Players

Tom Millikin

Year Inducted: 1993

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:

Pinckneyville High School

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

(Maywood) Proviso East

Biography:

At the time of his induction, Tom Millikin was the only person to play on an IHSA State Championship team and coach a team to the IHSA State Championship.  In 1948, Tom played for the Pinckneyville HS team that defeated Rockford East HS for the title, 65-39.  In 1969, Tom coached the Jim Brewer-let team to a 58-51 victory over Peoria Spalding in the title game.  Tom also has the distinction of being one of the rare people to be chosen to the IBCA Hall of Fame as both a player (1993) and as a coach (1973).  

After high school, Tom was a standout at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale from 1948-1954.  In 1949-50 he was the Saluki MVP and the MVP of the conference where he was the 2nd leading scorer.  In 1950-51 he was again the team MVP and conference MVP.  He led his team with 485 points that year, 225 of them scored in conference play.  His 1951-52 season was interrupted after 13 games by the US draft.  He returned in 1953-54 to play 16 games.  Tom was the first SIU plaer to score 1000+ points with 1,092 in his career.  He earned Little All American Player honors for his play.

Tom Millikin died on May 1, 2001 at the age of 70.