Skip to main content

Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor to Induct 2015-16 Class

Jan 19, 2016
Pac-12
Pac-12 Conference

SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference will honor 12 former student-athletes with their induction into the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor. The induction will occur on Saturday, March 12, during a ceremony prior to the championship game at the 2016 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the championship game.

The individuals to be inducted are: Salim Stoudamire (Arizona), Art Becker (Arizona State), Brian Hendrick (California), Scott Wedman (Colorado), Luke Ridnour (Oregon), Jim Anderson (Oregon State), Kim Belton (Stanford), Keith Erickson (UCLA), Sam Clancy (USC), Vern Gardner (Utah), Isaiah Thomas (Washington) and Keith Morrison (Washington State).

Salim Stoudamire, Arizona - Salim Stoudamire’s legacy as an Arizona Wildcat has not diminished one bit in the decade since his graduation. A 2004-05 All-American, Stoudamire dominated NCAA and Arizona scoring and three-point shooting leaderboards throughout his career. He led the NCAA in three-point shooting with a ridiculous 50.4 percent mark (120 of 238) in his senior season that also saw him named Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 Pac-10 Tournament. He holds Wildcat records for most made three-point field goals in a game (9), in a season (120) and in a career (342). The lefty guard’s career three-point field goal percentage of .458 is second only to Steve Kerr. His career free throw shooting mark of 87.0 percent is second all-time in Wildcat history. His career marks in made free throws (388), games started (117) and minutes played (3,848) all rank in the top ten in school history. Stoudamire went on to be selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He is also a member of the Arizona Ring of Honor.

Art Becker, Arizona State - Becker was first-team Academic All-America, honorable mention All-America and second-team All-Conference choice as a senior, leading his team to a 26-3 record and the NCAA Elite Eight. A 1989 Sun Devil Hall of Fame inductee, Becker scored 1,284 points and notched 724 rebounds in his career. Becker also ranks among ASU career leaders in rebounds per game (9.0), field goal percentage (.524), free throw percentage (.797), and total field goals (531). He was a three-time member of the Western Athletic Conference All-Academic team. Becker played professionally for the Houston Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Rockets, and the New York Nets. He was a two-time ABA all-star and played for the 1969-70 ABA champion Indiana Pacers.

Brian Hendrick, California - Brian Hendrick, a 6-8 forward out of Walnut, Calif., starred for the Golden Bears from 1990-93 with his career bookended by two historic seasons in Cal history. As a freshman in 1989-90, Hendrick earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors when he contributed 14.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg. In March, the Bears earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in 30 years. Cal upended Indiana, 65-63, in the opening round before falling to Connecticut. Then during his senior year, Hendrick played a key role as the Bears advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over LSU and two-time defending champion Duke. A three-time first-team All-Pac-10 post, Hendrick finished his career as one of Cal’s all-time leaders in scoring (1,556 points), rebounding (898), field goal shooting (53.6%) and blocks (98), four marks that remain in the school’s top 10 more than 20 years after his career ended. He was inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Scott Wedman, Colorado - A three-time letterman for Sox Walseth at Colorado, Scott Wedman still ranks 20th all-time on CU’s scoring charts with 1,251 career points. At the time of his graduation, he was CU’s fourth all-time leading scorer and rebounder. In 75 games, he converted 516 of 1,046 field goal attempts, a solid 49.3 percent. He twice earned All-Big Eight Conference honors, leading the Buffs in scoring as a junior (17.7 per game in 1972-73) and as a senior (20.0 in 1973-74). Wedman is one of just nine players in school history to average 20 or more points in a season. Wedman also led the team in rebounds with 9.3 per game both his junior and senior campaigns, with his 684 career boards still the 11th-most ever by a player in a CU uniform. He was selected as a second-team member of the conference’s all-decade team for the 1970s. Wedman was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. A 13-year NBA veteran with Kansas City, Cleveland and Boston, he played in 906 games with a 13.2 career scoring average, pouring in 11,916 points. He is the first former Buffalo to play on an NBA championship team, he won two rings with the Celtics (1984, 1986) and was a two-time NBA All-Star. His jersey was officially honored by CU in the spring of 2006. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

Luke Ridnour, Oregon - One of the most gifted point guards in school history, Ridnour created an instant buzz on campus with his precision passing and remarkable dribbling skills. Oregon’s floor general started 96 consecutive games and directed it to the 2002 Pac-10 regular season title - the Ducks’ first outright crown since 1939. The Blaine, Wash., native was truly outstanding in the 2002 NCAA Tournament where he helped lead Oregon to the Elite Eight. Earning 2001 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors following his initial campaign in Eugene served as a warm-up for his final two seasons. As a sophomore, the all-league selection used the 2002 NCAA tournament to showcase his skills. In one of the most underrated classics in school history, Ridnour scored 28 points on 7-of-11 shooting from three-point range as Oregon eclipsed a strong Wake Forest team in the second round. The two-time Associated Press All-America honorable mention pick and 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year averaged 19.7 points and 6.6 assists per game his final year in leading Oregon to the 2003 Pac-10 Tournament crown and a second-straight NCAA appearance. He set the school record with 218 assists as a junior and scored 649 points that year to rank third in school history at the time. He also surpassed a conference pinnacle by making 62 consecutive free throws. The 14th overall selection by the Seattle Supersonics in the 2003 NBA Draft still ranked 15th in career scoring (1,399 points), third in assists (500), third in three-point field goal percentage (.859), fifth in steals (150), and sixth in three-pointers (203) some 11 years after his final game as a Duck, and went on to have the longest NBA career of any Oregon alum.

Jim Anderson, Oregon State - Jim Anderson became part of the Beaver basketball family in 1956, when the Hoquiam, Wash., native transferred to then-Oregon State College for his sophomore season following a standout freshman year at Grays Harbor Junior College in nearby Aberdeen. Following his three-year playing career, Anderson coached the freshman team and was an assistant head coach for Slats Gill for three years. He took a two-year break in 1963 and 1964 to coach at Newberg High School, but returned in 1965 for good. While his role and responsibilities changed over the years as he’s evolved from player to freshman coach to varsity assistant to head coach to unofficial program ambassador, his love for all things Beavers has never faltered. He won a Pacific Coast Conference championship as a player for Gill in 1958. Anderson won a Pacific-8 Conference championship as an assistant coach for Paul Valenti in 1966. He earned Pacific-10 Conference title rings as an assistant coach for Ralph Miller in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984. Anderson also garnered his seventh ring and was Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1990 when he directed the Beavers to a conference co-championship in his first season as head coach. All told Anderson was part of 576 wins in his 37 years with the Beavers. Teams he either played for, or coached on, won 17 Far West Classic championships. Anderson retired after the 1995-96 season, ending his 37-year association with OSU as a student or employee.

Kim Belton, Stanford - Kim Belton was a standout performer for the Cardinal from 1977-80. A three-time All-Pac-10 honoree, he ranks among the top-seven in both scoring and rebounding in Stanford history. As one of 40 players in school history to reach 1,000 career points, his total of 1,615 ranks seventh all-time while his scoring average of 15.0 points per game is good for 16th overall. Belton’s 628 field goals rank fourth-best in school history, trailing only Adam Keefe (830), Todd Lichti (820) and Chasson Randle (760). A prolific rebounder and shot-blocker as well, Belton’s 955 career rebounds rank third all-time and his 86 career blocks are 11th-best in program history. He enjoyed his best campaign as a senior in 1979-80, averaging 18.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 58.4 percent from the field in 26 starts. Belton was a standout in the classroom as well, garnering recognition as a Second Team Academic All-American in 1980. He has enjoyed a successful career as a producer for ESPN/ABC, where he currently oversees the production of several NBA and men’s college basketball studio shows and event broadcasts for the network. 

Keith Erickson, UCLA - Keith Erickson was a three-year letterwinner at UCLA who led the Bruins to their first two NCAA basketball titles (1964 and 1965). Described by head coach John Wooden as the “finest athlete” he ever coached, Erickson was a three-year starting forward in the Bruins’ frontcourt. He averaged 9.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in 87 career games before being chosen in the third round of the 1965 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors. He attended UCLA on a shared baseball/basketball scholarship and also played on the 1964 U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball Team. Erickson played in 29 of 30 games during the 1964-65 campaign, helping the Bruins post a 28-2 overall record en route to winning the NCAA Championship. He averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game that year, shooting 44.3 percent from the field. As a junior in 1963-64, Erickson registered 10.7 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per game in all 30 contests, helping lead UCLA to a perfect 30-0 record. Erickson enjoyed a 12-year career in the NBA, competing for the San Francisco Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. In all, he played in 766 NBA games, scoring 7,251 points and totaling 3,448 rebounds. He helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA title in 1972.

Sam Clancy, USC - Sam Clancy had an outstanding 4-year career for USC, leaving as the team’s third-leading all-time scorer with 1,657 points and as its leader in blocks with 195 (now second). He was the 2002 Pac-10 Player of the Year, two-time all-conference selection and was named a consensus second-team All-American in 2002. Clancy was a Wooden and Naismith Award Candidate in 2002 as well and helped lead his Trojan team to the final of the Pac-10 Tournament where he earned All-Tournament team honors. He averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in his career, with a 19.1 points per game average and 9.4 rebounds per game his senior season. He starred on a pair of USC’s NCAA Tournament teams, including the 2001 squad that advanced to the Elite Eight where Clancy earned East Regional All-NCAA Tournament Team honors. He was the 45th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Clancy has found success overseas and is currently playing for Gimnasia Indalo in Argentina.

Vern Gardner, Utah - Vern Gardner was a four-year letter winner for Utah from 1945-49, where he helped guide the Runnin’ Utes to a 66-30 overall record in his four seasons on the court. He was a two-time All-American selection, earning the honor in both the 1946-47 and 1948-49 seasons. Gardner was a member of the 1947 NIT Championship team, where he was named the Most Valuable Player. He led the Utes in scoring during his final season, scoring a 15.3 ppg, while leading the Utes to another NIT appearance in 1949. Following a successful senior campaign, Gardner was selected No. 5 overall by the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1949 NBA Draft. Gardner was selected to the University of Utah Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 1985.

Isaiah Thomas, Washington - Isaiah Thomas was one of most electric and exciting players to ever wear a Husky uniform. The 5-9 guard never let his stature hold him back as he finished his UW career as the seventh-best scorer all-time with 1,721 points. He also finished in the top-10 on UW’s career lists in 3-point FG made (4th – 164), assists (4th – 415) and steals (8th – 122). Thomas also racked up a wealth of accolades as he was an honorable mention All-American selection as a junior, a two-time first team All-Pac-10 selection, and was named the 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Thomas helped the Huskies reach the NCAA tournament for three-straight years, including one Sweet 16 appearance. He also led the Huskies to back-to-back Pac-10 Tournament crowns in 2010 and 2011, earning Most Outstanding Player honors each year. Thomas clinched the 2011 tournament title in dramatic fashion, hitting the game-winning basket at the buzzer to defeat top-seeded Arizona. He was drafted 60th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings and is currently a member of the Boston Celtics.

Keith Morrison, Washington State - Keith Morrison concluded his Washington State basketball career as one of the most accomplished and complete basketball players in school history. As a Cougar from 1983-86, Morrison, known affectionately as Scooter, became just the 15th player in school history to surpass the 1,000-point mark, finishing with 1,077 points, ninth on WSU’s career scoring list. In addition to his scoring prowess, Morrison concluded his career in the top spot on the all-time assists lists with 456, was second in steals (191), second in minutes played (3,530), sixth in field goal percentage (50.1) and ninth in free throws made (309). A two-time All-Pac-10 Conference First Team selection, Morrison saved his best for last. As a senior he averaged 14.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.1 apg and 2.0 spg, helping WSU to fifth-place finish in the conference. He garnered All-America honorable mention honors by the Associated Press, was a USBWA District 8 and NABC District 14 First Team selection, and named the Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the fifth round of the 1986 NBA Draft, the first Pac-10 Conference player drafted that year.