Bradley Tyer Jones, Sports Editor
As Russ Marr (C ‘25) watched a video of Kit Walsh (C ‘91), previous holder of Sewanee Men’s Basketball highest career scoring record, Athletic Director John Shakelfold (Shack) told him, “You know he’s right behind you.” Marr had just beat the University record by scoring his 1,774th career point for Sewanee’s Men’s Basketball while playing against Centre College on Jan. 29, 2025.
Walsh drove up to witness this accomplishment and was hoping that Marr would beat the record at this home game so that he “didn’t have to drive all the way to Mississippi to watch him do it in the next game.” Walsh was bittersweet about the moment, but he was enthusiastic about what a hard worker Marr is. “I say this honestly: when Shack called me a week beforehand, a little bit of my ego said ‘Oh, no.’ But as I thought about it, I could not have been happier. He’s such a great, young guy, and I was so happy for him to get the recognition he deserves.”
Marr started playing basketball in first grade and has remained dedicated to the sport. Following a career-high record in high school, Marr was attracted to the sense of community he felt during his recruitment visit to Sewanee. He was in search of a team that would feel like family but also push him to be the best player he could be. That’s what he found at Sewanee. He was appreciative of his teammates, saying they are “always pushing [him] to get better everyday,” and of his coaches for placing their trust in him.
Marr isn’t just known for his skills on the court; he embodies what it means to use basketball as a platform for greater impact. He plays for something much bigger than the game itself: for an old friend of his who once loved basketball, but, unfortunately, passed away his freshman year. Wearing the same number his friend wore in high school, Marr plays in honor of him, leaving his heart out on the court every single time.
When playing against Centre, Marr’s only motive was making sure the team won. That took priority over his personal record. As captain Tre Corrigan (C ‘25) put it, “Russ is the ideal teammate to have. He is the most humble guy in our locker room. If you met him for the first time, you would have no idea he is the all time leading scorer… Russ is one of the most talented basketball players I’ve ever played with and he still works hard on his game. That hardworking mentality and humility carries over to the rest of the team and has allowed us to be successful this season. I’m lucky to have a teammate and friend like him.”
Helping the team in whichever way he possibly can is Marr’s priority each year, but his recent injury has challenged him. Corrigan spoke on Marr’s injury, “We weren’t sure how much he was going to play, but he came out and played well. Him playing through injury for the sake of the team shows the type of teammate he is”.
During the game against Centre, Marr fell and had to step out of the game during the second half. He spoke on the emotions that rushed through his head at that moment. “Initially when I went down, I thought I would be out for another week. Luckily, my ankle didn’t roll again. I was only out for one minute.”
So far this season, the team has 15 wins under their belt. Marr hopes they can host conference at Sewanee and, even better, win.
Walsh has no doubt that they will finish their season with great success both on and off the court. “Basketball has benefited greatly from Shack. Brian and Will’s coaching is also fantastic and the stability of the team is impressive. The five seniors have played together so much, and their success is due not only to their great attitude and hard work, but also their support system.”
When Marr was asked what advice he would give his freshman year self, he immediately responded, “Have self-confidence from the get-go. First year, I struggled with that the first couple weeks. I was trying to do too much.” Though it didn’t take him long to gain that self confidence here in Sewanee, Marr will be carrying this advice with him beyond graduation and, hopefully, while continuing his basketball career playing professionally in Europe.