Graduation Finds Former Tide Hoops Player Amongst Grads
8/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA - While some of his fellow summer 2002 graduates might have felt a little jittery as they lined up in the hallways of Coleman Coliseum before Monday morning's University of Alabama Summer 2002 graduation ceremony, Marcus Campbell likely felt right at home.
The Livingston native spent many an afternoon and evening in the building as a Crimson Tide basketball player. Campbell, who turned 33 on July 7, was a 6-7 forward on the Alabama basketball teams from 1989-91. He and his Tide teammates won three straight Southeastern Conference tournament championships during that time, in 1989, 1990 and 1991, advancing to the NCAA tournament all three of those seasons, including the Sweet 16 his junior and senior seasons.
Playing for Wimp Sanderson, Campbell's Alabama teammates included seven men who would go on to play in the NBA, including Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, Keith Askins, David Benoit, James Robinson, Michael Ansley, and Marcus Webb.
Campbell and yet another of his Tide teammates Melvin Cheatum took the European professional basketball route where they experienced a decade of success. Following his senior season at Alabama, the Livingston High graduate has starred playing ball overseas and has played for teams in Holland, France, and for eight seasons in Belgium. A torn ACL caused him to miss last season in Belgium. Campbell says he plans to try and play this season, but, given his age and the injury, it's not a "given" that he will be able to continue playing ball.
But Campbell isn't worried. As of Monday morning, thanks to his persistence, he now holds a University of Alabama degree. He received his bachelor of Science in Education in Human Performance. Among those who attended the ceremony to celebrate Campbell's feat was University of Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried.
