(Detroit, MI)-Some of the greatest men and women basketball icons are coming to the city of Detroit on Sunday, June 25th at the Bridge Center, to be enshrined in the American Basketball Hall of Fame (ABHOF). This year will be the combination of the 2022 and 2023 classes. The ABHOF has already inducted over 50 players since 2019, like former Boston Celtic Sam Jones, Harlem Globetrotter Legend Meadowlark Lemon, as well as the late great Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant.
The two classes are full of basketball legends from all levels, from college basketball coaches Coach Greg at Oakland University, Tom Izzo of Michigan State University to Harlem, New York’s flashy point guard and playground icon Pee Wee Kirkland, ESPN Basketball Analyst Dick Vitale, and Detroit Pistons legends Earl Lioyd, Isiah Thomas, Earl Cureton, Terry Mills, John Long, and former Harlem Globetrotter dribbling wiz Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown, just to name a few.
The goal of the ABHOF is to honor the history of basketball and to give players/coaches/contributors another opportunity to be inducted into a national hall of fame. The ABHOF inducts high school and college players/coaches, barnstorming teams, playground legends, CBA, ABA, NBA, and WNBA players/coaches, and contributors that have made an impact on the game of basketball. The CEO/Founder of the ABHOF, LaMont Robinson, said that he is in talks with several cities that have shown interest in landing the project, but the goal is to build in the city of Detroit. He further went on to say:
“The plan is to build a state-of-the-art 75,000 sq. ft. basketball facility that will have programs for Detroit youth featuring year-round basketball camps, AAU, Midnight and Pro-AM basketball leagues, and mental health/mentoring programs. The facility will be named the National Basketball Village, which would include basketball courts, a weight room, a track, classrooms, and a basketball-themed restaurant, along with another hall of fame, the HBCU Black College Basketball Hall of Fame.”
The ABHOF Induction Ceremony will start at 3:30 PM at the Bridge Center – 9928 Grand River, Detroit. Mi. Tickets are $35.00, and you can purchase them at the door or online at: www.americanbasketballhall.com
American Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 and 2023:
Isiah Thomas – NBA Player
“Pee Wee” Kirkland – Ruckers Park Playground Legend
Dick Vitale – ESPN Announcer
Tarence Wheeler – Player – European Player
Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown – Harlem Globetrotters
Johnny Clark-College Player – University of Central Arkansas
Grant Long – NBA Player
Terry Mills – NBA Player
Earl Lloyd – NBA Player
Earl Cureton – NBA Player
Mike Richmond – European Player
Ronnie Duncan – Sports Announcer
Lavonia Perryman – High School Player/Contributor
Larry Johnson – Player – NBA Player
Cheryl Cook- College Player – University of Cincinnati
Dennis Hopson – NBA Player
Michael Ray Richardson – NBA Player
Tom Izzo – Michigan State University – Basketball Coach
Bobby Grund – Founder – Harlem Road Kings – Contributor
Dana Joubert – College Player – University of Minnesota
Greg Kampe – Oakland University Basketball Coach
Lisa Kirby – College Player – Oklahoma City University
Dr. Charles Tucker – College and ABA Player
Otis Birdsong – NBA Player
Debra Walker – College Player – Chaney State University
Alvin “Bo” Dukes – European Player
