About Me
Dwyane Wade was born on the south side of Chicago, to Dwyane Sr. and Jolinda Wade. He cites one of his older sisters, Tragil, as the individual most responsible for his childhood upbringing and for steering him in the proper direction. His parents divorced and he lived with his father and stepmother in Robbins, Illinois during his childhood. As a child growing up in the Chicago area Wade idolized former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan,and has said he patterns his game after him.Wade attended H. L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn.He did not see a lot of playing time his sophomore year as his stepbrother, Demetris McDaniel, was the star of the team. Wade grew four inches in the summer before his junior year and proceeded to average 20.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Wade then averaged 27.0 points and 11.0 rebounds his senior year, helping his team to a 24-5 record and a berth in the title game of the Class AA Eisenhower Sectional. He broke the school records for points (676) and steals (106) in a single season. In 2000, Wade was No. 7 in the voting for the Illinois Mr. Basketball Award.Wade played college basketball for Marquette University in Milwaukee. In Wade's first year at Marquette he did not play because of academic problems.When Wade became eligible his sophomore year (2001-2002) he led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.8 ppg, and also contributed averages of 6.6 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game. Marquette finished a 26-7 record, the school's best record since the 1993-1994 season.In 2002-03, Wade led Marquette in scoring again with 21.5 ppg, and Marquette won the school's first and only Conference USA championship with a 27-6 record. Wade then led the Golden Eagles to the Final Four, the school's first appearance in the Final Four since winning the 1977 national championship. After the season Wade was named to the Associated Press All-America Team becoming the first Marquette player since 1978 to do so.One of Wade's more memorable collegiate moments came in the 2003 Midwest Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis. Against heavily favored, top-ranked and top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, Wade recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, including 4 blocks and a steal on defense. His triple double was just the third ever in NCAA Tournament history. Wade's accomplishment helped lead Marquette over the Wildcats 83-69 and into the Final Four. Marquette finished the season ranked #6 in the AP poll, the school's highest ranking since the 1976-1977 season. Wade's strong play in the tournament caused his draft stock to increase significantly. As a result, he elected to enter the 2003 NBA draft and forgo his senior year at Marquette.On September 28, 2006, nearly three and a half years after his final collegiate game, Marquette head coach Tom Crean announced that the university would retire Wade's jersey at halftime of the February 3, 2007 Big East Conference game between Marquette and Providence. Although Marquette requires student-athletes to graduate prior to receiving jersey retirement honors, the University has made a special exception for Wade based on his accomplishments since leaving Marquette. Selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Wade quickly emerged as a solid player
