Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Veteran Finalists for Election

Business Wire, April 18, 2002

Sports Editors/Basketball Writers & Columnists

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BW SportsWire)--April 18, 2002

Los Angeles to host Class of 2002 Announcement on June 5 to name the

first group to be enshrined into the new $103 million Naismith

Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame complex on September 27

Three instrumental figures in basketball's evolution into the modern era, legendary college coach Forrest Anderson, sporting goods executive Grady Lewis and Earl Lloyd, a pioneer in professional basketball for African-American players, were named today by the Veteran's Screening Committee as finalists for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Lewis and Lloyd have previously been finalists; Anderson is a first-time finalist. An individual needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for enshrinement, scheduled for September 27, the day before the Basketball Hall of Fame opens a new $103 million Hall of Fame and retail complex in Springfield. Next week, the Hall of Fame will release the names of finalists selected by the International, Women's and North American Screening Committees.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2002 will be announced on June 5, 2002 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. It will be the first opportunity to learn the identities of the new electees. "By announcing this class in Los Angeles, we are making a statement that the Basketball Hall of Fame is more than a building located in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball, but an organization that represents the best of the game from coast to coast," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Forrest Anderson, enjoyed a 25-year college and international coaching career, resurrecting the programs at Drake University (1946-48) and Bradley University (1948-54). He is crediting for making several technical contributions to the game, including continuous motion offense, zone press and pre-season conditioning programs. He led Bradley to both the 1950 NIT and NCAA Finals and 1954 NCAA Finals and Michigan State to the NCAA Finals in 1957 and the NCAA Tournament in 1958.

Grady Lewis helped develop the canvas basketball shoe and market basketball-specific shoes throughout the country. Lewis enjoyed a nearly six-decade basketball career as a player, coach and athletic shoe company executive with Converse. He was AAU basketball All-America in Oklahoma and played professionally in the BAA with Detroit, St. Louis and Baltimore

Earl Lloyd, who in 1950 became the first African-American to play in an NBA game with the Washington Capitols, was instrumental in integrating professional basketball as a player and coach. Lloyd led West Virginia State to two CIAA Conference and Tournament Championships in 1948 and 1949. He was named All-Conference three times (1948-50) and All-America twice as named by the Pittsburgh Courier (1949-50). As a player, Lloyd enjoyed a solid NBA career with the Washington Capitols, Syracuse Nationals and Detroit Pistons.

A full version of this release is available at the official internet site of the Basketball Hall of Fame, www.hoophall.com