Wayman Tisdale

From Hoopedia

Wayman Lawrence Tisdale (born June 9, 1964, in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and now a jazz bass guitarist and a member of the Oklahoma Tourism Board. Wayman and wife Regina have four children.

Basketball

Tisdale graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he grew up. As a college player at the University of Oklahoma from 1983 to 1985, Tisdale was a three-time All-American, and is still the only male in Division I basketball history to be voted All-America his freshman (also the first freshman to become an All-American), sophomore, and junior seasons. He won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team coached by Indiana University's Bobby Knight, and the Indiana Pacers made Tisdale the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.

As a center and power forward, Tisdale averaged over 15 points and six rebounds per game in a 12-season professional career with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. His best season was in 1989-90 with the Kings, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. In 1997, Tisdale retired to focus on his musical career.

Cancer

In March 2007, Tisdale underwent treatment for cancer in his knee, which was discovered after he fell down a flight of stairs in his home on February 8, 2007 and broke his leg. In May 2007, Tisdale announced on his website that he is recovering from a procedure to remove the cyst, and is expected to recover 100%.

Music

Wayman Tisdale released his debut CD, Power Forward, in 1995. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.