Lidia Alexeeva Enshrined 2012 Moscow, Russia Born: July 4, 1924 Biography Lidia Alexeeva took her place on the world stage during the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. The Soviet national team marched straight to the gold medal game of the basketball tournament in grand fashion winning games by an average of more than 31 points per game. The repeat performance in the 1980 Moscow Olympics reinforced her reputation as one of the premier coaches in basketball. The unblemished record of Alexeeva in international competition included the first-ever gold medal in Olympic women’s basketball as well as ten first place finishes in the European Championships. Alexeeva, the coach of the Soviet national team for twenty years, ushered in the first dynasty in women’s basketball at the international level. Her teams won twenty gold medals in international competition including four first place finishes in the FIBA World Championships for Women. Alexeeva and her teams were light years ahead of the rest of the world in women’s basketball. Career Highlights Led Soviet National Team to Olympic Gold Medals, 1976, 1980 Let Soviet National Team to ten European championships Enshrinee, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, 1999 Enshrinee, FIBA Hall of Fame, 2007

All American Red Heads Enshrined 2012 Biography The All American Red Heads barnstormed the country for the better part of six decades playing to packed houses at every stop. Formed in 1936, the all-female five played men’s teams by men’s rules, shattering stereotypes about female athletes and overcoming social barriers that existed on and off the basketball court. The Red Heads played upwards of 200 games in a single season from coast to coast eventually making stops in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. The girls with the flaming red hair asked no favors of the men. Owners C.M. Olson and Orwell Moore stacked their rosters with the finest players available. The Red Heads played it straight during the early stanzas of games and then put on a show of fancy dribbling, trick shooting, and rapid-fire passing. The girls impressed with their skill, their talent, and their humor. The All American Red Heads were trailblazers and remain the longest-running women’s professional franchise in the history of basketball. Career Highlights First women’s team enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame Played men’s team by men’s rules Shattered stereotypes about female athletes Won 96 straight games

Donald Barksdale Enshrined 2012 Oakland, CA 3/31/1923 - 3/8/1993 Biography Donald Argee Barksdale learned the game of basketball in the parks and recreation centers that dotted the neighborhoods of Oakland, California during the days of his youth. He never played a minute of high school basketball at Berkeley High due to rules that limited the number of black players to one on varsity teams. The social barriers and racial quotas that threatened to derail his career from the very beginning failed to dampen the spirit of optimism in Barksdale. In 1947 he became the first African-American to be named to the Helms Foundation All-America team after helping the UCLA Bruins to the Pacific Coast Conference championship. The following year Barksdale represented the United States in basketball at the London Olympics, becoming the first African-American to make the U.S. Olympic team and the first to win gold. His work in the Games opened more doors for black basketball players. He continued his amateur career with the AAU Oakland Bittners until 1951 when Barksdale went pro, signing a contract with the Baltimore Bullets. Two years later, he broke the color line again when he was named to the 1953 NBA All Star team. Career Highlights Helms Foundation First Team All-America, 1947 Four-time AAU All-America, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 NBA All Star, 1953 Olympic Gold Medal, 1948

Jamaal Wilkes Enshrined 2012 Berkeley, CA Born: May 2, 1953 Biography Smooth as Silk. There really was no better description of his game, his demeanor, his style. Jamaal Wilkes represented California basketball from the moment he stepped onto the floor to the day he retired as one of the game’s all-time great champions. At UCLA, he was a key player on the program’s 88-game win streak under legendary coach John Wooden. The streak included two undefeated runs to NCAA national championships in 1972 and 1973. Wilkes gave real meaning to the term student-athlete leaving UCLA as a three-time Academic All-America and graduating with a degree in economics. Success followed him to his next stop in the Golden State earning Rookie of the Year honors with the hometown Warriors. That same year Wilkes also won the first of four NBA championships. Silk was then an anchor on the early Showtime Lakers teams that won three NBA titles, in 1980, 1982, and 1985. A three-time All Star, he was an effective outside shooter with an unorthodox delivery that simply worked. Career Highlights Three-time NBA All Star, 1976, 1981, 1983 NBA Rookie of the Year, 1975 Associated Press First Team All-America, 1974 Three-time Academic All-America, 1972, 1973, 1974

Chet Walker Enshrined 2012 Benton Harbor, MI Born: February 22, 1940 Biography Chet “The Jet” Walker was a durable and reliable small forward for 13 seasons in the NBA. A product of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Walker earned a basketball scholarship to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where he broke records and earned All-America honors as a high-scoring offensive threat. Walker operated best in the open court where his power and speed helped him get to the basket. He excelled at drawing the foul and was automatic from the free throw line. During his career he appeared in over 1,000 contests never missing more than six games in any season. Walker was geared for winning, with teams he played for making the postseason every year he was in the league. The model of consistency, Walker averaged 18.2 points per game during the regular season and postseason for his career. In 1967, Walker teamed with Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, and Hal Greer on the great Philadelphia 76ers team that won the NBA title. The seven-time NBA All Star never ran short of playing a stellar game, always consistent and committed. Career Highlights Seven-time NBA All Star, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 NBA All-Rookie Team, 1963 Consensus First Team All-America, 1962 NBA Championship with the Philadelphia 76ers, 1967

Ralph Sampson Enshrined 2012 Harrisonburg, VA Born: July 7, 1960 Biography Ralph Sampson dominated college basketball during his four years at the University of Virginia. The recruitment of Sampson reached a fever pitch during his final season at Harrisonburg High School where the two-time state champion gave college coaches a glimpse into the future of basketball. The first center to possess open-court versatility, Sampson’s speed, rebounding, and shooting ability helped redefine the post position in basketball. He dribbled the basketball, ran the floor, and jumped like no other player his size. Sampson led the Cavaliers to the 1980 NIT championship, the 1981 NCAA Final Four, and marquee wins over college adversaries Michael Jordan of North Carolina and Patrick Ewing of Georgetown. Drafted by the Houston Rockets, Sampson paid immediate dividends in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year in 1984 playing in the first of three consecutive NBA All Star games. Sampson’s off-balance, last-second shot dethroned the Showtime Lakers in the 1986 Western Conference finals to send the Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals. Career Highlights Naismith Award winner, 1981, 1982, 1983 Wooden Award winner, 1982, 1983 Consensus First Team All-America, 1981, 1982, 1983 Three-time NBA All Star, 1984, 1985, 1986

Mel Daniels Enshrined 2012 Detroit, MI Born: July 20, 1944 Biography In the basketball-centric state of Indiana, Detroit native Mel Daniels gave Pacer fans and Hoosier natives reason to cheer for the hometown team. Daniels landed in the upstart American Basketball Association in 1967 after a standout career at the University of New Mexico where he was a Second Team All-America his senior year and averaged double figures in points and rebounds all three seasons. A six-foot-nine-inch post presence, Daniels was an agile scorer and ferocious rebounder filling up the stat sheets for eight ABA seasons. Three times in his first four seasons Daniels led the ABA in rebounding including a career high of 18 boards per game in 1970-71. He is the ABA’s all-time leading rebounder and ranks fourth in scoring, but his greatest contributions to Hoosier Hysteria are the three ABA championships he won with the Indiana Pacers. In two of the three title runs, Daniels was the postseason leader in total rebounds. The seven-time ABA All Star averaged a double-double for his career and was also named to the All-ABA First Team four times in a row starting in 1968. Career Highlights Seven-time ABA All Star, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 ABA Rookie of the Year, 1968 ABA Most Valuable Player, 1969, 1971 ABA Championships with the Indiana Pacers, 1970, 1972, 1973

Hank Nichols Enshrined 2012 Niagara Falls, NY Born: July 20, 1936 Biography When Hank Nichols walked out onto the floor, coaches and players and even fans knew they were going to get a fair shake. One of the most respected referees in history, Nichols officiated six NCAA national championship games, ten Final Fours, and two Olympics including the 1984 bronze medal game in Los Angeles. The Niagara Falls native called two of college basketball’s most memorable games. The first – the 1975 national championship game between college basketball giants UCLA and the University of Kentucky – was the last game in the legendary career of Coach John Wooden. The second was the Bird-Magic showdown in the 1979 national title game, still the highest-rated college basketball broadcast in network history. The only official to work the NCAA and NIT championships in the same year, Nichols assumed the role of the NCAA’s first coordinator of officials in 1986 where he studied officiating and began to standardize game-calling across the country. Once called the John Wooden of officials, Nichols commanded respect and gave it back in return. Career Highlights Officiated six NCAA Division I national championship games Officiate ten NCAA Final Fours NCAA Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials Secretary/Editor, NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee

Phil Knight Enshrined 2012 Portland, OR Born: February, 24 1938 Biography One of the most influential and significant businessmen in the game of basketball, Phil Knight is the co-founder, former CEO, and current Chairman of the Board of Directors of NIKE, Inc. Knight built a company from the ground up that is widely credited with expanding the game of basketball around the world through its innovative products and influential marketing. His visionary leadership merged top-flight sports and popular culture by developing elite footwear, apparel, and equipment built on performance, innovation, and emotion. Nike was the first sports brand to incorporate top athletes to connect with consumers emotionally, landing the most significant sports personality of all time in Michael Jordan. The 1985 debut of the Air Jordan basketball sneaker changed the athletic footwear and apparel industry for good. Nike later signed Sheryl Swoopes as the first woman to have her own signature shoe, supported the game in places like China, and strengthened collegiate athletics by providing resources to grow, maximize, and enhance the student-athlete experience on campuses across the country. Career Highlights Named the Most Powerful Man in Sports by The Sporting News, 1993 Widely credited with expanding the game of basketball around the world Named one of America’s top managers by Business Weekly, 1997 Recipient, University of Oregon Pioneer Award, 1982

Katrina McClain Enshrined 2012 Charleston, SC Born: September 19, 1965 Biography Katrina McClain was a prolific rebounder and terrific scorer in a career that spanned three Olympic Games, three continents, and countless driveways, backyards, and arenas all over the world. Before she earned her stripes for USA Basketball, McClain starred at the University of Georgia where she was a two-time Kodak All-America and the WBCA National Player of the Year her senior season. She left Georgia as the school’s second all-time leading scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double her final two seasons in Athens. The Lady Bulldogs reached the 1985 NCAA Final Four and national championship game with McClain controlling the paint and Teresa Edwards running the offense. The two-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year finished her international career with two Olympic gold medals and one bronze, three FIBA World Championships medals, and five medals at the Goodwill Games, Pan Am Games, and World University Games. In all Katrina McClain appeared on eleven USA Basketball rosters becoming one of the most decorated athletes in USA Basketball history. Career Highlights WBCA National Player of the Year, 1987 Kodak All-America, 1986, 1987 Olympic Gold Medals, 1988, 1996 Gold Medals, World Championships, 1986, 1990