Gerald Paddio, a standout on UNLV’s 1987 Final Four squad, was killed Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. He was 60. Law enforcement officials said he was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from the vehicle.
According to deputies with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the wreck happened on Ebenezer Road near Addie Drive, west of Rayne, when the vehicle left the roadway and hit a culvert, KATC reported. Investigators said the driver was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead on-site, and the victim was later identified as Paddio. The sheriff’s office has opened an active investigation into what caused the crash.
From Rayne To The Runnin’ Rebels
Paddio, a Rayne native, became a key figure at UNLV during the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons, when the Runnin’ Rebels went 65–8 and stormed to the 1987 Final Four, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He averaged about 16 points per game and finished his college career as the Rebels’ leading scorer in his final season. Teammates and fans still single out his late-game plays as defining moments from that high-flying era.
NBA And Pro Career…