In 2009, Marquis McDougald became the eighth player from the North Carolina Wesleyan men’s basketball program to garner Hall of Fame status at the time.  The program’s all-time leading rebounder with 872 career boards, the former All-American and three-time MVP also ranks third all-time in scoring with 1,710 career points.

A native of Raleigh, N.C., McDougald began his Hall of Fame career with the Bishops during the 1995-96 season. After averaging nine points and six rebounds per game as a freshman, he enjoyed a break-out year during his sophomore campaign, averaging 18 points and 10 boards per contest en route to Most Valuable Player, All-Conference, All-Tournament, and All-Region honors.  The 6’7” McDougald followed his sophomore season up with an even better junior year, again averaging a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.  The 1997-98 season also saw him earn the second of his three MVP, All-Conference, and All-Region awards.

McDougald’s 1998-99 senior slate remains one of the best in North Carolina Wesleyan history.  Not only did he set new season records for points (621) and rebounds (281), but he also became the first and only Battling Bishop to ever garner Conference Player of the Year accolades.  McDougald was later honored as the first All-American of head coach John Thompson’s coaching career; in the process, he gained notoriety as the first NC Wesleyan men’s basketball player to receive All-American status since Roger Taylor in 1969-70.

After wrapping up his four-year Battling Bishop career with one final honor – 1998-99 NC Wesleyan Male Athlete of the Year – McDougald went on to play professionally in the USBL before taking his talents overseas to Belgium and Finland.