University of Tennessee Athletics
Marcus Haislip To Enter NBA Draft
March 15, 2002 | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2002
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee junior forward Marcus Haislip has informed head coach Buzz Peterson that he will forgo his senior season and enter the NBA Draft in June.
"Marcus had a tremendous junior year," head coach Buzz Peterson said. "He made great strides in his game. I enjoyed coaching him this season. He has a great future, we just wish we could have had him for another year.
"Marcus and I have met several times about his future. I gathered information regarding his projection in the NBA Draft and provided this to him. Ultimately the decision was up to Marcus and his family."
A second team All-SEC selection this year, Haislip ranked second on the team with 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a junior. He ranked fifth in the conference in scoring and eighth in rebounding while leading the team and ranking second in the SEC with 44 blocked shots entering the NCAA Tournament. Against SEC teams he averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 16 games.
Haislip exploded on to the scene this season after spending his first two years at Tennessee as a backup. As a freshman he averaged 4.4 points and as a sophomore he had 5.8 points before joining the starting lineup and averaging 16.7 points per game this year.
He will finish his career ranked ninth on UT's career blocked shot list with 116 career blocks.
The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Haislip was one of the most athletic players in the nation this past season. The owner of a 40-inch vertical leap, he has recorded a 400-pound bench press and a 585 pound squat in the weight room.
Haislip becomes the first Vol to turn pro before his senior season since Bernard King skipped his final year of eligibility in 1977.
