Report: Father of Louisville's Hancock dies of cancer
The father of Louisville's Luke Hancock lost his three-year battle with cancer Monday, according to the Roanoke Times.
Bill Hancock, 70, was ailing, but in the stands when his son scored 22 points to help the Cardinals beat Michigan 82-76 to win the national championship. He died at the family's Roanoke County home, Van Hancock, Bill's wife and Luke's mother told the paper.
Luke Hancock became the first non-starter to win Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four this season. He skipped summer school to spend more time with his father before leaving June?20 to return to Louisville.
"When Luke left on Thursday, Luke knew that was the last time he would see his dad," his mother told the Roanoke Times.
Hancock left Monday for Colorado Springs to compete for one of 12 spots on the U.S. team that will compete in the World University Games. His family wants Luke to continue with the tryouts.
"We wanted him to go," Van Hancock told the paper. "He tried [earlier this month] to get out of going, and we told him, 'Absolutely not.' He knows his dad wanted him desperately to go. I think he held on, waiting until Luke got on his way."
