Sept. 7, 2005

OXFORD, Ohio--As part of Miami University's Homecoming festivities this weekend, Miami Athletics is proud to welcome back former RedHawk men's basketball standout and current Minnesota Timberwolves forward Wally Szczerbiak ('99) and his wife, Shannon ('99), who will serve as Grand Marshals for the weekend events.

Kicking off the Homecoming celebration is the annual Homecoming Parade, which begins at 7 p.m. The parade route originates at Millet Hall, travels up Talawanda Ave. and then right onto High Street, ending in Uptown Oxford. At 7:30 p.m., there will be a Pep Rally with appearances by Grand Marshals Wally and Shannon Szczerbiak, Miami Head Football Coach Shane Montgomery and President James Garland.

Prior to Saturday's 2 p.m. football game versus Central Michigan, Wally and Shannon will be at the Alumni Association Welcome Tent outside Millett Hall from 11 a.m.-noon to sign autographs. A commemorative print of Wally will be provided. From noon-1 p.m., Wally will take part in a 3-point Shooting Contest in Millett Hall. All are welcome to register for a chance to take on Wally in the 3-point shooting competition. Register on-site or preregister at www.muohio.edu/musf.

Szczerbiak became the most recent member of an elite club to have his jersey retired. On Sept. 22, 2001, Szczerbiak, who played from 1995-99, became the fifth player in Miami history to have his No. 32 retired. He was a unanimous choice as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year as a senior in 1999. Szczerbiak also was a finalist for the Naismith, Robertson and Wooden National Player-of-the-Year Awards, finishing third in the voting for the Wooden Award.

He led Miami through its most magical season in 1998-99--the first time a Miami team collected two wins in the NCAA Tournament--which culminated in an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. His 43-point, 12-rebound, three-block, two-assist effort in the first round of the tournament lifted Miami to a 59-58 win over Washington and catapulted the RedHawks onto the covers of such national publications as Sports Illustrated and USA Today. For the tournament, Szczerbiak averaged 30.0 points per game to lead all scorers.

Szczerbiak ranks second in career scoring at Miami with 1,847 points. He is also the school's career leader in three-point field goal percentage with a .431 mark and set Miami's single-season scoring mark in 1998-99 with 775 points.

Following his illustrious Miami career, Szczerbiak was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. He was a member of the 2000 NBA All-Rookie Team and the MVP of the 2001 Schick Rookie Challenge game.