Clifford Rozier

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Clifford Glen Rozier (born October 31, 1972, in Bradenton, Florida) is an American former professional basketball player.

He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft. Rozier played for the Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves in 4 NBA seasons. His best season as a pro came during his rookie year with the Warriors, when he appeared in 66 games averaging 6.8 ppg. He played collegiatly at the University of North Carolina and the University of Louisville.

In 2000 he played in the United States Basketball League with the Brevard Blue Ducks.

Today his career has been careened by drugs and possibly a mental illness

Now Rozier is being pursued again, this time by law officers seeking to arrest him on charges that he stole an off-duty deputy's personal car. Rozier's path from fame and a multi-million dollar NBA contract to Manatee County fugitive is an indirect one,marked by incredible highs,questionable choices, and a pro career that just never quite took off.Friends and former associates say they just aren't certain whether there was one decision, one turning point, that led Rozier out of the spotlight, back home to Manatee County and into trouble. He came home in 1997, after he was cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves, after a tryout with the New York Knicks proved fruitless. He got married, then divorced. He was arrested on charges of assaulting his mother, but the case was dropped. Recently, friends spotted him riding around Palmetto on his bicycle. Despite what happened in the past, his life hit a new low last week. On March 28, Rozier argued with his brother outside a Shell gas station on 55th Avenue East in Bradenton. Employees inside the station called 911 for help. By the time deputies arrived,Rozier had run away. His brother, Cykobie, pointed out to deputies a car left behind at the station, one he thought belonged to Rozier. Detectives checked the license plate. It had been reported stolen by a Manatee County sheriff's deputy from his apartment on 75th Street West. Rozier was, and to some degree still is, the pride of Southeast High School basketball. He could shoot, run the floor and rebound. He scored 2,521 points and had 1,104 rebounds in three high school seasons. Coaches and media statewide named him Florida's "Mr. Basketball." In 1990, he signed with the University of North Carolina, a college basketball dynasty, and he played in the Final Four. But after just one season, he transferred to the University of Louisville. Some of his associates believe that was his first misstep. North Carolina is known for instilling players with the discipline needed to be successful in college and the NBA; Louisville did not enjoy the same reputation. "He got to take the easy way out and the easy road to the place where he went and this is what it led to," his former high school coach, Bob Carroll, said. "He didn't go to class at Louisville, period