Ryan Minor, former Oklahoma Sooners two-sport star, dies after battle with colon cancer

Former Oklahoma Sooners two-sport star Ryan Minor died Friday afternoon after a battle with colon cancer, his twin brother, Damon, announced on social media.

Minor, who was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last fall, was 49.

"He truly was the best twin brother you can ask for," Damon Minor wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "His family and I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this time. BOOMER SOONER."

The Minors joined the Sooners after starring at Hammon High School and led the OU baseball team to the College World Series title in 1994.

"Lost a brother today," wrote Oklahoma State softball coach Kenny Gajewski, a member of the Sooners' 1994 baseball team. "Sending prayers to the Minor Family."

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Ryan Minor was drafted in both the NBA and MLB

On the basketball court, Ryan Minor was a two-time Big Eight scoring champion and the conference's player of the year in 1994-95. He averaged 16.5 points per game in his four-year college career from 1992-96. He was selected 32nd overall by the 76ers in the famed 1996 NBA Draft, one round after Philadelphia selected Allen Iverson first overall.

"The ultimate warrior and fierce competitor," wrote Houston men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, who coached Minor in 1994-96 at OU. "The best 3 level scorer I ever coached. Ryan was at his best on the road in the ol Big 8. Thank you for allowing me to coach you, Ryan. I love you and God Bless you."

Minor was also drafted by MLB's Baltimore Orioles, where he famously replaced Cal Ripken Jr. in the starting lineup to end the Hall of Famer's record streak of 2,632 consecutive starts.

After three seasons with the Orioles and one with the Expos, Minor settled in Maryland after becoming a minor-league coach and manager for the Orioles in 2006.

“Been a long time,” Minor told The Oklahoman last year about his time as a Sooner. “People still want to talk about my days there … it’s really remarkable that I feel like I had some type of impact on somebody. 

“Just a credit to the people of Oklahoma. They always remember the people that come through there. They always stick with ‘em no matter what.”