When Tom McMillen was in high school, he was one of the nation’s most coveted basketball recruits – he even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated while a high school senior. The University of Maryland won the recruiting war and McMillen had an excellent college career, though it was perhaps a bit less than expected of him. While at Maryland, McMillen earned Phi Beta Kappa honors and was his class’s graduation speaker. He then followed 1964 Olympian, Bill Bradley to Oxford, England, as the recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship. While at Oxford, McMillen studied politics, philosophy, and economics and played basketball with the Virtus Sinudyne team in an Italian league. In 1975 Tom McMillen returned to play in the NBA, finishing up his Rhodes work during summers. He at first played with the Buffalo Braves, but later with the Atlanta Hawks.
Off the court, Tom McMillen was also highly successful. He was the youngest member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a member of a U.S. Senate advisory committee on national sports development, and been active in politics. In 1987 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Maryland’s 4th Congressional District. He served in the House until 1993. He has since become an entrepreneur in security systems.
United States