Feast Week is one of the best parts of the season, as the sport gets some November time in the national spotlight before ceding it back to college football and the NFL. Teams are still rounding into form, so while quality of play isn’t the best, coaches and players alike get a chance to test themselves against quality competition in neutral-site settings. Before the ball is tipped in the weeklong extravaganza of hoops, though, the festivities begin with the College Basketball Hall Of Fame enshrining its Class of 2014 in Kansas City on Sunday night. A synopsis of each of the inductees is below.
The Big Aristotle and his coach at LSU, Dale Brown, add another accolade to their illustrious careers.
Players:
Shaquille O’Neal (LSU, 1989-92)
- No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick in 1992
- 2x consensus first team All-American (1991-92)
- AP National Player Of The Year (1992)
- 2x SEC Player Of The Year (1991-92)
- Averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks per game
Grant Hill (Duke, 1990-94)
Grant Hill enjoyed an accomplished collegiate career as one of the most versatile forwards to ever play the game.
- 2x NCAA Champion (1991-92)
- Consensus first team All-American (1994)
- Consensus second team All-American (1993)
- 1994 ACC Player Of The Year
- First ACC player to collect more than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocks
Darrell Griffith (Louisville, 1976-80)
- NCAA Champion and Most Outstanding Player (1980)
- First-Team All-American and Wooden Award Winner (1980)
- All-time leading scorer in Louisville history (2,333 points)
- His No. 35 is one of just four retired numbers at Louisville
Zelmo Beaty (Prairie View A&M, 1958-62) (honored posthumously)
- 1962 NAIA National Champion
- Averaged 25 points and 20 rebounds
- Third overall pick in the 1962 NBA Draft
Coaches:
Dale Brown (LSU, 1972-1997)
- Led LSU to 15 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (program had just two appearances before his arrival), including Final Four berths in 1981 and 1986
- 1981 National Coach Of The Year
- 4x SEC Regular Season Champion (1979, 1971, 1985, 1991)
- 4x SEC Coach Of The Year (1973, 1979, 1981, 1989)
Gary Williams (Maryland 1989-2011, Ohio State 1986-89, Boston College 1982-86, American 1978-82)
Gary Williams resurrected a Maryland program in NCAA turmoil, eventually winning a national title with the Terrapins.
- Lifetime record of 668-380 (.637)
- 2002 NCAA Champion (only NCAA Champion without a McDonald’s All-American on its roster since the honor’s inception in 1977)
- 2x ACC Coach Of The Year (2002, 2010)
- 3x ACC Regular Season Champion (1995, 2002, 2010)
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Inductee (2014)
Contributors:
Howard Garfinkel
- Founder of Five Star Basketball Camp, which helped produce some of the game’s best players, emphasizing drills and repetition over playing several games each day.
- Five Star Basketball Camp alumni included Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas and Moses Malone.
Glenn Wilkes, Sr.
- Won 674 college games, including 551 over 36 years as the head coach at Stetson
- Author of seven basketball books
- Helped George Raveling run Nike camps