Joe Dean

Joe Dean (April 26, 1930 − November 17, 2013) is known as "Mr. String Music" and was the voice of Southeastern Conference basketball for most of the 1970-80s. In 2012, he was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, as a contributor to the game.

Joe Dean was born in Brazil, Indiana. He grew up in New Albany, Indiana, in a one-bedroom home with his parents, Cyril and Thelma, as well as his older sister Louise. His full name was Robert Joe Dean, and he went by "Bob Joe" early in life. However, it was on the basketball courts in his hometown where he was tagged with the name, "Jojo," that he would be known by those closest to him throughout his life.

Dean was a starter on his high school team at New Albany High School, including a stint as the team's captain during his senior year. Dean was extremely close to his high school coach Gordon Raney, who influenced by him to go to LSU, where he thought Dean would receive more playing time. In 2007, Dean became an inductee into the inaugural class of the New Albany High School Hall of Fame.

Dean played at LSU from 1949 through 1952. His first two seasons, he led the team in scoring with 10.8 points/game (1949–50) and 15.2 points/game (1950–51). The 15.2 points/game was a school record at the time. He left LSU ranked as the school's second all-time leading scorer (1,072 points) and first in points/game (14.7).

In his three years, Dean was a two-time All-SEC performer. He was also a three-time member of the SEC All-Tournament Team, the only player to earn such distinction prior to the tournament's suspension in 1953 (it was later resumed in 1979).

Dean was the first LSU player to be selected in the NBA Draft, taken fourth overall by the Indianapolis Olympians in the 1952 NBA Draft. He instead chose to play for the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial Basketball League.

In 1956, the U.S. Olympic Trials was a four-team tournament. The winning team named its five starters to the Olympic squad, and five other players from the tournament were also named. The four competing teams were the AAU champions and runner up, an Armed Forces all-star squad and a college all-star squad. Dean's Phillips 66ers won the tournament and were awarded five players to the U.S. Olympic Team. Dean, despite being fourth on the team in scoring in the tournament and starting a majority of the games, was not one of the five choices. He was subsequently named an alternate to the team. In 1958, he was an NIBL All-Star.

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