Chris Marcus
Encyclopedia
Christopher Lee "Chris" Marcus (born December 11, 1979) is a former American
basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University
between 1999–2000 and 2002–03.
As a student at Olympic High School Marcus was a certified seven-footer, but he did not begin playing basketball until the school's new head coach, David Davis, convinced him to play for the team.
, Illinois
but raised in Charlotte
, North Carolina
. He grew extremely quickly; by sixth grade he was , in seventh he was , and in eighth grade Marcus stood tall. By the time he was soundly into his high school career, Marcus was a certified seven-footer. However, he did not begin playing basketball until the school's new head coach, David Davis, convinced him to play for the team. The coaching staff worked with him, improving Marcus' fundamentals and acclimatizing him to the nuances of basketball.
Despite being so tall, colleges did not try to recruit him that much. A couple Clemson
scouts were at one of Marcus' high school games for two other players on his team, and one of them was then-assistant Clemson coach Dennis Felton
. Within the next year, Felton would become the newest head coach at Western Kentucky
and recruited Marcus to play for him.
As a true freshman
in 1998–99, Marcus did not play basketball in order to focus on his grades, adjustment to college, and to become more prepared to deal with the rigors of college basketball's pace and style.
When Marcus started playing for the team as a redshirt
freshman, he burst onto the Sun Belt Conference
scene. He averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game en route to being named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Defender of the Year. It caught the media's attention, too, and he was being discussed as a potential NBA Draft
pick within the next year or two.
The following season, Marcus' sophomore
campaign, he played even better and garnered more accolades in the process. He led the Hilltoppers in scoring at 16.7 points per game, and his 12.1 rebounds per game led all of NCAA Division I. Western Kentucky compiled a 24–7 record, winning the Sun Belt regular season and conference tournament championships, on their way to an NCAA Tournament
berth. Up to that point in his life, Marcus had felt out of place, but the basketball success and recognition brought him confidence.
His last two years at WKU, however, were a disaster. A pre-season injury to his ankle sidelined him months during his junior
year, and after rushing his rehabilitation, Marcus only lasted half of his senior
season before he packed up and headed home to Charlotte. It was during his final two years of college when he was not actually playing for the team that he became addicted to alcohol
. He gained a lot of weight, and rumors of Marcus "throwing away" his potential NBA career circulated.
still wanted to see what he could do. Mostly willingly, but somewhat out of self-perceived obligation, Marcus agreed. The Nuggets' strength coach worked him out up to three times a day in preparation for the pre-season training camp. He lasted only until early November, but by then he had re-acquired his urge to drink alcohol and missed mandatory team meetings. The Nuggets parted ways with Marcus and he never played in an NBA game.
Today he still resides in Charlotte, working various menial jobs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
between 1999–2000 and 2002–03.
As a student at Olympic High School Marcus was a certified seven-footer, but he did not begin playing basketball until the school's new head coach, David Davis, convinced him to play for the team.
Early life
Marcus was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
but raised in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He grew extremely quickly; by sixth grade he was , in seventh he was , and in eighth grade Marcus stood tall. By the time he was soundly into his high school career, Marcus was a certified seven-footer. However, he did not begin playing basketball until the school's new head coach, David Davis, convinced him to play for the team. The coaching staff worked with him, improving Marcus' fundamentals and acclimatizing him to the nuances of basketball.
Despite being so tall, colleges did not try to recruit him that much. A couple Clemson
Clemson Tigers men's basketball
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:...
scouts were at one of Marcus' high school games for two other players on his team, and one of them was then-assistant Clemson coach Dennis Felton
Dennis Felton
Dennis Felton is an American basketball coach for the National Basketball Association New Jersey Nets. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Georgia....
. Within the next year, Felton would become the newest head coach at Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2009...
and recruited Marcus to play for him.
College
Marcus was always insecure about his height and the expectations of basketball greatness that he carried with it. During his recruiting visit to WKU, the players emphasized teamwork and schoolwork while downplaying pressure. This excited Marcus enough to commit to WKU.As a true freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
in 1998–99, Marcus did not play basketball in order to focus on his grades, adjustment to college, and to become more prepared to deal with the rigors of college basketball's pace and style.
When Marcus started playing for the team as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman, he burst onto the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
scene. He averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game en route to being named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Defender of the Year. It caught the media's attention, too, and he was being discussed as a potential NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
pick within the next year or two.
The following season, Marcus' sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
campaign, he played even better and garnered more accolades in the process. He led the Hilltoppers in scoring at 16.7 points per game, and his 12.1 rebounds per game led all of NCAA Division I. Western Kentucky compiled a 24–7 record, winning the Sun Belt regular season and conference tournament championships, on their way to an NCAA Tournament
2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
berth. Up to that point in his life, Marcus had felt out of place, but the basketball success and recognition brought him confidence.
His last two years at WKU, however, were a disaster. A pre-season injury to his ankle sidelined him months during his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, and after rushing his rehabilitation, Marcus only lasted half of his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
season before he packed up and headed home to Charlotte. It was during his final two years of college when he was not actually playing for the team that he became addicted to alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. He gained a lot of weight, and rumors of Marcus "throwing away" his potential NBA career circulated.
Awards and honors
- Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year (1999–00)
- Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year (1999–00)
- Sun Belt Tournament MVP (2000–01)
- NCAA Division I rebounding leader (2000–01)
- Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the YearSun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the YearThe Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Sun Belt Conference. The award was first given following the 1976–77 season...
(2000–01) - 2× Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Honorable Mention All-American (2000–01, 2001–02) - School record for career blocks (214)
- Scored 1,113 points in just over two seasons' worth of games played
NBA training camp and later life
Even though he faded as his collegiate career wore on, the NBA's Denver NuggetsDenver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
still wanted to see what he could do. Mostly willingly, but somewhat out of self-perceived obligation, Marcus agreed. The Nuggets' strength coach worked him out up to three times a day in preparation for the pre-season training camp. He lasted only until early November, but by then he had re-acquired his urge to drink alcohol and missed mandatory team meetings. The Nuggets parted ways with Marcus and he never played in an NBA game.
Today he still resides in Charlotte, working various menial jobs.