Former Nebraska basketball nice Larry Florence died at age 49, the group introduced, following a nine-year battle with a uncommon blood most cancers referred to as a number of myeloma.
Nebraska remembers Florence as one in all its most skilled and extremely completed scorers in program historical past. He stays a top-20 participant in profession factors (1,223) and begins (105). The four-year starter was a group captain throughout his senior 12 months and usually thought to be a premier defender.
The Cornhuskers certified for postseason tournaments in three of Florence’s 4 years as a lineup common. They received at the very least one sport within the NIT in 1997 and 1999, and punched their ticket to the NCAA Match in his sophomore marketing campaign. Twice they hit the 20-win threshold — an accomplishment this system achieved simply twice extra within the ensuing two-plus a long time.
“I need to reside,” Florence mentioned in April to the to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. “I need to be right here for my daughter, my household and pals and revel in life. I do not need to simply hand over.”
Florence improved on a perennial foundation and closed his profession as Nebraska’s main scorer in the course of the 1999-2000 season at 13.0 factors per sport. He logged private bests in each class that season with 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per sport. He was an honorable point out All-Huge 12 choice by the league’s coaches that 12 months.
Following his school profession, Florence launched into knowledgeable profession overseas and performed in seven completely different nations over eight years. He then returned to america and have become a youth coach within the Columbus, Ohio space. Florence detailed his most cancers journey earlier this 12 months Ledger-Enquirer and shared that he misplaced 55 kilos throughout his therapy. He was unable to carry a full-time job since 2024 and obtained monetary assist by a GoFundMe account to cowl five-figure money owed accrued by medical payments.
“I would like folks to actually focus on, particularly males generally, to not be so manly,” Florence mentioned earlier than his demise. “Get your checkups. Get your blood work finished.”