-point field goal percentage (.475, 29-of-61) by a Hawkeye senior on the 1987-88 team that won a school-record 30 games.
“Michael was the first person I met when I set foot on campus and we quickly became like brothers,” said Michael Morgan, who was Reaves’ roommate and teammate all four years. “Michael was a great teammate and a great person. The one thing that I will always remember about him was his infectious smile and laugh. He had the ability to brighten your day. He will be dearly missed.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.
