Staff 04/01/2017 2:37 pm in Former Hoosiers

In a press release sent out early Saturday afternoon, it was announced former Indiana standout George McGinnis will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will take place on September 8.

McGinnis will be inducted along with former NBA star Tracy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self, former UConn and WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet McGraw, Texas high school coach Robert Hughes, former Bulls executive Jerry Krause, who died on March 21, former NCAA vice president Tom Jernstedt, European star Nikos Galis and two members of the Harlem Globetrotters — Zack Clayton and Mannie Jackson.

Here’s the full text of a press release issued on Saturday afternoon by IU athletics:

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2017 inductees Saturday and former Indiana Hoosier men’s basketball player George McGinnis is among the 11 inductees. McGinnis, who perhaps authored the greatest single season individual effort in the history of the program, wore the Cream and Crimson during the 1970-71 season. The graduate of Washington High School in Indianapolis led the Big Ten in both scoring (29.9) and rebounding (14.7). His single season scoring average remains an IU record and his single season rebound mark is the fourth best in Hoosier lore. McGinnis scored 20 or more points in 21 of his 24 college games, including an Indiana record 14 times in a row. He also scored over 30 points on 12 different occasions, a Hoosier single-season record. “On behalf of all Hoosier Nation, I want to congratulate George McGinnis on making the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame,” said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass. “I remember watching him as a kid at Hinkle Fieldhouse when he played for Washington. He is one of the greatest players in IU history, a Pacers’ legend and an icon in the State of Indiana. We could not be more thrilled for ‘Big George’ to receive this most prestigious honor.” Following his one season with IU, he began his professional career with the Indiana Pacers helping the Pacers to ABA Championships in 1972 and 1973. With the Pacers he was named the 1975 Co-MVP with future teammate Julius Erving. He was traded in 1975 to the Philadelphia 76ers where was part of a team, including Dr. J, which played in the 1977 NBA Finals. He was traded to Denver in 1978 and finished his career with two and a half more seasons as a Pacer. He was a three-time ABA and NBA All-Star and was selected to the all-time ABA Team. He played in 842 games as a professional and averaged 20.2, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Filed to: George McGinnis