Nov. 19, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, part of the College Basketball Experience (CBE) at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., continued to break new ground with its second annual induction ceremonies held on Nov. 18.

A crowd of some 1,500 attended the event marked the first time the induction ceremonies were held at the CBE and Sprint Center and it was the first time that college basketball legends who are not members of the Founding Class have been inducted. The Founding Class includes all of those who have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., for their accomplishments in men's college basketball.

"This was a special night because it gave us a chance to recognize those who have gone before us and those who are truly worthy of being recognized for their contributions to men's college basketball," said Jim Haney, NABC executive director.

The newest inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame included four players headed by Founding Class member Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the first and only player named as the most valuable player in three NCAA tournaments. The first non-Founding Class players to be inducted were all-time NCAA tournament scoring leader Austin Carr of Notre Dame; three-time Tennessee State All-America Dick Barnett; and former National Player of the Year Dick Groat of Duke. The first group of coaches inducted outside of the Founding Class were Norm Stewart, an All-America player and head coach for 32 seasons at Missouri; Guy Lewis, who guided Houston to five Final Four appearances; and Charles "Lefty" Driesell, who coached four different schools to 786 victories over 41 seasons. Former Duke head coach and Sun Belt commissioner Vic Bubas was inducted as a contributor.

College basketball's "Founding Fathers" - Forrest "Phog" Allen, John McLendon, Henry Iba and Adolph Rupp were also given special recognition at the event. They are all members of the Founding Class.