Men’s Basketball
Inducted 2003
When Bubba Wells saw his number retired, Jan. 22, 1998, he became only the fourth Austin Peay athlete in history and second basketball player bestowed with such an honor.
That in itself tells the impact Wells had on APSU basketball. But that is just part of the story. He literally was the linchpin for OVC basketball during the mid-1990s, or as former OVC Director of Communications Rob Washburn said, Wells was “perhaps the most popular player in OVC basketball history?a true cult figure.”
Wells had a shaved head ala Charles Barkley, the charismatic on-court smile on which cameras kept focused...and he had that nickname...Bubba. In addition to that, he literally had game...Oh, how he could score!!!
His story became even more compelling when a third leg stress fracture and second tibial nail surgery put his senior season in jeopardy. Miraculously, what took nearly five months in rehabilitation the first time took five weeks the second time. He missed his first 12 games his senior season. However, in his first game back, he scored an amazing 39 points in only 28 minutes against Southeast Missouri. His legend was just beginning to grow. He went from a mid-south icon to a regional and then national phenomenon.
First it was “USA Today” who came calling about his remarkable comeback. Wells’ performance also caught the attention of “The Los Angeles Times” in a front-page story about “The Man of Steel” and segments on both CBS NCAA College Basketball “At the Half” and a seven-minute feature?the “Real Rod Man”?on NBC’s “Today” show. He also was featured in many other publications. “InfoSport” named him their 1996-97 “National Comeback Player of Year” recipient.
Wells was the 1997 OVC “Player of the Year” and the 1996 and 1997 OVC “Male Athlete of the Year.” He also was two-time Tennessee Sportswriters College Basketball “Player of the Year.” He was a three-time first-team All-OVC choice after being named the league’s “Freshman of the Year” in 1993-94.
As a senior he was named third-team Preseason All-America by Athlon Magazine and all-district by both the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was named to the “Basketball Times” All-South team.
Following the season, the Tennessee State House of Representatives recognized his comeback and his Governors career.
As a sophomore, Wells averaged 19.3 points per game (ppg) and followed that up with a 26.3 ppg (third in nation) in 1995-96, earning the OVC Tourney MVP in leading the Govs to a championship and NCAA tournament appearance. Wells still owns several OVC tournament records.
Wells finished his career with 2,267 points?the first APSU player to reach 2,000 points?ranking him third all-time in the OVC. He averaged 21.6 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the floor. He finished with 58 straight double-figure scoring games.
He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1997 draft and played one season before being traded to the Phoenix Suns and then to the Chicago Bulls. Leg injuries have slowed his professional career, although he played in the Philippines this past season and will return there in the spring.
