Caleb Swanigan is a professional basketball player known for his impressive skills on the court. However, what many people don’t know is the story behind his rise to fame. From facing homelessness to becoming a successful athlete, Swanigan’s journey is one of determination, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of his dreams. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the life of Caleb Swanigan and discover the story of how he became one of the most promising NBA players in recent years.
Caleb Swanigan Early Life:
Caleb Swanigan (April 18, 1997 – June 20, 2022) was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He had a tough childhood, with his mother battling drug addiction and his father in and out of prison. Swanigan was forced to move from one homeless shelter to another with his mother and siblings, which made it difficult for him to attend school regularly.
Due to his father, Carl Swanigan Sr., who was addicted to crack cocaine, Swanigan grew up in a volatile household. Tanya Swanigan was the mother of six kids. Swanigan spent time in homeless shelters while he was a young man, moving between Indianapolis and Utah.
Childhood:
Swanigan’s biological father gave him two notable physical traits: a predisposition towards obesity and height. The senior Swanigan was 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and weighed close to 500 pounds (230 kg) when he passed away in 2014 from complications from diabetes. Swanigan weighed 360 pounds and stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) when he started eighth grade (160 kg). His father struggled with drug addiction for the majority of his adult life, had numerous run-ins with the law, and physically abused his wife.
According to a report in Bleacher Report, Swanigan’s mother inadvertently dropped him when he was a baby, bruising his face. This experience prompted her to relocate to Salt Lake City with her kids. The family moved back and forth between Indianapolis and Utah for the following ten years; by the time he was thirteen, he had attended 13 different schools and resided in five different homeless shelters.
Caleb’s older brother Carl Jr. called his former AAU basketball coach Roosevelt Barnes, a former three-sport standout at Purdue who played on the school’s 1980 Final Four team and is now a renowned sports agent, out of fear that Caleb would keep gaining weight if the family moved to Houston. Caleb was offered up for adoption so that Barnes, who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, could raise him as his own kid. Swanigan was adopted by Barnes before his 8th grade year. Swanigan’s eating habits were addressed, and after getting the go-ahead from a cardiologist, Barnes started putting Swanigan through exercises he had done in college. Swanigan dropped to 260 pounds by the time he graduated high school (120 kg).
High School Career:
As an athlete, Caleb Swanigan high school career was nothing short of remarkable. He led the Homestead Spartans to the state championship game in 2014, averaging 20.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. He was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball that year and was considered one of the top high school players in the country.
However, Swanigan’s success on the court was accompanied by personal struggles off it. His mother passed away from cancer in 2014, leaving him devastated. He briefly considered quitting basketball to take care of his younger siblings but eventually decided to honor his mother’s memory by continuing to play.
College Career:
After graduating from high school, Swanigan initially committed to play for Michigan State University but changed his mind and enrolled at Purdue University. He had an impressive freshman year, averaging 10.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and earning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award.
In his sophomore year, Swanigan’s game reached new heights. He averaged a double-double of 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game and was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. He also led Purdue to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and was a consensus first-team All-American.
Caleb Swanigan NBA Career:
Swanigan declared for the NBA draft in 2017 and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. He played for the Blazers for two seasons before being traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2019. However, he struggled to find a place in the Kings’ rotation and was eventually waived in 2020.
Despite his setbacks, Swanigan has continued to work hard and improve his game. He signed a contract with the Houston Rockets in 2021 and is determined to prove himself in the NBA.
Caleb Swanigan Awards and Honors:
High School:
Swanigan received two honours: he was chosen as a McDonald’s All-American and was crowned Mr. Basketball for Indiana. He was chosen for the first team of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association’s Underclass All-State and the Gatorade Player of the Year. He was named to the Associated Press All-State Third Team and was named the All-USA Today Indiana Player of the Year.
College:
Swanigan set a school record during his first season by winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times. The Big Ten All-Freshman Team selected him. On March 8, 2016, Swanigan was again named the National Freshman of the Week.
He was chosen to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team during his sophomore year. Six times was given to Swanigan as the Big Ten Player of the Week, the second most in a season in conference history. Swanigan was also chosen unanimously as the AP Big Ten Player of the Year and the fourth Big Ten Player of the Year in Purdue history in the coaches poll.
He was selected to five All-America teams, including the USBWA, Sporting News, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and NBC Sports, and was voted the Basketball Times National Player of the Year. Swanigan received two honours as the Lute Olsen National Player of the Week. He was also named Academic All-District and Naismith Trophy Player of the Week. Swanigan, along with Lonzo Ball, Frank Mason, and Josh Hart, were among the top four finalists for the Naismith Award, which is given to the player of the year. Swanigan maintained a 3.3 GPA, making him an Academic All-American as well. Both the coaches’ and media’s polls produced a unanimous choice for First Team All Big Ten for Swanigan.
Caleb Swanigan Wife:
I have no Information regarding Caleb Swanigan Wife. There was no wife or girlfriend for Caleb Swanigan. If Caleb Swanigan had a spouse, girlfriend, or a partner before his death, he did not mention them. There is no information regarding the late personality’s girlfriend or spouse while looking at his love life online.
Conclusion:
Caleb Swanigan journey from homelessness to the NBA is an inspiring story of perseverance and hard work. Despite facing numerous challenges, he never gave up on his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Today, he is a role model for young athletes and an inspiration to those who are struggling to
