A once prominent professional basketball player in Southern Europe and Turkey has passed away unexpectedly.

Asim Pars, a Bosnian who held Turkish citizenship, was reportedly found dead in his home in Bosnia at the age of 48, Turkiye Today reported.

Per a separate source, local police believe that Pars' death was the result of a suicide.

Bosnian-born basketball player found fame in Turkey

Born as Asim Pascanovic in Bosnia in 1976, he began playing professional basketball in his home country in 1992 but soon fled to Turkey to escape the Balkans War that raged throughout the mid-1990s.

While in Turkey, he changed his name to Asim Pars and continued to play basketball professionally for several Turkish teams as he eventually gained Turkish citizenship.

That earned citizenship gained him a spot on the Turkish national team, and he was part of the team that won a silver medal at the 2001 European Basketball Championship.

In addition to the several teams in Turkey that he played for, Pars also played for several other professional teams in other leagues throughout Europe, and the Turkish media outlet noted that he was fondly remembered by his fans, friends, former teammates, and coaches.

Police say he committed suicide by hanging

According to the Bosnian media outlet Klix, the "legendary" former player Pars, who retired from professional basketball in 2013, was found in a "lifeless state" at his family's home in the small village of Tojsici.

The Police Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tuzla Canton confirmed in a statement to the outlet that Pars committed suicide to end his life.

"Today, around 10:40 a.m., the Kalesija Police Station received a report that in Tojsici, the municipality of Kalesija A.P., born in 1974, it had co-suicided by hanging," the Directorate said in a translated statement. "Police officers of the Kalesija Police Administration, who confirmed the allegations of the report, were conducted upon the report. The death of A.P. was confirmed by a doctor of the Kalesija Health Center."

Local prosecutors were informed of the incident and the body was turned over to the family. An investigation into the possible motive behind the suicide is reportedly underway.

Condolences for the deceased

Turkey's Daily Sabah also reported on the untimely death of the famous former basketball star and shared some of the statements of condolences that were issued on Pars' behalf from some of the teams he previously played for.

Turkish Basketball Federation President Hidayet Turkoglu said, "I was saddened to learn of the passing of Asım Pars, a significant figure in Turkish basketball. I wish peace for the deceased and extend my condolences to his family and the basketball community."

The Federation itself added in a similar statement, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former national team player Asım Pars. We wish him peace and extend our condolences to his family and the basketball community."