The University of Maryland Hall of Fame will finally bear the name of their most talented player in basketball history, Len Bias.
Bias was a unique talent that college basketball had never seen before. At 6’8 and 210 pounds, most defenses couldn’t stop him from getting to the rim but he also had a silky-smooth jumper that made coaches scratch their heads as to how to stop him.
He spent four years at Maryland and won the ACC Player of the Year award twice. In 1985, he was a second team All-American selection and followed that up with a first team All-American selection in 1986.
Bias was selected by the Boston Celtics with the second overall selection in the 1986 draft. Celtics legend Red Auerbach, the general manager and president at the time, envisioned Bias to be another key cog in the Celtics dynasty. Easy dreams of Bias joining the likes of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale who were fresh off of winning the NBA title.
Unfortunately, the Bias family and the NBA endured one of the most unfortunate tragedies sports had ever seen. Len Bias passed away after an accidental drug overdose, two days after being drafted.
We will never know how good Bias would have been. Some say he could have been just as good as Michael Jordan, if not better.
What we can do is cherish his basketball talents and remember the big smile he displayed.
Welcome to the Maryland athletics Hall of Fame Len. You definitely deserve that.
*Section photo credit to theshoegame.com; Featured photo (above) credit to grantland.com
