Leonel Marquetti
Personal information
Born (1959-06-30) June 30, 1959
Havana, Cuba
NationalityCuban / American
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolVerbum Dei (Los Angeles, California)
College
NBA draft1981: 9th round, 199th overall pick
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
PositionForward
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Leonel Marquetti (born June 30, 1959) is a Cuban-American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and Hampton Pirates. Marquetti was selected in the 1981 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In 2011, Marquetti was sentenced to life in prison for the 2010 murder of his ex-girlfriend's handyman.

Playing career

Marquetti attended Verbum Dei Jesuit High School in Los Angeles, California,[1] where he was a first-team Parade All-American in 1978.[2]

Marquetti averaged 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during his two seasons at USC before he transferred to play at Hampton.[3] Marquetti had to sit out his first semester at Hampton but played in 21 of the team's 28 games during the 1980–81 season.[3] He led the team in rebounds with 9.0 per game.[4]

On March 26, 1981, Marquetti declared his intention to claim hardship status for early entry in the 1981 NBA draft.[3] He was selected as the 199th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[5][6]

Murder conviction

On March 25, 2010, Marquetti fatally shot his ex-girlfriend's handyman, Michael Hurlbutt, in Plant City, Florida.[7] Prosecutors portrayed Marquetti as a hoarder who struggled losing his girlfriend when she ended their 10-year relationship and asked him to move out of their home.[7][8] Marquetti became angry when he saw Hurlbutt walk out of his house with his ex-girlfriend and shot him four times.[7] Marquetti was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and false imprisonment.[7] On May 27, 2011, Marquetti was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder.[9]

Personal life

Marquetti is a native of Cuba.[3] His nephew, Malik Marquetti, played college basketball for the USC Trojans and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 18, 1986). "Verbum Dei's Coach in Search of Longer Hours". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ↑ "1978 Parade All-American". The Daily Oklahoman. April 2, 1978. p. 307. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sports Briefs". UPI. March 27, 1981. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ "2020–21 Hampton Facts Book" (PDF). Hampton Pirates. p. 45.
  5. ↑ "Leonel Marquetti". The Draft Review. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ Lowitt, Bruce (October 8, 2005). "Early jump has strings attached". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Barry, John (April 22, 2011). "Guilty Verdict in Fatal Shooting". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ Barry, John (April 21, 2011). "Ex-Girlfriend Recalls Shooting". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Barry, John (May 31, 2011). "Man Gets Life in Shooting of Handyman". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Malik Marquetti". University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
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