UCLA star, champion Heitz dies

LOS ANGELES – Kenny Heitz, a member of three national championship teams at UCLA, has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 65.

UCLA said Tuesday that Heitz, who played with the Bruins from 1967-69, died Monday in Pacific Palisades.

Heitz joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor), Lucius Allen and Lynn Shackelford on the 1965-66 freshman team that defeated the two-time defending national champion varsity in the first game played in Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins finished with an 88-2 record during Heitz’s career and became the first school to win three consecutive titles.

Heitz, who was drafted by Milwaukee in 1969, graduated from Harvard Law School and went on to successful career in the Los Angeles area.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, three daughters and two granddaughters.