Marcus Wilson (basketball)

Marcus Wilson
Personal information
Born (1977-08-08) August 8, 1977 (age 47)
Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
High schoolJames Whitcomb Riley
(South Bend, Indiana, U.S.)
CollegeEvansville (1995–1999)
Playing career1999–2010
PositionShooting guard
Career history
As player:
1999Komfort Sargard
2000Hapoel Holon
2001Popolare Ragusa
2001–2002AS Bondy
2002–2002BSG Bremerhaven
2003–2004Reims
2004–2005BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque
2005Spirou Charleroi
2005–2006Tuborg Pilsener Izmir
2006–2007JL Bourg Basket
2007Cartersville Warriors
2007Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski
2007–2008Boston Blizzard
2008BC Odesa
2008–2009CB Tarragona
2010Beirasar Rosalia
2010Leyma Coruña
As coach:
2013–2016Saint Louis (assistant)
2022–2023Evansville (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Marcus Dwayne Wilson (born August 8, 1977) is an American basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for the University of Evansville before playing professionally in Europe, South America and the United States.[1]

Before starting his professional basketball career, Wilson set and still holds several Men's Division 1 basketball records while playing for the Purple Aces from 1995–1999.[2][3][4] In 2008 was inducted into the University of Evansville Hall Of Fame. In 2007, Wilson was voted to the Missouri Valley Conference Top 50 Greatest Players[5] In 2005, Wilson was named to the University of Evansville's All Time Greastest Players.[6]

Early life

Wilson is the youngest of 15 children and graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School. An all-state selection on the 1995 Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association team, first team all-state as chosen by the Bloomington Herald, all conference and all-sectional selection, Wilson earned a scholarship to play at the University of Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference and graduated from the University of Evansville in 1999, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration.[citation needed]

Collegiate career

Wilson is the 4th leading scorer in the history in the University of Evansville, with 2053 points scored. He is the 3rd leading scorer in the history of the school since they joined Division I athletics (Evansville was Division II until joining Division I athletics in 1977).[citation needed] As a freshman, he produced the fifth highest free throw percentage in school history at 88.2 percent, which was seventh best among all Division 1 players that season.[citation needed]

As a sophomore, Wilson was second team all-Missouri Valley Conference and during that season made 48 consecutive free throws[4] which places him tied for 14th in the history of the NCAA Division I men's basketball in consecutive free throws made. Wilson's free throw percentage of 90.1% was 4th in the nation[7] among all Division 1 players. As a sophomore, he led the Aces in field goals, three-point field goals, free throws, free throw attempts and co-leader in steals.

He averaged 18.4 points in MVC games and his streak of 48 free throws in a row between Dec. 1 and Feb. 2 is a UE record..he then hit 18 straight free throws later in the season. As a junior, Wilson was first team all-Missouri Valley Conference averaging 18.3 points per game and was one of three captains on that 1997–98 team. Also a captain on the 1998–99 team, Wilson's senior year, he led the Missouri Valley Conference in free throw percentage and 3 point percentage.[citation needed]

Wilson finished 3rd in the nation in ft%[8] and 12th in 3pt%.[7] He finished 9th in the country in total points scored with 682.[8] He also set an NCAA men's basketball Division I record for most 3 point shots made without a miss in a game,[3][7] going 9 for 9 from behind the arc against the University of Tennessee Martin. Wilson was named the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1999. He also led the Purple Aces to their first and only Missouri Valley Conference title in 1999.[7] The Purple Aces faced the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round[9] of the NCAA, tournament, where Wilson made a name for himself in front of a national audience by scoring 34 points against the Jayhawks in the SuperDome in New Orleans, La. After "Marcus Wilson put on an absolute show in the first half",[10] scoring 18 points in the first 8 minutes,[11] the Aces eventually fell to the Jayhawks.[11]

Wilson's career free throw percentage while playing in college was 88.7%, placing him 9th in that category in the history of college basketball.[2] He was inducted into the University of Evansville Hall of Fame in 2007.[12] Wilson had his #5 University of Evansville jersey retired in 2018 [13]

Professional basketball and coaching

After being named Missouri Valley Conference Player Of the Year, Wilson had and 11-year professional career that began in 1999 with the Utah Jazz in the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League.[14] In 2001, Wilson signed with a club in the suburbs of Paris, France called AS Bondy where his career took off as he led Pro B France[15] league in scoring the last two months of the 2001 season and the entire 2001–2002 season.[16] In 2002–2003 Wilson played in northern Germany, just outside Bremen in the German Bundesliga with the club Bremerhaven[17] where he earned the name "Mr. Perfect" by going 15–15 from the field (11–11 from 3's, 4–4 from 2's, and 2–2 ft's) tallying 43 points in only 20 minutes.[18]

In 2003–2004 season, Wilson returned to France, this time in the top division Pro A France, LNB (Ligue Nationale de Basket) in the city of Reims, about an 1 from Paris with Reims Club Basket[17] where he finished 3rd in the league in scoring at 19.6 points per game.[19] Next season, 2004–2005, he played in northern France with Gravelines, also in the top Pro A league, where he averaged 16.4 points per game.[20] That season, Gravelines played in the ULEB CUP, where Wilson averaged 15.7 points per game, while shooting 44% from behind the arc,[21] highlighted by a 30-point performance[22] in Podgorica, Montenegro against KK Buducnost.[23]

Also at the end of the 2004–2005 season, Wilson signed a contract with another ULEB team, Spirou Charleroi[17] in Belgium to finish the remaining 8 games where he helped them secure the league title. In the 2007–2008 season, Wilson signed in the Ukrainian Superleague, with BC Odesa mid year where he helped the team from falling out of the first division by averaging 20.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds during his stint with the team to finish the season.[21] The following season, 2008–2009, Wilson signed in Tarragona, Spain, with CB Tarragona where he led his team in scoring averaging 15.1 points a game leading his team to the league finals and moving up to LEB Oro Spain.[21]

In 2005 and 2006 while playing in Izmir, Turkey, Wilson joined leukemia specialist Hale Ören to sponsor children suffering from leukemia in the local hospital of Dokuz Eylül University.[citation needed] In 2010, Wilson announced his retirement from professional basketball.[citation needed]

In August 2013, after working in executive-level positions at Aaron's Sales and Lease and Chick-fil-a, Wilson joined the men's basketball staff at Saint Louis University as the video coordinator.[24] In the 2013–14 season, the Billikens won 19 games in a row reaching #8 in the Coaches Poll, won the Atlantic 10 regular season conference title and received a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, defeating NC State in the first round, and losing to Louisville in the round of 32. Wilson remained on staff at SLU until 2016 when he began leadership roles in non profit organizations in St. Louis, Missouri.[citation needed]

He later returned to Evansville as an assistant coach, leaving in 2022.[citation needed]

Business career and public speaking

After executive level jobs at Aaron's Sales and Lease, Chick-Fil-A and three years on the basketball coaching staff at Saint Louis University, in May 2016, Wilson began as Executive Director at the Monsanto Family YMCA, and has received recognition for his work serving inner city St. Louis. In 2017, Wilson was recognized by KMOV news in St. Louis as a Community Hero which featured his work initiating a mentorship based basketball program.[25] He was featured again in 2018 by St. Louis Public Radio for his continued work with the program.[26]

In February 2018, he was named Community Hero of the Month by the St. Louis American.[citation needed] In February 2019, Wilson was acknowledged and awarded by iHeart Media as a 'Community Trailblazer' in St. Louis. Wilson served as Chair of the Gateway Region YMCA DIG(Diversity, Inclusion & Global) Committee and in 2019, Wilson was named a Delux Magazine Power 100 recipient, which honors 100 of the most influential African American business leaders in St. Louis.[citation needed]

In 2017, Wilson began working with ESPN3 as a color commentator through the University of Evansville announcing men's basketball games. He continues to work with ESPN3 and ESPN+ as a color commentator with the University of Evansville and the Missouri Valley Conference.[27]

Wilson expanded his public speaking and has presented to or been the keynote speaker at Centene Corporation, Boys Hope Girls Hope, Youth University graduation (Washington University), the University of Evansville, Mt. Vernon(IL) HS, among others. He has also served on community panel discussions at Soldan High School on life in the inner city, and at University of Missouri St Louis on the future of St. Louis.[citation needed]

Accomplishments

  • Named to the Missouri Valley Conference All Newcomer Team while leading his team in scoring as a freshman,[7]
  • Ranked 4th nationally in free throw percentage (90.1%)[7]
  • Made 48 consecutive free throws which is 14th longest in NCAA history[4]
  • 3-time all-Missouri Valley Conference; 2-time First Team; All-American (1999)[28]
  • 1999 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year[citation needed]
  • In 1999 led MVC Conference in free throw and 3-point percentage, ranking 3rd and 12th respectively nationally[28]
  • Tied the NCAA record for most 3 pointers made in a game without a miss, going 9 for 9[3]
  • Ninth best career free throw percentage in the history of Division 1 NCAA Men's Basketball[2]
  • Named to the University of Evansville All Time Team[6]
  • Named to the Missouri Valley All Time Greatest 50 Greatest Team[5][28]
  • Inducted into the University of Evansville Hall of Fame[12]

References

  1. ^ "Marcus Wilson - Men's Basketball Coach". University of Evansville Athletics. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  2. ^ a b c "Men's College". Basketball.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.[needs update]
  3. ^ a b c "Division I Records" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2024-06-24.[needs update]
  4. ^ a b c "Free Throw Streaks". Mindspring.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2012.[needs update]
  5. ^ a b "Wilson secures 'amazing' honor – South Bend Tribune". Articles.southbendtribune.com. May 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Evansville Athletics – UE's All-Time Men's Basketball Team". Gopurpleaces.com. October 24, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "CNN/SI – Marcus Wilson". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Marcus Wilson Statistics | College Basketball at". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  9. ^ "Kansas Expects A Tough Defensive Test Tonight When It Opens The Ncaa Tournament Against Hot-Shooting Evansville. / Ljworld.Com". .ljworld.com. March 12, 1999. Retrieved January 26, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "KANSAS SHOT A SEASON-BEST 63.1 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD IN A 95-74 VICTORY OVER EVANSVILLE ON FRIDAY AT THE SUPERDOME. / LJWorld.com". .ljworld.com. March 13, 1999. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "When Marcus Wilson Lost His Touch, Evansville Lost Its Chance To Uproot Kansas. / Ljworld.Com". .ljworld.com. March 13, 1999. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Wilson, Marcus. "Wilson Hall of Fame". Aceshof.com.
  13. ^ Wilson, Marcus. "Arad McCutchan, Marcus Wilson among eight to have jersey retired for Evansville basketball". Courierpress.com.
  14. ^ "Utah Jazz summer league roster". Deseret News. July 25, 1999. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  15. ^ "Site officiel de la Ligue Nationale de Basket". LNB.fr. January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  16. ^ "French Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings". Eurobasket. Archived from the original on December 17, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  17. ^ a b c "Marcus Wilson". Polskikosz.pl. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  18. ^ "Beko Basketball Bundesliga – Eisbären B'haven: "Mr. Perfect"". Beko-bbl.de. August 31, 2005. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  19. ^ "French Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings". Eurobasket. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  20. ^ "Marcus Wilson – Bourg – Joueurs – Pro A –". Lnb.fr. March 25, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  21. ^ a b c "Player Profile – Marcus Wilson". Basketball Beyond Borders. August 8, 1977. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  22. ^ "Euroleague(s) Archive (individual) – Page 2". Forums.interbasket.net. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  23. ^ KK Budućnost Podgorica
  24. ^ Wilson, Marcus. "Marcus Wilson BIO – SLU Mens Basketball". Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  25. ^ Wilson, Marcus. "Marcus Wilson – Former pro-basketball player using sport to teach kids life lessons at local YMCA". Kmov.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  26. ^ "Leading through basketball: How a YMCA director is mentoring young adults on the court".
  27. ^ "Unknown" (PDF).[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ a b c "Missouri Valley Conference Recognizes MVC Men's Basketball 50 Greatest Players". MVC-Sports.com. February 26, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.