TULSA, Okla. — As many as 10,000 people are expected to pack a downtown Tulsa, Okla., arena for a public memorial service to honor Wayman Tisdale.

The former University of Oklahoma basketball star and popular jazz musician died last week after a long battle with cancer. He was 44.

Ahead of Thursday's funeral service, Tisdale's casket will be taken by horse-drawn carriage on a 3-mile procession to the BOK Center arena.

On Wednesday hundreds of mourners paid last respects to Tisdale at a north Tulsa church.

Tisdale was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma and played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

Tisdale then became a jazz musician and recorded eight albums. His "Way Up!" release in 2006 spent four weeks as the No. 1 contemporary jazz album.