Former Geelong Supercat Cecil Exum dies at age 60 in Los Angeles

Cecil Exum, 60, died on July 3 in a Los Angeles hospital following lung complications.

From Dudley, North Carolina, Exum was a member of the Tar Heels’ 1982 NCAA championship team alongside the likes of icons James Worthy and Michael Jordan, and was eventually picked by the Denver Nuggets in the 1984 NBA Draft.

However, Exum would make his name on Australian courts and became Geelong’s longest serving captain, after initially playing with the Bulleen Boomers in 1986.

The forward made his NBL debut in May, 1989 with the North Melbourne Giants at the age of 26, winning a championship that year.

Exum would play 197 NBL games across stints with the Giants, the Melbourne Tigers and the Geelong Supercats.

Across five seasons with the Supercats from 1992-96, Exum played 121 games – trailing only Bruce Hope and Craig Herbert – and scored 1604 points at an average of 13.3 per game.

Former Geelong teammate of the 92 season and friend Bruce Hultgren said he would marvel at Exum’s athleticism, describing it as “effortless grace”.

“I think anybody who watched him play would remember the way he moved,” Hultgren said.

“He glided around the court.”

He said spending countless hours in the car with Exum, who was then living in Laverton, travelling to training and games built a special bond.

Hultgren said Exum was also a much-loved, gentle soul who was a “demon on the court”.

“Anybody who ever met him would remember his smile,” he said.

“He was the quintessential nice guy.

“He would talk to anybody. He would have a warm smile, handshake or a hug and give you his time, and you were the only person in the room.

“When it was time to train or play, he was the ultimate pro.

“As soon as the whistle blew and the game ended, he was the nicest, gentlest guy you’ve ever come across.”

He last spoke to the father of three at an NBL past players game in December last year.

“Just an unbelievable guy,” he said.

“There was no pretentiousness, there was no ‘look at me’.”

Hultgren would always treasure their 35-year relationship, with Exum a member of his wedding party.

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“We were there for the birth of his kids, and he was there for the birth of ours,” he said.

“Just a super nice guy and an ambassador for his country. He was loved by all.”

In a statement on its Facebook page, Geelong United Supercats said Exum was a “fan favourite” while Bellarine Storm said he was “an important part of the basketball tapestry” in the Geelong region and beyond.

Originally published as Former Geelong Supercat Cecil Exum dies at age 60 in Los Angeles