NEW CASTLE, Ind. – Eighteen men have been named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2024 Silver Anniversary Team, based on outstanding accomplishments as a senior basketball player 25 years ago. Southern Illinois’ Hall of Famer Jermaine Dearman was honored with a spot on the anniversary team.

Dearman played forward for the Salukis and helped lead the team to an 88-42 record during his career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2003), including a Sweet 16. He was also a member of the 2000 NIT team. Dearman finished his career 10th in career scoring with 1,446 points, seventh in rebounding (802) and ninth in blocked shots (71).

He was a Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2003, honorable mention in 2002 and was named to SIU’s All-Century team in 2014. Dearman was at his best in big games, earning the nickname “Big-Game Jermaine,” and was selected three times as the CBS Player of the Game in NCAA Tournament games versus Texas Tech, Georgia and Missouri. Dearman earned his bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Southern Illinois in 2003.

After his college career, Dearman was an undrafted free agent and played in the summer of 2003 with the Indiana Pacers summer league team and had several NBA workouts/tryouts. Dearman went on to play 10 seasons of professional basketball in Germany (2003-04, 2005-06), Finland (2004-05), Turkey (2007-08, 2010-11, 2012-13), France (2008-09), Japan (2011-12) and for Indiana Diesels (2013-14). He averaged 20.9 points and 8.8 rebounds in Finland in 2004-05; averaged 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in Turkey in 2012-13; averaged 16.1 points and 7.2 rebounds for Indiana Diesels in 2013-14.

Dearman put together a phenomenal prep career with numerous accolades: 1999 Indiana All-Star; 1999 IBCA honorable mention All-State; 1999 Louisville Courier-Journal honorable mention All-State; 1999 North-South Indiana All-Star Classic; two-time first-team all-Marion County (1998, 1999); two-time first-team all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (1998, 1999); 1998 team Most Improved Award.

He led his team in rebounds as a junior and senior; single-game bests of 26 points (vs. New Palestine on Feb. 12, 1999) plus a school-record 19 rebounds (vs. Ben Davis on Dec. 16, 1998); 21 double-doubles (points/rebounds) in career.

Dearman has worked as a coach and instructor for Shoot 360 and is currently working in management for Omega Auto Sports.