Men’s Basketball Hall of Famer Peter Aluma helped elevate program

Liberty University mourns the loss of former basketball standout center Peter Aluma (’97), who died on Sunday at the age of 46 after a sudden illness.

Originally from Nigeria, Aluma played on the first Flames team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, after helping the team win its first Big South Tournament championship in 1994. He finished his career with 1,715 points and still holds program records for career blocked shots (366) and free throws attempted (677).

“We are saddened to hear of the loss of one of our former greats,” Liberty men’s basketball Head Coach Ritchie McKay told ASeaOfRed.com. “Peter Aluma was not just a wonderful basketball player, but he was a gift to many. Though we are sure because of his faith that he has gone home, we grieve along with all of those who had the good fortune of doing life with him. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to his family members and anyone else that loves Peter. We certainly do!”

Aluma visited campus in 2018, when he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

“When I think about my journey through Liberty, at the start I was like, ‘Man, when is it going to finish?’” Aluma said at the Nov. 30, 2018, induction ceremony. “At the end, it was like, ‘Man, this thing is over. Can we extend it a little more?’ But my father always said, ‘Give it the best that you have.’”

Aluma was a three-time Big South all-conference selection and was named Big South Tournament MVP in both 1994 and 1997 before being inducted into the Big South Conference Hall of Fame in 2008. Aluma went on to play briefly in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings (1998-99 season), also playing professionally in Venezuela. He was a member of the Nigeria national team that played in the 1998 World FIBA Championship before traveling and performing with the Harlem Globetrotters in 2001.

Watch an interview with Aluma after he joined the Hall of Fame: