Eric Musselman addresses death of Reggie Chaney
Arkansas received some heartbreaking news Monday, as it was reported that former Razorbacks basketball player Reggie Chaney had died at age 23. Eric Musselman, who coached him during the 2019-20 season, offered his condolences to the Chaney’s family via Twitter.
“The Razorback men’s basketball family is devastated to hear of the loss of Reggie Chaney,” Musselman wrote. “He was a relentless worker and loved by his teammates. His family is in our thoughts and prayers.”
Chaney committed to play under Arkansas coach Mike Anderson in 2018 as a three-star recruit out of Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada. He ranked as the No. 143 overall player and No. 24 power forward in the class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Chaney made an immediate impact off the bench as a true freshman to average 5.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks across 16.3 minutes per game. He totaled a career-high seven blocks in an NIT matchup against Providence that season.
He returned the following season to make seven starts across 29 games. His best performance came in a Feb. 8, 2020 game against Missouri in which he finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Chaney would go on to transfer to Houston the following season, ending his career with the Razorbacks. The 6-foot-8 forward helped the Cougars to a Final Four appearance in 2021, averaging 15 minutes per game off the bench during the team’s run in the NCAA Tournament.
This past season, Chaney was named the AAC Sixth Man of the Year as a fifth-year senior. He helped the Cougars advance to the conference title game and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Miami in the Sweet Sixteen.
Chaney played in 167 games during his college career with 33 starts, averaging 14.0 minutes, 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 63.2% from the field. He was known for his hard-nosed style of play and contributions on the defensive end both at Arkansas and Houston.
There is no information at this time about the cause of death. According to the Houston Chronicle, which first reported the news of Chaney’s death, he was planning to play basketball overseas in 2023-24 with AE Psychiko in Greece.
Thoughts are certainly with all those close to Chaney in light of this news, and he’ll always have a place in both Arkansas and Houston history.