New Mexico player commits suicide

Patrick Feeney (right) sat out a season after transferring from Portland State. AP

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) -- A University of New Mexico basketball player was found hanged Thursday and police said they suspect he committed suicide.

Sophomore Patrick Feeney, 20, a transfer from Portland State, was found outside a downtown apartment complex, Police Chief Gil Gallegos said. He said there was no evidence of foul play and no notes were found.

Feeney was a 2001 graduate of Boulder (Colo.) Monarch High School, where he lettered for three years. He was a first team All-Boulder City and honorable mention all-state as a senior. His father, Jim, played basketball at the University of Colorado and the University of Utah.

Feeney's father said his son was home in Boulder for three weeks this month "and we had a great time."

"He seemed fine," he told The Albuquerque Tribune. "I don't know what happened."

The 6-foot-10 Feeney transferred to New Mexico after the 2001-02 season and would have been eligible to play this fall.

"I'm not sure there's words to express our feelings," coach Ritchie McKay said at a news conference with police. "My staff and I loved Billy like a son. We grieve for Billy's family."

McKay said he had talked to Feeney about 4 a.m., and that Feeney told him he was going home because he had to deal with some issues. McKay would not go into detail about the conversation.

When Feeney transferred, he said he was looking forward to playing at New Mexico.

"And the Pit, I'm really excited about that," he said.

Mike Lund, assistant athletic director at Portland State, said Feeney might have transferred because of a coaching change. He also said Feeney wasn't that happy at an urban, downtown campus.

"Billy was a great kid, a very good student and a very good basketball player," Lund said.