New Film Explores Life, Legacy of Len Bias

Maryland Athletics is honoring the induction of Len Bias into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame with a new documentary delving into the legendary Terp’s life and impact.

“34,” distributed exclusively on Terrapin Club+ on Sunday before being widely released last night on umterps.com, offers an unprecedented look inside Bias’ playing career, from his Prince George’s County roots to his awe-inspiring skills on the court to his shocking death just two days after being drafted No. 2 overall by the Boston Celtics. Among the voices included in the film are former UMD Head Coach Lefty Driesell; former Terps and NBA basketball stars Walt Williams ’92 and Tony Massenburg ’90; ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt ’88, Michael Wilbon, Frank Isola ’92 and Jay Bilas; and “Voice of the Terrapins” Johnny Holliday.

“Len Bias was not a great player. He was a transcendent player,” Bilas said in the documentary. “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen.”

Bias, a two-time All-American and one of only a handful of players to twice earn Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors, finished his four-year Terps career with 2,149 points—the most at the time and still No. 3 in the record books today—and averaged 23.2 points per game his senior year. He joined fellow Terps Driesell, Gary Williams and Tom McMillen in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 21.

In addition to the documentary, Maryland Athletics will celebrate Bias’ legacy at tonight’s Big Ten/ACC Men’s Basketball Challenge vs. former conference foe Virginia Tech. The first 4,000 students at the game, which tips off at 7:15 p.m. at the Xfinity Center, will receive replica gold Bias jerseys, and all fans in attendance will get commemorative newspapers featuring his greatest achievements. Bias’ family will also be recognized on the court.