This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap will be inducted Oct. 1 into the Louisiana Tech Hall of Fame.
Millsap led the NCAA in rebounding three consecutive seasons (2003-04 to 2005-06) while starring for the Bulldogs. He left the school after his junior year, and was selected by Utah with the 47th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.
Millsap will join Jazz legend Karl Malone and NFL great Terry Bradshaw in Louisiana Tech's Hall of Fame, and will be honored at halftime of the Bulldogs' home football game Oct. 1 against Hawaii.
"It's tremendous. … Not only was he a super athlete, but he's been a super ambassador for the university," Louisiana Tech athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said.
Millsap averaged career highs last season in points (17.3), assists (2.5) and minutes (34.3) while playing in 76 games (all starts). He was in many ways the Jazz's most valuable player, and became a locker-room leader after All-Star guard Deron Williams was traded Feb. 23 to New Jersey. Millsap dealt with and played through significant injuries during the season.
The five-year veteran was honored Aug. 12 by his high school, Grambling Lab and Tech, with "Paul Millsap Day."
Brian T. Smith