{{short description|American basketball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Gary Suiter | image = | birth_date = {{birth date|1945|01|18}} | birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1982|10|23|1945|01|18}} | death_place = near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 225 | high_school = Sandia (Albuquerque, New Mexico) | college = Midwestern State (1966–1969) | draft_year = 1969 | career_start = 1970 | career_end = 1971 | career_number = 40 | career_position = Center / power forward | years1 = 1970 | team1 = Scranton Miners | years2 = 1970 | team2 = Binghamton Flyers | years3 = {{nbay|1970|full=y}} | team3 = Cleveland Cavaliers | years4 = 1971 | team4 = Trenton Pat Pavers | highlights = }} '''Gary G. Suiter''' (January 18, 1945 – October 23, 1982) was an American professional basketball player.<ref name=br />
Suiter was a 6'9" center from Midwestern State University, and played for the Mustangs from 1966 to 1969.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gary Suiter - MSU Athletics |url=https://msumustangs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3459 |website=MSU Mustangs |accessdate=5 January 2019}}</ref> He had previously attended the University of New Mexico in 1962 on a basketball scholarship but transferred after numerous disciplinary reasons.
Suiter played one season (1970–71) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 1.4 points in 30 games.<ref name="br">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/suitega01.html|title=Gary Suiter NBA stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=1 December 2024}}</ref> He was the first person from Albuquerque to play in the NBA.<ref>{{Cite news |orig-date=July 6, 1999 |title=A.J. Bramlett sets goals for life in NBA |work=The Associated Press}}</ref>
Suiter was known as a gambler, and he was murdered over an alleged money debt in 1982.
== Early life == Suiter was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 18, 1944. Suiter attended Sandia High School, where he played at the center and power forward positions. Suiter was a unanimous All-State selection his senior season, and was the only New Mexico selection for the high school All-American team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=May 27, 1962 |title=New Mexico Suits Suiter |pages=C-1 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref> In his senior season, he was recruited by Kentucky, Kansas State, Texas Western (now UTEP), Arizona, Arizona State, Idaho State, Brigham Young University, New Mexico State University, Texas Tech, the University of Washington, Pepperdine, and the University of New Mexico.<ref name=":0" />
== College career == Bob King, the University of New Mexico's basketball coach, said Suiter was, “one of the best freshman prospects he had ever seen.”<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1962 |title=UNM Cuts Top Cage Prospect |pages=C-1 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref>
Suiter accepted the University of New Mexico's offer, however, Suiter did not play past the fall semester.<ref name=":1" /> There were multiple reasons for Suiter's dismissal; he was previously asked to move out of the dormitories and was having scholastic difficulties.<ref name=":1" /> He was often late for practices and study halls.<ref name=":1" /> He had a hoarding issue, and would collect pizza boxes, Beatles vinyl, and MAD Magazines. Bob King was upset to see Suiter leave the program, but would take him back if he, “''clears up his many problems''.”<ref>{{Cite news |title=Need Re-Education of NM Hoop Fans |pages=E-1 |work=Albuquerque Tribune}}</ref>
Suiter enrolled at Midwestern State University in the fall of 1966. Suiter hitchhiked from New Mexico to Wichita Falls and called Midwestern State's coach Dennis Vinzant asking for a tryout.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Gohlson |first=Nick |year=2010 |title=Suiter was a goofball, but he was our goofball |work=Times Record News}}</ref> After sitting out a year due to transfer rules, he played a total of 2 years for the Mustangs. In his junior year Suiter played in 11 games, averaging a double-double, with 14.8 points per a game and 10 rebounds per a game on average.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Gary Suiter - Men's Basketball |url=https://msumustangs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gary-suiter/3459 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=MSU Athletics |language=en}}</ref> Suiter's senior year saw more productivity; he started all 28 games and again averaged a double-double. Suiter averaged 22.1 points per a game, and pulled in 15.4 rebounds per a game.<ref name=":2" /> He was not selected in the 1969 NBA draft.
== Professional career == In September 1969, Suiter attended rookie camp with the Los Angeles Stars of the American Basketball Association (ABA).<ref>{{cite news |title=Hill, Rookies To Begin Preseason Stars' Drills |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-hill-r/185009519/ |access-date=November 15, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News |date=September 3, 1969 |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He toured France with other former college basketball players.<ref name=tribune/>
In January 1970, Suiter joined the Scranton Miners of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL).<ref name=tribune>{{cite news |title=Miners Absorb Sixth Defeat at Hartford |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-miners-absorb-sixth-defeat-a/184828729/ |access-date=November 12, 2025 |work=The Tribune |date=January 10, 1970 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On January 10, he scored four points in his debut during a win over the Hamden Bics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Miners Triumph, 139-131 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-miners-triumph-139-13/184829145/ |access-date=November 12, 2025 |work=The Times-Tribune |date=January 11, 1970 |page=37 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On January 31, Suiter's player rights were traded to the Binghamton Flyers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obstacles to Cellar Door Flyer Targets for Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-obstacles-to-cell/184829637/ |access-date=November 12, 2025 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=February 1, 1970 |page=47 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On February 1, he scored a team-high 29 points in his Flyers debut in a loss to the Sunbury Mercuries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nielsen |first1=Soren |title=Lots of G-r-rumbling But Not Enough G-r-r |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-lots-of-g-r-rumbl/184897837/ |access-date=November 13, 2025 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |date=February 2, 1970 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Suiter tried out for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970. He, "appeared one day with a armload of films, and made the team by blocking two shots of a disinterested Connie Hawkins at an exhibition game."<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Callaghan |first=Tom |title=Cavaliers just aren't as much fun |work=The Miami News}}</ref> He played in 30 games and averaged 1.4 points.<ref name="br" /> He played 140 minutes in 30 games (4.7 mpg) that season, and was nearly cut at halftime of the first game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hicks |first=Dave |date=27 September 1970 |title=Cavaliers stun Suns |no-pp=y |work=Arizona Republic}}</ref> Suiter was cut midway through the 1970–1971 season, because he "was found in full uniform in the stands munching hot dogs."<ref name=":6" />
On January 23, 1971, Suiter was acquired by the Trenton Pat Pavers of the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA).<ref name=times>{{cite news |title=Hamden's Late Rally Nips Pavers Big One |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-hamdens-late-rally-nips-paver/185009259/ |access-date=November 15, 2025 |work=The Times |date=January 24, 1971 |page=49 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He made his first appearance with the team that same day and scored 4 points in a loss to the Hamden Bics.<ref name=times/> On January 30, Suiter was released by the Pavers.<ref>{{cite news |title=EBA Extras |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-eba-extras/185009365/ |access-date=November 15, 2025 |work=The Times |date=February 1, 1971 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In February, he worked out for the Camden Bullets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cafone |first1=Pete |title=Bullets Become Regional |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-bullets-become-regional/185057751/ |access-date=November 16, 2025 |work=Courier-Post |date=February 10, 1971 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Suiter was cut by the 76ers in September, 1973, after making the team a month before.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 Sep 1973 |title=Sports in Brief |work=Public Opinion}}</ref>
== Later life == Suiter was arrested over a $175 shoplifting accusation. Because of the overcrowding of jails in Albuquerque, Suiter was incarcerated at the Penitentiary of New Mexico. He was incarcerated just 8 days before the New Mexico State penitentiary riots took place in 1980, the most violent prison riot in U.S. history. Suiter was beaten with a metal pipe and other bludgeons by inmates that were intoxicated. Suiter suffered lacerations, contusions, and fractures. He claimed his leg was permanently impaired. Suiter ended up suing the state, and won due to the prisons lack of adequate security.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 Mar 1982 |title=Pen riots, other cases accumulate |work=Rio Grande Sun}}</ref> Albert Jerome Romero pleaded guilty for assault against Suiter, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feather |first=Bill |date=8 November 1981 |title=Trial schedule set for inmates charged with pen riot crimes |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref>
== Gambling issues == Suiter was known to be a gambler, and often hustled at pool halls around New Mexico and Texas.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Gohlson |first=Nick |title=Suiter... One of a kind |work=Wichita Falls Times}}</ref> He was "a fairly good pool player and you could find him in the pool halls during the day and then on the 3 by 6 bar tables at night."<ref name=":5" /> Suiter began his gambling issue inside the University of New Mexico's Student Union Building. The breaking point of Suiter being kicked out of UNM was because he was caught playing pool wearing the football coaches' letterman jacket that he stole.
A year before his murder, Suiter was robbed of $2,500 and a diamond ring by a business owner. The business owner and Suiter had been playing Craps, and after Suiter had won $2,500, the business owner brandished a pistol and shot at Suiter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 Aug 1981 |title=Stabbing, shooting, holdup reported |pages=A10 |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref>
== Death == On October 23, 1982, Suiter was murdered near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, as he allegedly owed money.<ref name=tdh>{{cite news |title=Murder conviction upheld by court |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/69321048/gary-suiter/ |access-date=September 26, 2023 |work=The Deming Headlight |date=March 9, 1984 |page=6}}</ref> He had been lured by Gary Randall Hoxsie and John Waters to the banks of the Rio Grande under the pretence of a dice game.<ref name=tdh /> After a heated argument, Hoxsie shot Suiter in the hand, chest, and head at close range with a .375 Magnum.<ref name=":4" /> Suiter's body was found the next morning by two duck hunters.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ex-basketball Star Lured to His Death |work=Albuquerque Journal}}</ref> Hoxsie was arrested at an Albuquerque pawn shop when he tried to sell Suiter's jewelry.<ref name=tdh /> In 1983, Hoxsie was sentenced to life in prison for killing Suiter.<ref name=":4">[https://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/apr/18/suiter-was-goofball-but-he-was-our-goofball/?print=1 "Suiter was goofball, but he was our goofball"]</ref> Waters testified against Hoxsie and received probation after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence.<ref name=tdh />
==Legacy== Suiter was ranked the second "Most Colorful Cavalier Player" by the ''Plain Dealer''.<ref name=":6" />
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== Source<ref name=br />
====Regular season==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;" |- ! Year ! Team ! GP ! MPG ! FG% ! FT% ! RPG ! APG ! PPG |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1970}} | style="text-align:left;"|Cleveland | 30 || 4.7 || .352 || .444 || 1.4 || .1 || 1.4 |}
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suiter, Gary}} Category:1945 births Category:1982 deaths Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:1982 murders in the United States Category:American men's basketball players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players Category:Deaths by firearm in New Mexico Category:Midwestern State Mustangs men's basketball players Category:People murdered in New Mexico Category:Scranton Miners players Category:Undrafted NBA players