April 5, 2010

RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech alum Karl Malone was among eight individuals and two teams who were announced on Monday to make up the Enshrinement Class of 2010 to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Malone starred at LA Tech from 1982-85 and was a three-time Sporting News All-American while leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1985. He ranks sixth all-time at LA Tech with 1,716 points in just three seasons, an average of 18.7 for his career. Recruited out of Summerfield, La., Malone became a two-time NBA MVP and 14-time NBA All-Star with the Utah Jazz and a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA.

In addition to Malone, the inductees include Jerry Buss, Cynthia Cooper, Bob Hurley, Sr. and Scottie Pippen, along with two celebrated teams: the 1960 USA Men's Olympic team and the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team." The Class of 2010 also includes three legendary players: Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and international star Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira, all of whom will be honored posthumously. The announcement was made at a press conference in Indianapolis, Ind., the site of the 2010 NCAA Final Four.

"The Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2010 represents everything that is great about the game of basketball," said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. "From the two gold medal winning USA Olympic Teams, to a high school coach who dedicated his life to the game, to a diverse group of individuals who have excelled as collegians, professionals and great contributors to our sport, this group of Hall of Famers will be known as one of the great classes in history."

The Class of 2010 will be enshrined at the Springfield Symphony Hall on August 13, following a week of festivities in Springfield, Mass. to be staged August 7-13, 2010. Ticket packages to the 2010 Enshrinement Ceremony and all enshrinement events are on sale now and available by calling the Hall of Fame at (413) 231-5500.