Background
He was born in San Diego, California, graduated from Monte Vista High School in nearby Spring Valley, and then attended the University of San Diego.
basketball player beach volleyball player
He was born in San Diego, California, graduated from Monte Vista High School in nearby Spring Valley, and then attended the University of San Diego.
Throughout his career he earned over $1.5 million, as well as 28 titles. The 6 ft 7 in (201 m) Whitmarsh played college basketball at the University of San Diego and was drafted by the National Basketball Association"s Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth round in 1984. He also narrowly missed making the roster of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and played professionally in Germany for three years before abandoning basketball in favor of beach volleyball.
Transitioning from the indoor hard court to the soft sand of beach volleyball (which is often played under hot and humid conditions) was not easy, and he developed a reputation for cramping late in tournaments.
His leg cramps were so bad that he often required an I.V. to rehydrate and equalize his chemical balance. According to the San Diego County medical examiner, he had committed suicide from inhalation of carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust.