Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Welcomes 51st Class
(New Castle) The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame welcomes their 51st class of inductees and honors other Indiana boys- high school basketball legends on March 21 in ceremonies to be held at Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.
Highlighting the evening-s ceremony, 15 men will be inducted into the Hall, recognized with the highest honor bestowed in Indiana high school basketball.
Among individuals to be inducted are Tom Abernethy and Bobby Wilkerson, Indiana high school players who were starters on Indiana University-s 1976 undefeated National Championship squad; four men who coached Indiana high school state championship teams – Steve Witty (Ben Davis), J.R. Holmes (Bloomington South), Gene Miiller (Washington) and Mike Broughton (Jeffersonville); and men being inducted as players who won state championships are Ron Divjak (East Chicago Washington), Bill Scott (Crispus Attucks) and Danny Thornburg (Muncie Central).
Two men who led small Southern Indiana schools to semi-state appearances in the 1950s are Dick Kinder of Winslow and Larry -Buddy- Graham of Odon.
Other inductees are Tom Baack of Fort Wayne Concordia, John Garrett of Peru, and 1958 Trester Award winner Dick Haslam of Crawfordsville.
The recipient of this year-s Centennial Award to recognize contributions to Indiana high school basketball from 100 years ago is Elmer Oliphant of Linton High School (1910), who is inducted posthumously as one of Indiana-s greatest athletes of all-time. In addition, the 1912 Lebanon state championship team will be remembered in celebration of their title 100 years ago.
The St.Vincent Health Silver Medal will be presented to Mac Petty of Wabash College for contributions to Indiana high school basketball, while three men – Kenneth Blankenbaker, Dick Freeman and the late Bob Spay – will be recognized with the Center Circle Officials Award.
18 men will be recognized as members of the 2012 Silver Anniversary Team – acknowledging their spot as one of the top senior basketball players in Indiana 25 years ago.
In addition to recognizing the 1912 Lebanon state championship team, the 1962 Evansville Bosse Bulldogs and 1987 Marion Giants will be recognized for their 50th and 25th anniversaries, respectively, of winning an IHSAA state crown.
A limited number of seats remain for the event, which will draw a crowd of over 1,000. Cost for the event, including a 6:00 PM dinner, is $50 for adults. Reservations may be made by calling (765) 529-1891.
A reception – open to the public and free of charge – will take place at the Hall of Fame museum in New Castle between 11:00 AM (ET) and 1:00 PM on March 21.
Click here for a full listing of all inductees and honorees.