Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2025
- Class:
- 2002
A smooth left-handed scorer from Kansas City, Kareem Rush cemented his place among Missouri basketball greats with a prolific three-year career from 1999–2002. Rush totaled 1,584 career points, 456 rebounds, 174 assists and 102 steals, becoming one of just three players in program history to record at least 1,500 points, 200 made 3-pointers, 400 rebounds, 100 assists, and 100 steals. Rush burst onto the scene as the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2000, then earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in each of his next two seasons, averaging 21.1 points per game as a sophomore and 19.4 as a junior. He helped lead Mizzou to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2002 and the Round of 32 in 2001. A deadly perimeter shooter, Rush set a school record with a .439 career 3-point percentage and holds the program mark for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer (40). In 2002, Rush became the 12th Tiger selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when the Toronto Raptors took him with the 20th overall pick. He played in 346 NBA games over seven seasons, totaling 2,213 points, 572 rebounds, 353 assists, and 150 steals, leaving a lasting mark at both the collegiate and professional levels.
