Marquette 'M Club' Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2009
- Class:
- 2003
Dwyane Wade left Marquette as one of its most decorated athletes when he was drafted fifth overall by the Miami Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft, the highest-ever drafted MU athlete. Wade helped lead MU back to the Final Four in 2003 for the first time since it's national championship season in 1977 by registering only the third triple-double in school history. His 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to lead MU past No. 1-overall seed Kentucky in the Elite Eight is one of only 10 triple doubles in NCAA Tournament history.
In 2003, Wade was a consensus first team All-America and was named as the Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Wade's 2003 season ranks as one of the best, statically speaking, in MU history. His 710 points recorded that season (21.5 points per game) ranks first on the MU single-season list. Wade's career scoring average of 19.7 points ranks second in the MU annals and his 1,281 career points ranks 25th.
After leaving MU, Wade began a stellar professional career, leading the Heat to the playoffs as a rookie and carried the team to the 2006 NBA Championship, earning NBA Finals MVP after averaging 34.7 points in the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
A five-time NBA All-Star, Wade has been a member of two United States' Olympic teams, capturing a bronze medal in 2004 and a gold as the squad's leading scorer in 2008. Wade's Olympic gold is only the third ever earned by a former MU student-athlete.
Sponsor: Craig and Wendy Kasten
