IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former University of Iowa men’s basketball player Michael Reaves passed away on Friday 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.”
Visitation is set for Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 1-8 p.m. (ET) at Slater’s Funeral Home in Milledgeville. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25 at noon (ET).