By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cholet legend Claude Marquis died from a heart attack.
Several clubs, including Cholet, and media outlets from France reported the sad news on Sunday.
He was 44.
Marquis spent a large chunk of his career with Cholet, after joining the junior team at the age of 15. In 1999, he made his professional debut. From the top-flight division of France, he quickly expanded to the continental level and reached the EuroLeague with ten appearances, including nine starts in the 2010-11 season.
A total of 11 seasons with Cholet is the most for any player in team history. With 383 games played, he ranks second behind Jim Bilba’s 453 appearances. His 3,583 points scored sit third in the list of Cholet, trailing Graylin Warner’s 5,629 and Antoine Rigaudeau’s 4,247.
Behind four stints lasting from 1999 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2009 to the 2010-11 and 2013-14 campaigns, his power inside the paint and team success made him a fan favorite at Cholet. He also played for SIG Strasbourg, Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez, SLUC Nancy, and ESSM Le Portel in France. In Italy, he played one year with Pepsi Caserta. He also displayed his talents in Iran and Morocco.
Representing his country at the international level, Marquis logged 36 appearances with Les Bleus at the senior level but did not make his way to a major tournament. Early in his career, he also competed in junior tournaments with France in 1998 and 2000.
He retired in 2016.
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