Alumni of the Week – Campy Russell (7/27 – 8/2)

Alumni of the Week returns after a two week hiatus that I needed to launch Recruiting Central.  Thank you for the feedback and patience!

Michael Russell went to Michigan from Pontiac Central after twice being named the Michigan High School Player of the Year.  During his freshman season, Michael scored 18.4 points a game and broke the freshman scoring and rebounding records.  He also earned the nickname of “Camperson.”

Camperson would go on to be a All-American in his second year while taking the conference scoring title with an impressive 23.7 PPG.  He proved to have a complete game by also being second in the conference in rebounds with 11.3.  The Wolverines would eventually lose in the round of 8, Elite 8 now, by two points to eventual champion Marquette.

After two years in college, Russell decided to turn pro.  Here are his thoughts on the decision: “I guess the only second thought I ever had about it – and I didn’t think about it until later in my professional career and in talking to some of my college teammates – we won the Big 10 championship in my junior year. We were in the Final 8 in my junior year. And we were really coming back with the same team that year.”

“And the only the regret I have is that if I would have stayed in college for my senior year, we probably would have won the National Championship, because they (Michigan) lost to UCLA, and they won the National Championship. I thought we would have been the superior team. That year, I led the league in scoring and was second in rebounding. We still keep in contact to this day.”

Russell wound up being drafted 8th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers and went on to play in the NBA for ten years.  Russell would have his nickname shortened to “Campy” during his time in the pros and make the all-star game in 1979 after averaging 21.9 PPG. 

After his time in the NBA, Campy would go back to U of M to get his degree, here are his thoughts on this accomplishment: “It was important to my family that I went back. I have 5 kids that I talk a lot about getting the best education and I was being somewhat hypocritical about that since I did not have my degree. The fact that I didn't have one motivated me to go back and get my degree at University of Michigan.”

In 2002, Campy Russell was selected to join the Michigan Hall of Honor in 2002.  He is also recognized as a Wolverine Immortal by UMGoBlue.com.  Russell currently works as the Cavaliers’ front office Director of Alumni Relations and also is the co-host of the Cavaliers’ pre-game show.    

Here is a interview with Russell where he talks about the Cav’s and speculates on how mathematics applies defensively in the game.

STATS WHILE AT U OF M

Past Alumni’s of the Week:

• Barry Larkin (7/6 – 7/12)
• Jim Abbott (6/29 – 7/5)
• Rudy Tomjanovich (6/22 – 6/28)
• Jim Mandich (6/15 – 6/21)
• George Sisler (6/8 – 6/14)
• Marty Turco (6/1 – 6/7)
• Glen Rice (5/25 – 5/31)
• Charlie Gehringer (5/18 – 5/24)
• Brendan Morrison (5/11 – 5/17)
• Dhani Jones (5/4 – 5/10)