James "Turk" Tillman

James "Turk" Tillman, also known in some official records as Jim Tillman, is an American former college basketball player best known for his standout career at Eastern Kentucky University, where he was named the 1979 Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Player of the Year. ^[1] A 6-foot-4 guard/forward, he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the fifth round of the 1979 NBA draft and by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 9th round of the 1980 NBA draft, although he never played in the NBA.

James "Turk" Tillman was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and attended Eastern High School. A versatile 6-foot-4 forward, Tillman was one of the region's top basketball players in the mid-1970s. In 1975, he was named to the Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team, earning third-team honors and national recognition for his high school performance.^[2]

Tillman was also selected for the prestigious Capital Classic all-star game in 1975, where he represented the Washington, D.C. area alongside other elite high school players.^[3]

Tillman began his collegiate basketball career at the University of Maryland, where he played during the 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons. His time there was troubled by limited playing opportunities and off-court issues, including a suspension for insubordination and a petty larceny conviction. ^{[4] [5]} Seeking a fresh start, Tillman transferred to Eastern Kentucky University, sitting out a season per NCAA transfer rules before returning to play in 1977–78 and 1978–79.^{[6] [7]}

According to The Washington Post, columnist Thomas Boswell described Tillman as a gifted but troubled athlete who found structure and focus during his time at Eastern Kentucky.^[5]

At EKU, he became a leading scorer, averaging 17.9 points per game with a 49.7% field goal percentage and 80.9% from the free-throw line.^[8] On February 19, 1979, Tillman scored a career-high 41 points in a win that secured the OVC regular-season title for the Colonels.^[9]

Tillman's collegiate statistics are available via Sports-Reference.com.^[10]

• The Washington Post – In August 1977, sportswriter Mark Asher reported on Tillman's departure from the University of Maryland following disciplinary issues and a search for a new program.^[12]

• The Washington Post – In December 1978, columnist Murray Polner profiled Tillman's new beginning at Eastern Kentucky University, highlighting his efforts to rebuild his athletic and academic standing.^[7]

• The Washington Post – In January 1980, columnist Thomas Boswell (sportswriter) wrote a reflective feature on Tillman's transformation, describing him as a once-troubled but immensely talented player who found focus and discipline at EKU. ^[5]

• The Washington Post – In August 1977, Murray Polner reported on Tillman's arrival at Eastern Kentucky University alongside several other D.C.-area players, noting the culture change and camaraderie in Richmond, Kentucky.^[6]

• EKUSports.com – In 2024, the university published a retrospective celebrating the 1979 Ohio Valley Conference title team, highlighting Tillman's 41-point performance against Morehead State as a defining moment.^[9]

James "Turk" Tillman is remembered as one of Eastern Kentucky University’s most accomplished basketball players. After a turbulent start to his college career at the University of Maryland, he found renewed focus and success at EKU, where he was named OVC Player of the Year in 1979 and earned First-team All-OVC honors in both 1978 and 1979.

Although he was selected in both the 1979 and 1980 NBA drafts, Tillman never played professionally in the league. In 2010, he was honored by EKU as one of the top players in program history, earning a place on the school's All-Century Men's Basketball Team. Following his playing career, Tillman has remained largely out of the public spotlight.

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