NEW : Former teammates and friends mourn `` the nicest man in the world '' ` Ai n't No Stopping Us Now was college and pro basketball star , later jazz bassist . His jazz recording career began in 1995 , two years before his 1997 NBA retirement , with a debut CD that rose to No . 4 on Billboard 's Contemporary Jazz chart and crossed over onto the R & B charts , the bio said . Tisdale had Friday battle with cancer ; he was Friday when he died 44 . Death called `` a complete shock '' ; Tisdale was about to record with Reggie Miller .
NEW : Former teammates and friends mourn `` the nicest man in the world '' ` Ai n't No Stopping Us Now was college and pro basketball star , later jazz bassist . Tisdale had Friday battle with cancer ; he was Friday when he died 44 . Death called `` a complete shock '' ; Tisdale was about to record with Reggie Miller .