Jamaal Tatum
Encyclopedia
Jamaal Tatum is a guard formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers
of the NBA. He is 6'2" and 175 pounds (1.88 m, 80 kg).
As a high school
er, Tatum was a finalist as the Missouri Mr. Basketball, becoming the leading scorer at Helias High School
in Jefferson City
. He ended up setting the school record for points in a game (46). Tatum is noted for also lettering in football
as a sophomore and soccer
as a freshman, and consistently posting an excellent GPA, possibly due to both his parents being involved in the education system (Tatum's father is a professor of art at Lincoln University
and his mother is the supervisor of Jefferson City Public Schools). In his first semester at SIU, Tatum posted a 4.0 GPA.
Rising to the status of a star basketball player at Southern Illinois, Tatum was known for his incredible quickness and great long-range shooting. In only his freshman season, he was second in the Missouri Valley Conference
in three-point shooting (45.6%).
By the time he was a junior, he had led the Salukis back to prominence and took them to the 2006 NCAA Tournament
as a #11 seed, where they would lose to West Virginia
in the first round, but Tatum was named the CBS player of the game for his team. That year, he led the team in scoring (15 ppg) and received various Missouri Valley Conference awards.
In his final season as a Saluki, Tatum received Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors. Along with fellow senior Tony Young and star junior Randal Falker, Tatum brought the team high into the AP
and coaches' poll, with a 27-6 record (including the MVC Tournament) and an RPI
of #7 in the country, ahead of such powerhouses as Memphis
(#8) and Kansas
(#11). The Salukis received a #4 seed in the 2007 NCAA Tournament
and went on to easily beat Holy Cross
in the first round. Facing #5 seed Virginia Tech
in the second round, they won surprisingly easily, holding the Hokies to just 48 points with great defense, winning 63-48. Tatum had 21 points and was 7-for-15 from field goal range in the win. They next faced top-seeded Kansas, and lost a tight game, 61-58. Tatum came up with some big shots at the end, but his 19 points wasn't enough to defeat the Jayhawks. However, with their 29th win of the season coming against Virginia Tech, the Salukis surpassed the win total of the 2001 team.
Tatum signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2007, playing with them during training camp, but did not earn a spot on the final roster. He was drafted 4th overall in the D-League draft by the Idaho Stampede
but was waived before he played in a game due to injury. On August 27, 2008 he signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trail Blazers
. On October 17, 2008 he was waived by the team.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
of the NBA. He is 6'2" and 175 pounds (1.88 m, 80 kg).
As a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
er, Tatum was a finalist as the Missouri Mr. Basketball, becoming the leading scorer at Helias High School
Helias High School
Helias Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City.- History :...
in Jefferson City
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. He ended up setting the school record for points in a game (46). Tatum is noted for also lettering in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
as a sophomore and soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
as a freshman, and consistently posting an excellent GPA, possibly due to both his parents being involved in the education system (Tatum's father is a professor of art at Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Missouri)
Lincoln University, a historically black college, is located in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 2007, according to U.S. News and World Report, Lincoln University was ranked #3 for economic diversity, #5 for campus ethnic diversity, and #9 for most international students among master's level...
and his mother is the supervisor of Jefferson City Public Schools). In his first semester at SIU, Tatum posted a 4.0 GPA.
Rising to the status of a star basketball player at Southern Illinois, Tatum was known for his incredible quickness and great long-range shooting. In only his freshman season, he was second in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
in three-point shooting (45.6%).
By the time he was a junior, he had led the Salukis back to prominence and took them to the 2006 NCAA Tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
as a #11 seed, where they would lose to West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
in the first round, but Tatum was named the CBS player of the game for his team. That year, he led the team in scoring (15 ppg) and received various Missouri Valley Conference awards.
In his final season as a Saluki, Tatum received Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors. Along with fellow senior Tony Young and star junior Randal Falker, Tatum brought the team high into the AP
Associated Press
The 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...
and coaches' poll, with a 27-6 record (including the MVC Tournament) and an RPI
Ratings Percentage Index
The Rating Percentage Index, commonly known as the RPI, is a quantity used to rank sports teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule. It is one of the systems by which NCAA basketball and baseball teams are ranked...
of #7 in the country, ahead of such powerhouses as Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
(#8) and Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball
The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks and is one of the most successful and prestigious programs in the history of college basketball...
(#11). The Salukis received a #4 seed in the 2007 NCAA Tournament
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
and went on to easily beat Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in the first round. Facing #5 seed Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
in the second round, they won surprisingly easily, holding the Hokies to just 48 points with great defense, winning 63-48. Tatum had 21 points and was 7-for-15 from field goal range in the win. They next faced top-seeded Kansas, and lost a tight game, 61-58. Tatum came up with some big shots at the end, but his 19 points wasn't enough to defeat the Jayhawks. However, with their 29th win of the season coming against Virginia Tech, the Salukis surpassed the win total of the 2001 team.
Tatum signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Atlanta Hawks in 2007, playing with them during training camp, but did not earn a spot on the final roster. He was drafted 4th overall in the D-League draft by the Idaho Stampede
Idaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
but was waived before he played in a game due to injury. On August 27, 2008 he signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. On October 17, 2008 he was waived by the team.