Ohio Valley Conference

APSU Sports Info.

Former APSU Star Trenton Hassell

Trenton Hassell, 2000-01 Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and the league’s Male Athlete of the Year who is now playing for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, was the recipient of the greatest honor bestowed on an APSU athlete. His uniform jersey was permanently retired during ceremonies surrounding the Governors game against Tennessee-Martin on Thursday night.

Hassell, in his rookie season with the Bulls, watched his uniform number 44 become only the sixth jersey number retired in APSU athletics history, joining former football greats John Ogles (#30) and Harold “Red” Roberts (#84) and basketball standouts Tom Morgan (#52), Howard Wright (#30) and Charles “Bubba” Wells (#13). His number will be permanently hung in Dave Aaron Arena. A display, commemorating Hassell’s career, will be assembled in the Dunn Center’s front lobby.

“Trenton is very deserving of this recognition,” said Dave Loos, APSU basketball coach and athletics director. “His accomplishments certainly speak for themselves. I think he not only brought our basketball and athletic program tremendous recognition but gave great visibility to both the University and the Clarksville community as well. He has great pride in Austin Peay and Clarksville is and always will be home for him.

“I think he has been a marvelous credit to our basketball program and the University and continues to carry the Austin Peay banner as he has moved on to the professional basketball scene.”

Last June, the Chicago Bulls selected Hassell with the first pick in the NBA Draft’s second round. He has parlayed his success at Austin Peay and hard work into a starting role for the Bulls as a rookie.

In particular, Hassell enjoyed an outstanding 2000-01 season. He was named Playboy Preseason
All-America and was featured in the 2000-01 Sports Illustrated’s Preseason Basketball issue. It served as a springboard to a campaign that capped a superb career.

He earned OVC “Player of the Year” honors and his third straight first-team All-OVC selection after
averaging 21.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. For a second straight year, Hassell was the only player in the nation to be ranked in his respective conference’s Top 5 in scoring, rebounding and assists. His 21.7 points per game ranked 13th nationally.

The 6'5 forward/guard was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District team for a second-straight time and was voted MVP of the Top of The World Classic in Fairbanks, Ala. That resulted in him being named ESPN/ESPN.com National Player of the Week. Later, ESPN: The Magazine featured a short story on him.

But the awards didn’t end there. Hassell was selected as APSU’s Outstanding Male Athlete for a
second straight year and was the 2000-01 Joy Award recipient as the most valuable senior athlete. Later, he joined Bubba Wells as APSU’s only OVC “Male Athlete of the Year” recipients.

For his three-season career, Hassell ranked fifth all-time in scoring with 1626 points. He averaged
19.4 points. 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game overall.

A non-qualifier out of Clarksville High School, Hassell graduated last May with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance.