VILLANOVA, Pa. – Larry Hennessy, an All-American at Villanova who played in the NBA, has died. He was 79.

Hennessy died Wednesday in Williamsburg, Va., according to a statement from the school.

Hennessy scored 1,737 points from 1950-53 at Villanova, which retired his No. 14 jersey. He averaged 23.2 points for the Wildcats, ranking 11th in school history.

He played two seasons in the NBA and was part of the Philadelphia Warriors 1955-56 championship team. Hennessy later coached basketball at the high school and community college level.

“All of us in the Villanova basketball family were saddened to learn of coach Hennessy's passing,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “He was one of the great Wildcat All-Americans and helped build the basketball tradition that is so much a part of our program.”

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, followed by a funeral on Thursday.