Petey Sessoms
Encyclopedia
Petey Sessoms is a former American
expatriate professional basketball player. He played in six different countries in his career that spanned between 1995–96 and 2003–04. He is best known in the United States for his college career at Old Dominion University
in which he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
as a senior
in 1994–95.
, played for the Monarchs
in nearby Norfolk
. He scored 1,985 points (the fourth most in school history at the time), grabbed 779 rebounds and shot 81.9% from the free throw
line. In each of his four seasons, Old Dominion qualified for postseason tournaments. These included the 1992
and 1995
NCAA Tournaments
as well as the 1993
and 1994
National Invitation Tournament
s. Sessoms and teammate Odell Hodge
, who was a two-time CAA Player of the Year himself, guided Old Dominion to three straight regular season conference championships (1993–95) as well as two CAA Men's Basketball Tournament championships (1992 and 1995
). Sessoms was named the 1995 CAA Player of the Year as well as that year's CAA Tournament MVP behind his team-leading 22.1 points per game and still-standing school record 730 total points. In the first round of that year's NCAA Tournament, Sessoms scored 35 points in a triple-overtime win versus #3 seed and Big East
champion Villanova
. The Monarchs would go on to lose their next game, however. At the end of the year, Sessoms was also given Honorable Mention All-America status by numerous sports media outlets.
, Belgium
, Israel
, Iceland
, France
and Poland
. In 2004 he retired from basketball and began working for the United States Postal Service
in North Hollywood, California
. As of August 2010, he continues to work there as a supervisor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expatriate professional basketball player. He played in six different countries in his career that spanned between 1995–96 and 2003–04. He is best known in the United States for his college career at Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
in which he was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Colonial Athletic Association's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the conference was known as the ECAC South basketball league...
as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1994–95.
College
Sessoms, a native of Portsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, played for the Monarchs
Old Dominion Monarchs basketball
The Old Dominion Monarchs Basketball team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in NCAA Division I men's competition. The school's team currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association...
in nearby Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He scored 1,985 points (the fourth most in school history at the time), grabbed 779 rebounds and shot 81.9% from the free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
line. In each of his four seasons, Old Dominion qualified for postseason tournaments. These included the 1992
1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
and 1995
1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,...
NCAA Tournaments
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
as well as the 1993
1993 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - UAB 55, Providence 52...
and 1994
1994 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Siena 92, Kansas State 79...
National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
s. Sessoms and teammate Odell Hodge
Odell Hodge
Odell Hodge is an American former NCAA Division I basketball player for Old Dominion University and, later, professional teams in Belgium.-High school:...
, who was a two-time CAA Player of the Year himself, guided Old Dominion to three straight regular season conference championships (1993–95) as well as two CAA Men's Basketball Tournament championships (1992 and 1995
1995 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1995 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 4–6, 1995 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. The winner of the tournament was Old Dominion, who received an automatic bid to the 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament....
). Sessoms was named the 1995 CAA Player of the Year as well as that year's CAA Tournament MVP behind his team-leading 22.1 points per game and still-standing school record 730 total points. In the first round of that year's NCAA Tournament, Sessoms scored 35 points in a triple-overtime win versus #3 seed and Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
champion Villanova
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
. The Monarchs would go on to lose their next game, however. At the end of the year, Sessoms was also given Honorable Mention All-America status by numerous sports media outlets.
Professional and later life
After his lauded college career, Sessoms did not get any interest from NBA teams, so he went to Europe to play professional basketball. He spent the next nine years playing for various clubs in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. In 2004 he retired from basketball and began working for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
in North Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. As of August 2010, he continues to work there as a supervisor.