Tatum's father is a professor of art at Lincoln University[1] and his mother is the supervisor of Jefferson City Public Schools.
A star basketball player at Southern Illinois, Tatum was known for his quickness and long-range shooting.
As a junior, he led the team in scoring (15 ppg) and received various Missouri Valley Conference awards.
In his final season as a Saluki, Tatum was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Along with fellow senior Tony Young and star junior Randal Falker, Tatum brought the team high into the AP and coaches' poll, with a 27–6 record (including the MVC Tournament) and an RPI of #7 in the country, ahead of such powerhouses as Memphis (#8) and Kansas (#11).
The Salukis received a #4 seed in the 2007 NCAA Tournament and easily beat Holy Cross in the first round.