 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 Len Bias (full name Leonard Kevin Bias) is considered by many experts to be one of the greatest college basketball players of the modern era. During the 1985 and 1986 college basketball seasons, Bias asserted himself into the forward spot on the University of Maryland men’s basketball team. His regular highlight-reel performances led to him being named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in both 1985 and 1986.
Bias’ talent did not go unnoticed; indeed, he was expected to become one of the brightest stars of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the second pick of the 1986 NBA Draft, taken by the Boston Celtics, where he was slotted to join stars Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish. Bias was expected to lead the Celtics into a continued dominance of the NBA well into the 1990s. But tragically, two days after being drafted, Bias died of heart failure due to cocaine intoxication. Bias' death was a shock to the Nation, and would ultimately be featured as part of a large-scale anti-drug campaign.
|
|
 |
Bias grew up in Landover, MD, and launched his basketball career at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, MD. |
Since Bias was named ACC Player of the Year in 1985 and 1986, the only other back-to-back winners of the award are Danny Ferry (Duke University, 1988-1989), Tim Duncan (Wake Forest University, 1996-1997) and J.J. Redick (Duke University 2005-2006). |
In 1985, Bias was a Second Team National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Consensus All-American; in 1986, he was a First Team All-American, joining Kenny Walker (University of Kentucky), Walter Berry (St. John’s University), Johnny Dawkins (Duke University) and Steve Alford (Indiana University). |
Over his four years at Maryland, Bias scored 2,149 points, averaging 16.4 points per game. |
|
|
|
