Bill Self is one of fourteen finalists selected to be considered for the 2017 Hall of Fame Election.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today, at NBA All-Star Weekend, four phenomenal players, seven standout coaches, one outstanding referee, one legendary contributor and one record-setting team as finalists from the North American and Women’s committees to be considered for election in 2017.

This year’s list includes nine first-time finalists: 28-year NBA referee Hugh Evans, AP Female Athlete of the Year and ESPN Analyst Rebecca Lobo, NCAA National Championship Coach of Villanova Rollie Massimino, two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Sidney Moncrief, two-time NCAA National Championship Coach of Baylor Kim Mulkey, two-time AP College Coach of the Year Bill Self, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich and five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber.

Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are five-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist Tim Hardaway, the all-time winningest boys high school coach Robert Hughes, three-time Consensus National College Coach of the Year from Notre Dame Muffet McGraw, four-time Division III national champion coach Bo Ryan and 10-time AAU National Champions Wayland Baptist University.

“We are grateful to the fourteen finalists in the Class of 2017 for the impact they have had on the game we cherish. To be named a Finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame is an incredible accomplishment and we are proud to honor those who have shaped our game over the years,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Honors Committee now has the challenging task of selecting this year’s Enshrinees and we look forward to making the announcement at the NCAA Final Four in Arizona this April.”

Beginning with the Class of 2016, three distinct modifications were made to the election process. Most notably, potential honorees are eligible on the ballot for Hall of Fame enshrinement after four full seasons of retirement. Enshrinees from the Direct Elect Committees are recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four and include Early African-American Pioneers, International, Contributors and Veterans. As of 2016, the ABA Direct Elect Committee has been dissolved with those members now aligning with the North American committee.

Congratulations to all of the #17HoopClass Finalist! — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 18, 2017

The complete list of 10 finalists from the North American Screening Committee includes: players Tim Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Sidney Moncrief and Chris Webber, coaches Robert Hughes, Rollie Massimino, Bo Ryan, Bill Self and Rudy Tomjanovich and referee Hugh Evans. From the Women’s Screening Committee: coaches Muffet McGraw and Kim Mulkey, contributor Rebecca Lobo and Wayland Baptist University as a team.

The Class of 2017 will be announced on Monday, April 3 at a press conference in Phoenix prior to the NCAA Men’s Championship game. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2017 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, September 7-9, 2017.

North American Committee Finalists:

HUGH EVANS [Referee] – Evans, a native of Squire, West Virginia, served as an NBA Official for 28 consecutive years. From 1972-2001, he officiated nearly 2,000 regular season games, 170 NBA Playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star games. His officiating career also included the Rucker Park Summer Pro League and he served as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). Evans has been inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame of his alma mater, North Carolina A&T, in 2002.

TIM HARDAWAY [Player] - A 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and five-time NBA All-Star (1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998), Hardaway played 13 NBA seasons scoring a total of 15,373 points while averaging more than 20 points per game for four consecutive seasons. He is the 1990 recipient of the Jack McMahon Award for most inspirational player and a 1997 All-NBA First Team member. He currently ranks sixteenth in NBA history with 7,095 career assists. The Chicago native played collegiately at the University of Texas at El Paso (1985-1989), where his number has since been retired. He is known for making his signature move – the “UTEP Two-step” – famous in 1989, the same year he was named WAC Player of the Year.

ROBERT HUGHES [Coach] – Hughes coached high school basketball in Texas for 47 years and ranks first on the all-time wins list for boys’ high school coaches. He has compiled an overall high school coaching record of 1,333-247 (.844) and led his teams to 35 district championships and five state championships. He served as Head coach of the McDonald’s All-America Game West team (2001). Hughes was named the NHSCA National High School Coach of the Year (2003) and recipient of the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award (2010). He has been inducted into the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame (1993) and High School Basketball Hall of Fame (2003).

ROLLIE MASSIMINO [Coach] – Massimino has coached collegiate basketball for nearly 50 years, including stints with Stony Brook (1969-1971), Pennsylvania (1971-1973), Villanova (1973-1992), UNLV (1992-1994), Cleveland State (1996-2003), Northwood University (2006-2015) and Keiser University (2015-present). In 19 years with Villanova, he guided his team to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and five Sweet Sixteen finishes, plus a National Championship in 1985. He was voted Conference Coach of the Year eight times in varying conferences, including the Big East Coach of the Year in 1982. Massimino has compiled over 800 wins and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Congratulations to #17HoopClass Finalist Rollie Massimino, who has compiled over 800 wins and was inducted into the College BHOF in 2013! pic.twitter.com/KkNmZabso7 — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 18, 2017

TRACY MCGRADY [Player] – McGrady is a seven-time NBA All-Star (2001-2007) and a two-time NBA Scoring Champion (2003, 2004). After being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2001, he was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2002 and 2003. In McGrady’s 15 NBA seasons, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game and set an Orlando Magic franchise record for most points in a single game (62). Internationally, he earned a FIBA America’s Championship Gold Medal in 2003 and was named a Chinese Basketball Association All-Star in 2013. As a prep star at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina, McGrady was selected as a McDonald’s All-American and the USA Today High School Player of the Year (1997).

SIDNEY MONCRIEF [Player] - Moncrief is a five-time NBA All-Star (1982-1986) and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1983,1984). He earned NBA All-Defensive Team honors four times (1983-1986) and All-NBA First Team in 1983. In 11 NBA seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, he averaged 15.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. He played for the University of Arkansas from 1975-79, averaging 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Moncrief led the NCAA in field goal percentage during the 1975-76 season at .665 and earned Consensus First Team All-America in 1979.

BO RYAN [Coach] – A native of Chester, Penn., Ryan was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2003, 2013, 2015) during his 14 years coaching University of Wisconsin. Prior to Wisconsin, he coached University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1999-2000) and University of Wisconsin-Platteville (1984-1999) where his team won four NCAA Division III Championships (1991, 1995, 1998, 1999). Ryan compiled an overall collegiate coaching record of 747-223 (.762) and led Wisconsin to four Big Ten regular season championships (2002, 2003, 2008, 2015), three Big Ten Tournament championships (2004, 2008, 2015), and the NCAA Final Four (2014). He is a recipient of the Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award (2007), NABC Outstanding Service Award (2009) and Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award (2013).

Congratulations to 4x Big Ten Coach of the Year and #17HoopClass Finalist Bo Ryan! pic.twitter.com/X1WbiFjcx4 — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 18, 2017

BILL SELF [Coach] – Self is a two-time AP College Coach of the Year (2009, 2016) and six-time Conference Coach of the Year (WAC: 2000; Big 12: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016). He was named the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2012 and NABC Coach of the Year and USA Today National Coach of the Year in 2016. Self has compiled an overall coaching record of 613-190 (.763) during his time as the head coach of Oral Roberts (1993-1997), Tulsa (1997-2000), Illinois (2000-2003) and Kansas (2003-present). He is one of six coaches in NCAA history to lead three different teams to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and he guided Tulsa and Kansas to eight 30-win seasons. Self has led Kansas to 12 consecutive Big 12 regular season championships (2005-2016) and 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances, including an NCAA National Championship in 2008. He received the Mannie Jackson Basketball’s Human Spirit Award in 2015.

.@HoopHall announces Bill Self as one of 14 finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famehttps://t.co/hYGtVPLneQ #kubball pic.twitter.com/95b1Gt8Pkn — Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) February 18, 2017

RUDY TOMJANOVICH [Coach] – A native of Hamtramck, Michigan, Tomjanovich spent 34 consecutive seasons with the Houston Rockets organization as a player (1970-1982), assistant coach (1983-1992) and head coach (1992-2003). He was named The Sporting News NBA Coach of the Year in 1993. He is the only person in NBA history to score 10,000 career points and win 500 career games with two championships as a coach. Tomjanovich led the Rockets to NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 and is one of three coaches to lead a team to an NBA championship and an Olympic Gold Medal. He has compiled an overall coaching record of 527-416 (.559) and led USA Basketball to a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

CHRIS WEBBER [Player] - Webber is a five-time NBA All-Star (1997, 2000-2003) and the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year. He earned All-NBA First Team honors in 2001 and All-NBA Second Team three times (1999, 2002, 2003). He led the NBA in rebounds per game during the 1998-1999 season and averaged more than 20 points per game for nine consecutive seasons (1994-2003). Webber led University of Michigan to Final Four appearances in 1992 and 1993 and was a Unanimous First Team All-America selection in 1993. As a high school standout at Detroit Country Day School, he was named the McDonald’s All-America Game MVP, Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 1991.

Congrats to Chris Webber and Rudy Tomjanovich, finalists for the 2017 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame!! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/7dynqP6xyS — Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) February 18, 2017

Women’s Committee Finalists:

REBECCA LOBO [Contributor] – Lobo, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, was a member of the undefeated NCAA National Champion Connecticut Huskies (1995). That same year, she earned NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, AP Female Athlete of the Year, the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award, WBCA National Player of the Year and USBWA National Player of the Year. In 1994 and 1995, she was named Kodak First Team All-America, BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year, and GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team. Lobo earned an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996 and was an iconic player assigned to the New York Liberty when the WNBA formed in 1997. After six years in the WNBA, Lobo became an ESPN analyst for women’s college basketball and the WNBA.

MUFFET MCGRAW [Coach] – McGraw is the only male or female three-time Consensus National College Coach of the Year (2001, 2013, 2014) earning the Naismith Coach of the Year, Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year, WBCA National Coach of the Year and USBWA National Coach of the Year. She is also a five-time Conference Coach of the Year (1983,1988, 1991, 2001, 2013). As the coach of Notre Dame women’s basketball since 1987, she has led her team to 22 trips to the NCAA Tournament, including 13 NCAA Sweet Sixteens, seven NCAA Elite Eights and seven NCAA Final Fours (1997, 2001, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) with one National Championship in 2001. McGraw is one of four coaches in NCAA Division I history with 800 wins, seven Final Fours and five NCAA title games.

Congratulations to #17HoopClass Finalist Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame’s 3x consensus National Coach of the Year! pic.twitter.com/DZT5SHSZx1 — Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) February 18, 2017

KIM MULKEY [Coach] – Mulkey is a two-time NCAA National Champion (2005, 2012) with an overall collegiate coaching record of 473-92 (.837). She ranks fourth all-time among head coaches in win percentage. In 2012, Mulkey was named the Consensus National College Coach of the Year earning the Naismith Coach of the Year, Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year, WBCA National Coach of the Year and USBWA National Coach of the Year. As the head coach of Baylor since 2000, she has guided her team to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances including 11 Sweet Sixteens, seven Elite Eights and three Final Four appearances. Her Baylor squad has also won seven Big 12 regular season championships and eight Big 12 Tournament championships, earning her Big 12 Coach of the Year honors five times (2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015). Mulkey is the first person to win a national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY [Team] – Coached by Hall of Fame nominee Harley Redin, the Wayland Baptist University women’s basketball team won 131 consecutive games from 1953-58 and 10 AAU National Championships overall (1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975). Rosters included exceptional players such as Marsha Sharp, a three-time AAU All-American Patsy Neal, two-time FIBA World Championships gold medalist Katherine Washington, co-captain of the 1980 United States Olympic team Jill Rankin, and AAU national tournament MVP Lometa Odom. Coach Redin and team sponsor Claude Hucherson, as well as five players, have been enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. The team as a whole was recognized as Trailblazers of the Game in 2013.