ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – With much excitement, Small College Basketball (SCB) announces that the 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Hall of Fame Classic will move to St. Joseph, MO. After spending the inaugural two years in Evansville, IN, Small College Basketball has partnered with Missouri Western State University and the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring these marquee events within college basketball to St. Joseph.
The SCB Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 2, while the SCB Hall of Fame Classic will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4. The Induction Ceremony will take place at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center, while the Hall of Fame Classic will take place at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.
Additionally, St. Joseph-based Hillyard, steeped in basketball history, will serve as the primary sponsor of the event. As such, the Classic will be dubbed the “Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, Presented by Hillyard.”
“This opens a new era for Missouri Western men’s basketball, and what a way to usher it in by bringing one of the premier small college basketball events to St. Joseph!”, said Missouri Western Athletics Director Josh Looney. “The Hall of Fame Classic is a perfect fit for our community’s rich basketball history, a history in which Hillyard has played a significant role. We look forward to hosting a tournament field packed with premier NCAA D-II programs alongside some of the all-time greats visiting St. Joseph for their Hall of Fame induction.”
The game schedule for the 2018 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, Presented by Hillyard, is as follows:
Saturday, November 3
1:00 p.m. William Jewell vs. Queens (NC)
3:15 p.m. Fairmont State vs. Ferris State
5:30 p.m. Missouri Western vs. Tarleton State
7:45 p.m. Northwest Missouri State vs. Northern State
Sunday, November 4
1:00 p.m. William Jewell vs. Tarleton State
3:15 p.m. Missouri Western vs. Fairmont State
5:30 p.m. Northwest Missouri State vs. Ferris State
7:45 p.m. Northern State vs. Queens (NC)
“Small College Basketball is excited to move to St. Joseph, MO, for the Hall of Fame Induction and Hall of Fame Classic,” said SCB Founder John McCarthy. “We are proud to partner with Missouri Western State University and the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring the national spotlight to their community. Additionally, we are very excited that Hillyard has agreed to serve as the lead sponsor for the events. With their deep history in basketball, this is a logical fit, and we are truly grateful.”
“For a variety of reasons, St. Joseph is an excellent fit for the Hall of Fame Induction and Hall of Fame Classic. There is a wonderful sense of enthusiasm in the community, and we anticipate that they will fully embrace Small College Basketball in St. Joseph. I am grateful for all of the time, effort and enthusiasm from Missouri Western Athletic Director Josh Looney and Senior Associate Athletic Director Brett Esely, as they have been instrumental in this move to St. Joseph.”
“With our rich heritage in the game of basketball, Hillyard is honored to be the sponsor for the 2018 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic,” said Hillyard President Jim Carolus. “We’re excited to bring the Classic to St. Joseph. It’s a great opportunity for the community to get to see some great basketball and to honor the great players, coaches and contributors of the game.”
Tables and tickets will be available through the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau shortly.
“It is always exciting to bring new events to St. Joseph,” said Lindsay Bernard, from the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Small College Basketball (SCB) Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Hall of Fame Classic will be very special and will leave a lasting impression on our community. We appreciate the work of Missouri Western Athletics, as they truly understand the importance of showcasing our beautiful city and the impact of sports tourism. The estimated economic impact for this weekend event is $278,550.”
“The 2018 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, Presented by Hillyard, features some of the finest programs in all of NCAA Division II,” said McCarthy. “We are very grateful to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association for awarding the exemption, and for showing their support for the Hall of Fame Classic. We feel that, with the combination of the Hall of Fame Induction, the support of the Conference Commissioner’s Association, the support of the St. Joseph’s community, the right-sized arena, and of course, the high-quality participating teams, the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic is the finest in-season men’s basketball event in the country.”
The third installment of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame will include the following inductees:
John Barnhill (Tennessee A&I), ML Carr (Guilford), Pat Douglass (Cal State Bakersfield), Philip Hutcheson (Lipscomb), Earl Jones (District of Columbia), Charles Oakley (Virginia Union), John Pierce (Lipscomb), Terry Porter (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), Leonard “Truck” Robinson(Tennessee State), Clarence Walker (Indiana State), Marvin Webster (Morgan State), John Wooden (Coach).
“This is an incredibly impressive Hall of Fame Class,” said McCarthy. “Each inductee is highly accomplished and has truly earned this honor. Our Hall of Fame Committee did a tremendous job of identifying a Hall of Fame Class that is worthy of induction into this highly prestigious Hall of Fame. This is only the third class of Hall of Famers, so these inductees are among only 39 players, coaches and contributors in the history of our game at the small college levels to be elected to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame. I sincerely congratulate each inductee, as this is a tremendous honor.”
John Barnhill, Tennessee A&I
John Barnhill of Tennessee A. & I. was the point guard of the NAIA National Championships teams in 1957, 1958 and 1959, and was named to the All-Tournament teams in 1958 & 1959. The 1957 team was the first all African American team to win a major American basketball tournament. He was a three-time All-American (’57,’58,’59). He scored 1,253 career points, second behind All-American Dick Barnett. He’s a member of the NAIA’s 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams.
ML Carr, Guilford
NAIA Hall of Fame & member of the 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams; Won the 1973 NAIA National Championship; Member of the NAIA All-Tournament teams in 1970 & 1973. Scored 1,993 points at Guilford despite playing in only 13 games his junior season. He was a freshman when the Quakers placed fourth in the NAIA tournament and as a senior led Guilford to a 29-5 record that included a 99-96 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore for the title. He averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game his senior year and was named NAIA First Team All-American.
Member of the NAIA’s 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams.
Pat Douglass, Cal State Bakersfield
Three NCAA Div. II Championships (1993, 1994, 1997); NCAA Runner-up, 1990; NCAA Third Place (1987); NCAA Final Four (1991, 1992); Three-time NABC Division II Coach of the Year 1993, 1994, 1997; 10 seasons at Cal State Bakersfield, Douglass compiled a 257-61 record, won three Division II national championships, and reached the Elite Eight seven times; Only one of three coaches to win three or more NCAA Division II Championship; Led Cal State-Bakersfield to a perfect season in 1993 (33-0)
Philip Hutcheson, Lipscomb
Four-time NAIA All-American 1987 (3rd Team), 1988 (Second Team), 1989 (First Team), 1990 (First Team); finished career as college basketball’s all-time leading scorer with 4,106 points (later surpassed by former Lipscomb teammate John Pierce); 1990 NAIA Player of the Year; Named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for 1988-89 and 1989-90 (finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA for his career); Basketball Times College Division Player of the Year in 1988-89 and Co-Player of the Year in 1989-90; scored in double figures every single game of his career (155 games); Selected to the All-Tournament team in every single tournament, for all four years; Won NAIA’s Emil S. Liston Award; Member of the NAIA’s 75th Anniversary Team; Inducted into Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Lipscomb Hall of Fame. First player to ever have his number retired at Lipscomb.
Earl Jones, District of Columbia
First two-time NABC Division II National Player of the Year 1983, 1984; Three-time First Team NABC All-American 1982, 1983, 1984; Won 1982 NCAA Division II Championship; 1983 NCAA Division II Runner-up; Two-time NCAA Championship All-Tournament 1982, 1983; Scored 2,256 career points for a 20.7 average in 109 games; Grabbed 1,168 career rebounds for a 10.7 average; Career shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 77.6 from the free throw line
Charles Oakley, Virginia Union
Arrived at Virginia Union in 1981. 6’8 known as The Oak.
Played under former Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins (Robbins won 713 games in 30 years at VUU and coached 3 Division II NCAA championship teams). Oakley accumulated 2,273 points and grabbed 1,664 rebounds in four brilliant All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) seasons.
Oakley in his senior season averaged 24.3 PPG & 17.3 RPG. As a Virginia Union senior in 1984-1985, Oakley led the NCAA Division II in rebounding and was named National Player of the Year while helping VUU to a 30-1 record in which The Panthers were ranked #1 in Division II throughout the regular season.
He is also a member of the VUU and CIAA Hall of Fame and also was inducted in to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. His induction was the fifth VUU person to be inducted in to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
From Virginia Union Oakley became a National Basketball Association (NBA) first round draft choice (9th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers who immediately traded him to the Chicago Bulls, he then became an impact player for the New York Knicks for 10 seasons. He finished his NBA career after 19 seasons with the Houston Rockets in 2004.
John Pierce, Lipscomb
David Lipscomb University (1990-94); College basketball’s all-time leading scorer, tallied 4,230 during a 4-year career that included four NAIA All-America honors (three first-team selections) and 2 NAIA Player of the Year picks (’93 & ’94) … Averaged 31.9 points as a 1993 Junior … Appeared in 148 games with the Bison … Selected No. 28 among the all-time Top 50 college players as chosen by Chuck Klosterman of Grantland … Led the Bison to three-straight NAIA Tournaments …Member of the Lipscomb (2003), NAIA (2003) and Tennessee Sports (2015) Halls of Fame … Jersey is retired from Lipscomb; Played for Hall of Fame coach Don Meyer. Member of the NAIA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Terry Porter, Wisconsin-Stevens Point
NAIA Hall of Fame; member of the NAIA’s 50th & 75th Anniversary Teams; two-time NAIA All American (1983 & 1984); NAIA Tournament MVP in 1984 (team was national Runner-Up); 1983 NAIA Player of the Year (junior season); Two-time NAIA All American; only NAIA player invited to the Olympic Trials; as a junior, averaged 18.8 ppg on 65% shooting; averaged 19.7 ppg & 4.3 apg as a senior. Had a stellar NBA career with the Portland Trailblazers and was selected to two NBA All-Star games. Was also the former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
Leonard “Truck” Robinson Tennessee State
Tennessee State (1971-74); Was a two-time United Press International All-American (’73 & ’74) Led Tennessee State to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances … As a 1973 junior, guided the Tigers to the NCAA national championship game (lost 78-76 to Kentucky Wesleyan in OT) by averaging 25.7 points and a school single-season record 17.6 rebounds … Averaged 25.2 points and 17.3 rebounds over his final 2 seasons (58 games) … Finished 3-year college career with 2,249 points and 1,501 rebounds while leading the Tigers to a 70-16 record … Drafted in the second round by the Washington Bullets in 1974… Inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 … Given the nickname “Truck” by teammate Dennis DuVal to annoy him during his 1975 NBA rookie season.
Clarence Walker, Indiana State
In March of 1948, Clarence Walker became the first African American player to play in a collegiate basketball National Championship when he played in the NAIB National Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, playing for Coach John Wooden’s Indiana State Sycamores. During that tournament, Indiana State advanced to the National Championship game, falling to Louisville. During Clarence’s senior season (two years after Coach Wooden departed for UCLA), the Sycamores won the 1950 NAIB National Championship. During his time at Indiana State, Walker kept a diary, of which he titled “Jim Crow”, outlining the hardships of being the only African American player on his college basketball team – and one of the rare players in college basketball at a non-historically black college – in the 1940’s. Walker broke the color barrier in college basketball national championships, helping to further desegregate college basketball in America.
Marvin Webster, Morgan State
1975 NABC All-America first team; Won 1974 NCAA College Division Championship; 1974 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player; Chosen to NCAA Elite Eight 50th Anniversary Team; NCAA’s second all-time leading rebounder with 2,267 for a 19.6 average in 116 games; Blocked 722 shots for a 6.2 average; Scored 1,990 career points for a 17.1 average; Grabbed a single game career-high 32 rebounds; Career shooting 45.50 percent from the field and 65.8 from the free throw line
John Wooden
1948 NAIB National Runner-up (27-7); Compiled a 44-15 record for a 74.6 winning percentage in two seasons; 2012 NAIA 75th Anniversary All-Star Team honoree; coached the first black player to play in a collegiate national championship (Clarence Walker); famous for sticking to his morals by refusing to play in the 1947 NAIB National Championship because Clarence Walker wasn’t permitted to play (because of the color of his skin); In March of 1948, Clarence Walker stepped onto the court at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, thus breaking the color barrier in collegiate basketball national championships; beyond the game, made a great contribution to the game and to the world with his Pyramid of Success; Leadership classes today use his material and words of wisdom and are modeled after his principals; went onto great fame at UCLA, winning 10 NCAA Division I National Championships, including seven in a row; won 88 straight games and 38 straight NCAA Tournament games. Voted by the Sporting News as America’s Coach of the Century, in any sport.
ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team will travel to Springfield, Illinois for the UIS Capital Classic to begin the 2018 season on Friday. The Griffons will look to continue last year’s success, returning four of six starters from last year’s MIAA Regular Season Championship team. The Griffons also bring back five 2017 All-MIAA selections in Stephanie Doak, Lauren Murphy, Shellby Taylor, Rachel Losch, and Ali Tauchen. Tauchen was also named MIAA Freshman of the Year.
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western State University director of athletics Josh Looney has announced Yuriy (Your-E) Litvinski as the new head coach of the Griffon men’s and women’s cross country and track & field teams. The two-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA DII Regional Assistant Coach of the Year will come to Missouri Western after two years as an assistant at NCAA Division I member Idaho State. Litvinski will direct all aspects of the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field teams at Missouri Western.
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western State University dedicated the Bill Snyder Pavilion at the west end of Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium, Thursday. The Kansas State head football coach was born and raised in St. Joseph, and attended Missouri Western briefly when it was St. Joseph Junior College.
ST. JOSEPH – Fastpitch softball fans will not have to wait as long to see the return of National Pro Fastpitch to St. Joseph and Missouri Western. Aussie Spirit has moved games on June 27 and 28 to the Spring Sports Complex on the Missouri Western campus as well as additional games July 11 and 12.