Marques Haynes

He was born into a poor family living in Sand Springs, Oklahoma in 1926, or 1923. Not even Marques knows his true age. He’ll say only that he put himself on hold and he’s been on hold for a long time. Marques fell in love with the game of basketball at a young age, learning to dribble in the dirt and by bouncing tennis ball on the railroad tracks that ran by his home. He couldn’t have imagined that the skill would take him around the world.

After leading Booker T. High School to a national championship, Marques attended Langston University on a 25 dollar scholarship from his church. He hitchhiked to the University, 82 miles from his home, with a single quarter in his pocket. Marques remembers it taking him thirteen rides, including that final leg on a horse and wagon.

The skilled ball-handler became a four-time All-State, All-Conference selection and a team MVP. While at Langston, his squad defeated a talented exhibition team. Marques so impressed his opponents they invited him to join them on the spot. He declined, claiming that if he quit school his mother would track him down and kill him. Upon graduation, however, Marques quickly joined the aptly named team. As a Globetrotter, Marques Hayes played in more than 12,000 games in 106 countries, logging more than four million miles. His opponents found it nearly impossible to take the ball from him. Marques could dribble toe high or head high, while walking or running. He particularly enjoyed stopping on a dime and watching defenders sail by. Despite not playing in the NBA, Marques became the first Globetrotter player elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

In today’s Southern Quote the man widely considered to be the greatest ball handler the game has ever seen, recounts the wisdom of his mother. Marques Haynes says, “My mom told me I could play basketball as long as I wanted to, but that they could take the ball away from me, but not my education. Nobody can take that.”

Hugs,
Shellie