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Athletics News

Tatum to Gain Induction into New England Basketball Hall of Fame

September 09, 2009

NEW LONDON, Conn.--Kareem Tatum '01, a former All-America guard and all-time leading scorer for the Connecticut College men's basketball program, has been selected to the 2009 class of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Tatum will be honored at a dinner and induction ceremony Friday October 9 at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

"I am very proud to receive the honor of being inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame," Tatum said. "Receiving this award eight years after graduating is special because it brings back many fond memories of playing at Connecticut College. Although I am being inducted as an individual, I believe that this honor is a result of not only my commitment to success on the court, but also to the hard work and dedication of my coaches and teammates." This event will mark the third time Tatum has received a call to a hall. In 2003, Tatum was honored in the New England Basketball Hall of Fame team category with the storied 1998-1999 squad in an induction ceremony at the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island. Tatum returned to his alma mater to be recognized as a 2007 inductee into the Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame. Tatum appreciates the honors and accolades but it is the friendships and fraternal bond that he shares with his fellow Camels and coaches that he holds closest to his heart.

"When I reflect on my time spent playing at Connecticut College, I focus less on our accomplishments on the court and more on the lifelong bonds that were formed through the game of basketball," Tatum said. "While it was exciting to represent our school in the Sweet Sixteen and the Final Four, it has been more rewarding to be a part of my teammates' and coaches' lives after college." Considered one of the greatest basketball players in program history, Tatum's leadership and on-court dominance led the Camels to the pinnacle of college basketball with an appearance in the 1999 NCAA Tournament Final Four.

Glen Miller, the head men's basketball coach at the University of Pennsylvania and former head coach at Connecticut College, was pleased to learn of Tatum's honor.

"On behalf of his former coaching staff and teammates, I want to congratulate Kareem for his induction into The New England Basketball Hall Of Fame," Miller said. "We are all very proud of him. Kareem was one of those dominant players who only come around once in awhile. His ability to elevate his teammates to a higher level and take over games when the outcome was in question was as good as any player I have ever coached. Kareem was a fierce competitor who was always at his best when playing the best. However, his leadership ability and team-first approach was what made him so special to play with, coach and be around."

A second team All-America in 2000, the 6-3 guard earned All-America honorable mention selection in 2001. He garnered All-NESCAC honors in each of his four years with the program, including second team in 1998 and 1999, followed by first team honors in 2000 and 2001. The 1998 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, Tatum was selected conference Player of the Year in 2000.

Tatum helped lead the Camels to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1998 when they reached the Sweet 16 round with a 22-4 record. One year later, they soared to the top of the national polls with a number one ranking and a perfect 24-0 regular season mark. The squad carried a 27-0 record into the NCAA Final Four round, the furthest advancement of any Connecticut College team in NCAA play.

A two-year team captain as a junior and senior, Tatum played a major role in Conn's tremendous success and helped lead the squad to an impressive, four-year 87-17 mark (.837) during his tenure. Tatum ended his career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,656 points (16.1 average), a record he continues to hold today. He also graduated with 525 career rebounds (5.1 average), 277 assists and 175 steals.

Since earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, Tatum has been teaching English and coaching high school basketball in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.

For complete information on the ceremony at Mohegan Sun, visit the New England Basketball Hall of Fame web site at: http://www.internationalsport.com/basketball/bhof_induction.cfm.

For more information contact: William Tomasian (860) 439-2501; william.tomasian@conncoll.edu