Former University of Cincinnati basketball All-American and 12-year NBA veteran Pat Cummings passed away June 26, 2012, in New York City. He was 55.

Cummings averaged 17.1 points and 8.3 rebounds during his four seasons with the Bearcats (1975-76, 1978-79). He earned All-America accolades from the Citizens Savings Foundation and was named the Metro Conference Player of the Year in 1979. That season, Cummings averaged a career-high 24.5 points and 11.0 rebounds, leading the Bearcats in scoring in 25 of 27 games. He also led his team in both scoring and rebounding 21 times. His .642 field goal shooting percentage (212 of 330) in 1979 remains a school record.
 
Cummings’ 1,762 career points at UC currently ranks sixth -- most in school history, but at the time when he graduated his point total ranked second only to Oscar Robertson’s 2,973 points. Cummings also ranks second at UC in career field goals made (756) and field goal shooting percentage (.586).
 
The Johnstown, Pa., native also was a first team All-Metro Conference selection his junior and senior seasons. He averaged 18.0 points and 7.6 rebounds as a junior.
 
“Pat was obviously a great shooter and made a big impact as one of the best players in the history of our program,” UC head coach Mick Cronin said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
 
Cummings averaged 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in his 12-year, five-team NBA career. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the third round of the 1979 NBA Draft. He played 683 career games in the NBA during stints with Milwaukee, Dallas, New York, Miami and Utah. His best season came in 1985, his first year with the New York Knicks, when he averaged a career-high 15.8 points.
 
Cummings was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.