When he left Kansas University in 1988, Archie Marshall had two blown knees, dreams of making the NBA and no college degree.

It didn’t hit him until 2003, when he returned for the 15th anniversary of the 1988 championship basketball team, that receiving his diploma might actually mean something to him.

“When I walked off that campus after the reunion, I drove back home and told myself and my wife, ‘I want to be a Jayhawk for life — not just someone who once played basketball there,'” Marshall said. “I wanted to be part of the legacy of being an alumnus of the University of Kansas.”

On Sunday, Marshall will walk down Campanile Hill for KU’s commencement, not as a former basketball player but as a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies.

“I think it’s awesome for Archie, his family and his children,” said Danny Manning, a former teammate who now is director of basketball operations for KU. “It’s a great story. He had to battle through a lot to make it work. It’s hard to go to school and raise a family — be a father, go to work, go to kids’ games and events and find time to get back into the classroom.”

Pro dreams

At KU from 1985-1988, the 6-foot-6 Marshall was better known for his unfulfilled potential than for his time on the court.

When he did play, he averaged 18 minutes, 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.

Archie Marshall, second from right, walks down Campanile Hill with basketball teammate Danny Manning, second from left, during the 1988 commencement exercises at Kansas University. Marshall participated in graduation even though he didn't complete his degree, saying it was all

But he tore both anterior cruciate ligaments during his time as a Jayhawk. His right knee ripped to pieces in March 1986 during an NCAA Final Four game against Duke, causing him to take a medical redshirt during the 1986-87 season.

His left knee did the same in December 1987, leading him to miss the remainder of his senior season — except for a touching Senior Night game when Coach Larry Brown let Marshall hobble into the waning minutes against Oklahoma State to take an uncontested shot that missed the bucket.

‘My whole life’

When commencement 1988 rolled around, Marshall walked down the hill with Manning and other graduates.

“That was all for show,” Marshall said, since he hadn’t finished about 15 hours of course work necessary for his degree.

“Basketball, then, was my whole life,” he said. “I knew I would be a professional basketball player.”

Brown, who left KU after the championship year to coach the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, convinced the Spurs organization to take a chance by drafting Marshall late in the 1988 draft. The team cut Marshall shortly after workouts began, leading him to spend half a season with the CBA’s Columbus (Ohio) Horizons and a year playing in Australia before he gave up his dream of being a professional basketball player.

He then spent a decade working with underprivileged teenagers, first in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla., then in Dallas. He now lives in suburban Dallas — in Arlington — and works in the district office for FedEx, where he’s been for 10 years.

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But he’ll be keeping an eye out for the want ads in the newspaper, now that he’s getting his degree. He thinks he can do better.

‘Inspirational’ return

Marshall, now 40, said he had attempted to finish his degree a couple of times over the last 15 years, but his heart wasn’t in it.

After leaving the reunion on campus in 2003, he said, he had the right mindset.

“Before, I came up short every time,” he said. “Now, I was committed.”

The 15 hours he had left to complete, roughly the equivalent of one semester for a traditional student, included several communication classes and algebra, which he had previously dropped several times. He spread the course load among correspondence classes at KU and classes that would transfer to KU from the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Community College.

Marshall said the course work wasn’t easy, balancing school with his wife, Terri, and sons Ray, 7, and Evan, 5.

“I haven’t been given anything,” Marshall said. “I’ve had to work for every grade and every step to get through this process. I’ve been encouraged and I’ve had a lot of help.”

Among those helping him with the process was Robin Rowland, chairman of the communication studies department at KU.

“It’s so exciting to have someone finish up after nearly 20 years,” said Rowland, who has taught at KU for 18 years. “I remember him as a rebounder — he’d just go after the ball. And he’s done the same thing with his degree. He’s just stuck to it. He’s earned everything he got.”

Scott Ward, the athletic department’s associate director of degree and career counseling and student support services, helped Marshall develop his initial plan toward a degree.

“The plan was not easy,” Ward said. “I told him at that time that when he finishes this, it will be quite an accomplishment. To hear the excitement in his voice the other day that he was going to walk down the hill with his wife and sons watching was inspirational.”

Finally a grad

Marshall will drive to Lawrence with his family to walk down the hill Sunday.

“Things work out for a reason,” he said. “I don’t have any regrets. I haven’t had a terrible life. But I know if I had had my degree 17 years ago, careerwise, I’d be in a better situation.”

Marshall’s last shot on the basketball court as a Jayhawk didn’t find the hoop. His last attempt as a Jayhawk in the classroom, finally, was more successful.

“Just being done with it, finally finishing my degree, I can put it behind me,” he said. “Just knowing you can do something, after attempts when you fail — it’s haunted me for a long time. Now I’m able to put it behind me. Now, I’m officially a University of Kansas alumnus.”