Roosevelt Chapman

Roosevelt Chapman
Name	Roosevelt Chapman
Birth date	July 12, 1962
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Weight lb	190
College	Wichita State (1980–1984)
Draft year	1984
Draft pick	136
Draft team	Kansas City Kings
Career start	1984
Career end	1992
Position	Guard / Forward

Roosevelt Chapman

Roosevelt Chapman is an American former collegiate and professional basketball player, coach, and community figure known for his standout career at Wichita State University and subsequent international play. He earned multiple collegiate honors while helping Wichita State achieve national recognition, later playing professionally in the United States and abroad before transitioning into coaching and youth development. Chapman’s influence extends through coaching stints, community initiatives, and recognition by athletic institutions.

Early life and high school

Born in New York City, Chapman grew up in an urban neighborhood shaped by local community institutions and public athletics programs. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, where he developed as a high school standout under the guidance of local coaches and mentors associated with New York City basketball circuits and PSAL-affiliated competitions. At Cardozo Chapman faced rivals from other prominent New York high schools and participated in showcase tournaments that featured future NBA and collegiate players, drawing scouting interest from programs in the Big East Conference and Missouri Valley Conference.

Collegiate career at Wichita State

Chapman enrolled at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas and became a four-year starter for the Wichita State Shockers men's basketball program in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament era. Under head coaches at Wichita State during the early 1980s, Chapman emerged as a primary scoring option and on-court leader, earning multiple selections to all-conference teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. He led the Shockers in scoring and set school records for career points and single-season output, surpassing benchmarks previously held by Wichita State standouts and drawing comparisons with contemporaries in college basketball such as players from Indiana University, University of Louisville, and Georgetown University.

Chapman’s Wichita State teams competed in non-conference games against programs from the Big Eight Conference, Southeast Conference, and Atlantic Coast Conference, raising the program’s national profile and resulting in postseason invitations including appearances in National Invitation Tournament play. His individual accolades included conference player of the year considerations and national recognition on All-America ballots, and he was scouted by multiple NBA franchises ahead of the 1984 NBA Draft.

Professional and international basketball career

Selected in the 1984 NBA Draft, Chapman was chosen in the later rounds by the Kansas City Kings and participated in training camp alongside veterans from the Kings’ roster. Though he did not establish a long-term role in the National Basketball Association, he pursued professional opportunities with Continental Basketball Association teams and in international leagues across Europe and Latin America. Chapman’s overseas career included stints in countries with established professional competitions such as Spain, France, and Italy, where he competed against former NCAA stars, national team members, and expatriate NBA players.

He also took part in summer leagues and exhibition tours that featured players from the ABA-era alumni and professional circuits, contributing to teams in domestic minor leagues and earning recognition for his scoring and defensive versatility at the guard/forward positions. Chapman’s professional tenure intersected with international tournaments and club competitions organized by regional federations and continental bodies, enhancing Wichita State’s reputation for producing pro-level talent.

Post-playing career and coaching

After retiring from professional play, Chapman returned to Wichita and to the broader Midwest and Northeast regions to begin a coaching and mentorship career. He served as an assistant and head coach at various levels, including high school programs in Kansas and community-based youth teams in New York City. Chapman worked with collegiate coaching staffs as a volunteer and consultant, contributing to recruiting efforts that targeted prospects from the New York City metropolitan area and the Midwest.

His coaching and basketball development roles included organizing camps, clinics, and skills programs that connected former Wichita State alumni and local veterans with young athletes preparing for NCAA competition and prep-school pathways. Chapman also participated in alumni activities for Wichita State and collaborated with athletic directors and boosters to support scholarship initiatives and facility improvements at campus venues such as Charles Koch Arena.

Personal life and legacy

Chapman has been active in community outreach, leveraging his profile to support youth education, athletic development, and alumni engagement. He has been honored by Wichita State in ceremonies and hall of fame considerations, and his career continues to be cited in discussions of the Shockers’ history alongside other notable Wichita State athletes and coaches. Chapman’s legacy informs recruiting narratives and program-building strategies used by Wichita State and regional high school coaches, and his records and leadership remain part of Wichita State’s statistical and cultural heritage. He resides between regions where he coached and played, maintaining ties to former teammates, coaching colleagues, and community organizations.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Wichita State Shockers men's basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people