The Southeastern Conference shows some love to the University of Missouri by naming Norm Stewart as a 2013 SEC Basketball Legend. He will be recognized at the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, March 13‐17, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
“The Basketball Legends Program allows us to honor our past and show everyone why the SEC is one of the nation’s premier basketball conferences,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.
In addition to Stewart, the 2013 class includes Wimp Sanderson, Alabama; Jerry Carlton, Arkansas; Ronnie Battle, Auburn; Bill Koss, Florida; Tim Bassett, Georgia; Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky; Geert Hammink, LSU; Rahim Lockhart, Ole Miss; Horatio Webster, Mississippi State; Eddie Fogler, South Carolina; Len Kosmalski, Tennessee; John Beasley, Texas A&M; Mike Rhoades, Vanderbilt.
Each SEC Basketball Legend will be recognized at halftime of his institution’s first game at the tournament.
Below are bios for each of the 14 school representatives.
MISSOURI – Norm Stewart, Guard, 1954‐56; Head Coach, 1967‐99
A legendary player and coach for the Tigers, Norm Stewart finished his career No. 2 on Mizzou’s career scoring lists (1,112) and later went on to become Mizzou’s all‐time winningest coach, winning 634 games and 14 Big Eight titles from 1967‐99. Stewart earned first team All‐Big Seven honors in 1955 and 1956 and was an All‐America selection in 1956. Stewart finished his playing career with a rebounding averaging of 9.2 rpg and is one of six Tiger players to have his jersey (#22) retired. Overall, he coached 38 seasons (with six years at Northern Iowa), and his 731 career wins ranked 7th all-time in NCAA history at the time of his retirement in 1999. The playing courts at both the Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena have been named in his honor. Stewart was also an outstanding baseball player who pitched a no‐hitter during the 1954 season, and played on MU’s 1954 national championship team.
ALABAMA – Wimp Sanderson, Head Coach, 1980‐92
As head coach during the most successful era (1980‐92) in Crimson Tide basketball history, Wimp Sanderson led Alabama to 267 wins, five SEC Tournament championships and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 12 seasons as head coach. Six of his Alabama teams finished ranked in the top 25 and those six teams also advanced to the NCAA’s Sweet 16. The 1986‐87 squad won a school‐record 28 games and the SEC regular‐season and tournament titles. Sanderson was named SEC Coach of the Year twice (1987 and 1989). Sanderson finished his Alabama career with a record of 267‐119 for a winning percentage of .692.
ARKANSAS – Jerry Carlton, Guard, 1960‐62
One of the all‐time greats at Arkansas, Jerry Carlton played from 1960‐62 and was a two‐time All‐ Southwest Conference selection in 1961 and 1962 and earned honorable mention Converse All‐America accolades in 1961. Carlton was the second Razorback to crack the 1,000‐point barrier for his career. He scored a total of 1,042 points in 71 games, a career average of 14.7 points per game, on teams that went 12‐11, 16‐7 and 14‐10, respectively. He set then‐school records in both field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Carlton’s .863 free throw percentage in 1961 ranked fifth in the nation while his .880 free throw percentage in 1962 ranked second nationally. The 1961‐62 season found Carlton as a marquee player for the Hogs, with Carlton dropping in a team leading 18.2 points per game. In addition to his basketball career, Carlton was a standout for the Razorback baseball team leading the squad in batting average in three‐straight seasons from 1960‐62. He was inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in 2004 and was named to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
AUBURN – Ronnie Battle, Guard, 1989‐90; 1992‐93
A three‐time All‐SEC selection, including first‐team selections in 1990 and 1993, Ronnie Battle was also named to the Coaches All‐SEC first‐team as a freshman in 1989‐90 and was an Associated Press All‐SEC third‐team pick. He earned Basketball Weekly Freshman All‐American third‐team honors. In addition to being named to the Basketball Times Freshman All‐American fourth‐team. Battle ranks sixth on Auburn’s all‐time scoring chart with 1,916 career points and eighth in career scoring average (16.8). He ranked second on Auburn’s career 3‐point field goal percentage chart (.423) and holds Auburn’s single‐season 3‐point field goal percentage record, making 51.1 percent from behind the arc in 1991‐92. The guard averaged 16.8 points in his four‐year career. Battle scored a career‐high 43 points vs. Georgia in 1992, the seventh most in Auburn history.
FLORIDA – Bill Koss, Forward/Center, 1962‐65
Bill Koss has been connected with the Florida basketball program for the past 50 years, with his life‐long dedication to the Gators dating back to his playing days in the 1960s. A three‐year letterwinner who appeared in 48 games for the Orange and Blue, Koss became a color commentator for TV and radio and has called hundreds of Florida’s games over the past several decades. He is currently a game analyst working games throughout the Southeast for a variety of networks, including ESPN, Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida. Koss is the foremost authority on the history of Florida basketball and the author of the 1996 book, Pond Birds, which details the story of Gator hoops from the beginning. Away from the court, Koss is a founding partner of the wealth management firm Koss Olinger in Gainesville.
GEORGIA – Tim Bassett, Forward, 1972‐73
Washington, D.C., native Tim Bassett starred as a power forward for the Bulldogs in the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Not only was he a pioneer in the integration of athletics at UGA, Bassett also made quite a mark on the court. As a senior he averaged 17 points, was the SEC’s rebounding champion with an average of 14.2 per game, and made the Coaches’ all‐conference team. Despite playing just two seasons at Georgia, he still ranks among the school’s all‐time top 10 in rebounding. Bassett then played professionally for seven seasons, the first three for San Diego and the New York Nets of the ABA and later for New Jersey and San Antonio of the NBA.
KENTUCKY – Jamal Mashburn, Center, 1981‐83
A two‐time All‐American during his three years at Kentucky, Jamal Mashburn was the corner stone of UK’s return to the elite of college basketball. Mashburn was selected consensus First Team All‐America in the 1993 season when he helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four where he was named to the All‐ Final Four Team. A three‐time All‐SEC selection, Mashburn finished his career with 1,843 points, fourth most in school history at the time. Voted the 1993 SEC Player of the Year, Mashburn was selected fourth overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
LSU – Geert Hammink, Center, 1989‐93
A consensus first team All‐SEC selection as the league’s top center in 1993, Geert Hammink averaged a double‐double with 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He also led the team in blocked shots (30), field goals made (190), free throws made (108) and minutes played (970). As a senior in 1993, he was named to the all‐tournament team after leading the Tigers to the SEC Tournament finals. The four‐year letterman from the Netherlands helped LSU to its 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993. He was selected by the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA Draft and went on to play for Orlando and Golden State in a three‐year NBA career. Hammink’s son, Shane, is a current member of the LSU basketball team.
OLE MISS – Rahim Lockhart, Forward, 1997‐98; 2000‐2001
One of the most popular basketball players ever at Ole Miss, Rahim Lockhart completed his collegiate career in 2001 when he was a third team All‐America selection, while also earning NABC All‐District 4, USBWA All‐District 6, All‐SEC and SEC All‐Tournament Team honors. A member of the winningest senior class in Ole Miss history (88 wins), Lockhart scored 1,160 points, pulled down 780 rebounds and is the school’s all‐time field goal percentage leader at 56.1 percent. A two‐time member of the SEC Good Works Team, he played in four‐straight postseasons (1998, 1999, 2001 NCAA; 2000 NIT) and led the 2000‐01 Rebels to a school‐record 27 victories and the program’s first NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16” appearance. Lockhart, a native of Mendenhall, Miss., who worked in the Mississippi Attorney General’s office before joining the coaching ranks, currently serves as the head boys basketball coach at Madison Central (Miss.) High School.
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Horatio Webster, Forward, 1997‐98
Horatio Webster is a two‐time All‐SEC selection who finished his career ranked in the Top 10 in scoring average at 16.6 points. Despite playing just two years at MSU, he was just 23 points shy of scoring 1,000 points. He started all 59 games for the Bulldogs and scored in double‐digits 52 times while recording 10 double‐doubles. Webster was named the 1997 SEC Newcomer of the Year after being tabbed JUCO All‐ American at Connors State College the previous season.
SOUTH CAROLINA – Eddie Fogler, Head Coach, 1994‐2001
Coach Eddie Fogler led the Gamecocks from 1994‐2001, leading South Carolina to the 1997 SEC Championship and back‐to‐back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and 1998. He ranks fourth all‐time in South Carolina history in wins (123), and coached Gamecock All‐Americans BJ McKie and Larry Davis among other Carolina greats. During his time in the Garnet and Black, he coached six individual All‐SEC honorees, including McKie, the 1996 SEC Rookie of the Year.
TENNESSEE – Len Kosmalski, Center, 1972‐74
A native of Maple Heights, Ohio, center Len Kosmalski lettered for the Tennessee basketball program
from 1972‐74 and is the Volunteers’ No. 31 all‐time scorer with 1,212 career points. A starter on UT’s
1972 SEC Championship team, Kosmalski earned first‐team All‐SEC acclaim in 1972, 1973 and 1974
before being selected by Utah in the second round of the 1974 ABA Draft. The 7‐0 center who averaged
17.7 points and 8.4 rebounds during his UT career also played in the NBA for Kansas City and Omaha.
TEXAS A&M – John Beasley, Center, 1963‐66
A two‐time all‐conference performer and conference player of the year, John Beasley still holds Texas A&M’s records for career scoring average (21.8 ppg) and career rebounding average (10.8 rpg). He earned first team All‐America honors following his senior season in 1966 in which he averaged a school record 27.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Beasley owns six of the top 10 scoring performances in Texas A&M history, including a career‐best 44 points at Arkansas in 1966. Drafted by the Baltimore Bullets, he completed his career as Texas A&M’s all‐time leading scorer (currently ranks fifth) with 1,594 points and rebounder (currently ranks eighth) with 784 boards.
VANDERBILT – Mike Rhodes, Guard/Forward, 1978‐81
Mike Rhodes teamed with Charles Davis to form Vanderbilt’s famous “Town and Country” scoring duo in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Rhodes ended his career as Vanderbilt’s all‐time leading scorer and still ranks fifth in Commodore career scoring with 1,699 points. He was a first‐team All‐SEC pick by the coaches in 1980 and also earned all‐SEC recognition in 1979. Mike still ranks in a tie for second on Vanderbilt’s all‐time field goals made chart.
