Wayne Pulliam (1975) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Wayne Pulliam

Induction:
1975

Wayne Pulliam was an outstanding basketball player for Southern Miss during the late 1950s. He is best remembered for his outstanding ability to handle the ball and for his leadership both on and off the court. During his career he would see action at both guard and forward and his ability to swing between both positions made him one of the most valuable players on the team.
   Pulliam grew up in Avera, Mississippi and during the final two seasons of a brilliant prep career at Sand Hill high School scored 1,518 points. He earned a spot playing in the first Mississippi High School all-star game and was voted the game's most valuable player.
   Throughout his high school career he had a reputation as an outstanding shooter who wasn't afraid to pull the trigger.
   He was red shirted his first season at Southern (1956-57), but after working hard during that year and during the off-season to improve in all areas, he was ready to make his mark.
   He would spend the 1957-58 season as a valuable reserve at both guard and forward, finishing the year averaging 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds. That team finished the year with an 18-7 record and finished strong winning nine of its last 10 games.
   Pulliam's playing time increased during the 1958-59 season as he averaged 6.1 points per game and 4.7 rebounds. The 6-3, 185-pounder continued to be one of the team's most valuable players off the bench and numerous times that year he was able to give the team a big lift as they rallied to make up a deficit.
   He enjoyed his best season ever during the 1959-60 season as the team recorded one of the best years in school history. Pulliam averaged 9.3 points per game and 6.2 rebounds, both career highs, as the team finished 23-2 and won its final 15 games of the season.
   Pulliam's ability to play several roles on the team during that 1959-60 season was one of the reasons the team had so much success that year. Regardless of the role that Coach Fred Lewis had for him, Pulliam always seemed to respond. If Lewis needed him as a ball handling guard, that's what Pulliam would do. If Lewis needed him to go inside and bang the backboards for rebounds, that's what Pulliam would do.
   Pulliam's contribution to Southern Miss basketball can't be measured solely by statistics. It wouldn't be fair to evaluate him that way because many of the things that he did were not kept statistically then like they are now. Categories like steals and assists weren't kept during those days and there is no doubt that Pulliam would have been among the team leaders in those areas throughout his career.
   His defensive skills were extraordinary and more times than not he would draw the assignment of covering the other team's top scoring guard. He was a dedicated player, who was concerned more about reaching team goals, more than individual ones.