Three USA Basketball Veterans Listed Among Hall of Fame Class of 2011

April 4, 2011 • Houston, Texas

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced that 10 individuals have been named as the Class of 2011 to be honored August 11-13 during this year’s Enshrinement Ceremonies, presented by NIKE. The inductees include three USA Basketball veterans, including five-time Olympian Teresa Edwards, two-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Mullin, and 1996 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team head coach Tara VanDerveer.

The most decorated Olympic basketball on the planet, Edwards' USA Basketball career spanned two decades and included gold medals at the 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games; the 1986 and 1990 FIBA World Championships; and bronze medals at the 1994 FIBA World Championship and 1992 Olympics. She was on the court when the U.S. defeated the former USSR in the Soviet Union to claim gold medals at both the 1986 Goodwill Games and the 1986 FIBA World Championship.

Mullin's international hoops career started in 1981 and he played on three junior teams in 1981 and 1982 before claiming a spot on the 1983 USA Pan American Games Team that captured gold. He followed that up the following summer as a member of the gold medal winning 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. In 1992 Mullin was selected to his second Olympic squad and as a member of the '92 Dream Team, captured the Olympic gold medal after also claiming gold that summer in the Tournament of the Americas. Winning a total of six gold medals, Mullin's USA Basketball teams in international competitions went 45-0.

VanDerveer, who capped her USA Basketball coaching career as the head coach of the historic 1995-96 USA Women's National Team that combined with the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team for a perfect 60-0 record and the gold medal. In a 10-year span, VanDerveer also guided USA teams to gold at the 1991 World University Games and the 1993 World Championship Qualifying Tournament and a bronze medal with a 7-1 mark at the 1994 FIBA World Championship.

The remaining seven inductees include five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman; ABA/NBA legend Artis Gilmore; European star Arvydas Sabonis; all-time NCAA wins leader Herb Magee; eight-time NBA champion Tom “Satch” Sanders; coaching legend Tex Winter; andformer Harlem Globetrotter Reece “Goose” Tatum, who will be honored posthumously.  The announcement was made at a press conference in Houston, the site of the 2011 NCAA Final Four.

“We are pleased to welcome these 10 electees who will join the greatest in the game and take their rightful place in Springfield as a Hall of Famer,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“The Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011 is a true global representation of the game of basketball,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board.  “These distinguished players and coaches have made an impact at all levels worldwide and they have motivated, taught and inspired future generations to succeed both on and off the court.”

To be elected, finalists required 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This year, in addition to the Veterans and International committees, there are directly elected enshrinees from two other newly formed committees representing the American Basketball Association (ABA) and Early African-American Pioneers of the Game.  This change in the selection process will ensure that the Hall of Fame takes the necessary steps to preserve the history of the game and protect a critical era of basketball.

“The addition of the ABA and Early African-American Pioneers of the Game committees make sure we bring historical context to the modern game and meet our mission of recognizing the entire game,” said Colangelo.  “This generation built a foundation for the sport and the Hall of Fame is dedicated to making sure that they do not go unrecognized.”

The Class of 2011 will be enshrined during a week of events culminating on Friday, August 12 in Springfield, Massachusetts followed by a special ceremony at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut on Saturday, August 13.  Ticket packages to the 2011 Enshrinement Ceremony and all Enshrinement Events are on sale now and available by calling the Hall of Fame at (413) 231-5550.  Additional information on Enshrinement Week will be announced in the near future, and information will be available at http://www.hoophall.com/enshrinement-tickets/

THE NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2011:

Women’s Committee:

TERESA EDWARDS
Player, was the first American basketball player to participate in five Olympic games – winning gold in four of them and bronze in the fifth.  In college, she was a two-time Kodak All-America selection while leading Georgia twice to the Final Four.  For her efforts, she has been elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, National High School Sports Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and US Olympic Hall of Fame.  Elected as a Player from the Women’s Committee.

TARA VANDERVEER
Coach, began her collegiate coaching career in 1978 and continues today at Stanford University.  She has guided the Cardinal to two NCAA championships and this year became only the fifth Division I head coach to surpass 800 wins.  At the International level, she has won Olympic gold in 1996 as well as gold in the Goodwill Games and World University Games.  She has been named national coach of the year four times and has guided teams to eight Final Fours. Elected as a Coach from the Women’s Committee.

International Committee:

ARVYDAS SABONIS
Player, known as one of best big men in European history, he made an additional name for himself here in the United States with the NBA.  Known for his all round excellence and skill, he’d win Olympic gold and bronze as well as European championship gold with the Soviet Union and Lithuania between 1985 and 1996.  Recognized as one of the greatest passing centers of all time, he also would be named the Euroleague’s Most Valuable Player and was a two-time European Player of the Year.  In the NBA, he would play with the Portland Trailblazers between 1995-2001 and 2002-2003.  Elected as a Player from the International Committee.

Early African-American Pioneers of the Game Committee:

REECE “GOOSE” TATUM
Player, was the original clown prince of the Harlem Globetrotters and would be known as a basketball ambassador around the world for more than 25 years. He began his career in the 1940s as a baseball player for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro National League.  As a Globetrotter, he would play the important pivot position in the Globetrotter offense and was one of the first to shoot the hook shot with an arm span of 84-inches.  He is also an enshrinee of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.  Elected as a Player from the Early African-American Pioneers Committee.  (Born: May 31, 1921; Died Jan. 18, 1967)

ABA Committee:

ARTIS GILMORE
Player, member of the ABA 30-Man All-Time Team, would win one ABA championship and be named the ABA league and playoff Most Valuable Player.  His ABA career would also include All-ABA First Team honors five times, and All-ABA Defensive Teams four times. In the NBA, he would be named to six NBA All-Star Teams between 1977-1988. For his playing career, he would score more than 24,000 points and averaged a double/double in both professional leagues.  Elected as a Player from the ABA committee.

Veterans Committee:

TOM “SATCH” SANDERS
Contributor, a New York native who was a member of eight Boston Celtics championship teams between 1961 and 1969, playing a critical role in the teams’ legendary defensive success. Retiring as a player, he would coach at both Harvard University and with the Boston Celtics.  Following his coaching career he would be instrumental in the development of the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program and was a founder of the player programs for the NBA, which served as the benchmark for league sports throughout the world.  He has been enshrined into multiple Halls of Fame, served in critical roles for the Legend’s Foundation and is the associate director for the study of sport in society at Northeastern University.  His remarkable career in basketball resulted in his recognition with the Hall of Fame’s John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.  Elected as a Contributor from the Veteran’s Committee.

North American Committee Finalists:

HERB MAGEE
Coach, he has won more than 900 games at Division II Philadelphia University where he has coached since 1966.  His victory count is good for first all-time in NCAA basketball history for any level and he continues to be active today at Philly U.  He has guided the school to 25 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, has won 20 or more games in 30 years and has one NCAA National Championship.  Elected as a Coach from the North American Committee.

CHRIS MULLIN
Player, a high school All-America from New York City, he was a five-time NBA All-Star and collegiate standout at St. John’s, where he was named Big East Player of the Year an unprecedented three times.  He won two Olympic gold medals, including one as a member of the 1992 ‘Dream Team’, and his 16 NBA seasons with Golden State and Indiana produced over 17,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists.  He was an NBA First Team pick in 1992, and still holds the all-time scoring record at St. John’s, where he was named the Wooden Award Winner and a Sporting News All-America in 1985.  Elected as a Player from the North American Committee.

DENNIS RODMAN
Player, known for his extraordinary rebounding and defensive skills – he would win five NBA championships, three with Chicago and two with Detroit.  Named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year twice, he was named to a total of seven All-Defensive first teams while being selected to two NBA All-Star games.  His rebounding statistics still rank as some of the best in history.  Elected as a Player from the North American Committee.

TEX WINTER
Coach, began his coaching career in 1947 as an assistant with Kansas State University and continued at the collegiate and NBA levels until 2006.  He was part of nine NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers and is known for building the foundation of the triangle-post offense, which helped form dynasties at the Bulls and Lakers.  He was the youngest coach in college basketball history to receive Coach of the Year honors and guided Kansas State to six NCAA appearances and two Final Fours.  Elected as a Coach from the North American Committee.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women.