(Detroit, MI)- This past weekend at the American Basketball Hall of Fame (ABHOF) Enshrinement Ceremony where two classes were enshrined of basketball royalty in a packed house at the Bridge Center, legendary sports announcer Ronnie Duncan of CBS Detroit who was also honored by the (ABHOF) but before calling “Pee Wee” Kirkland to the podium to be inducted, he told the crowd that Kirkland was the greatest point guard that never played in the NBA, who played at Norfolk State and was drafted in 1968 to the Chicago Bulls and the crowd stood to their feet.
Kirkland was inducted into the class of 2022 along with some notable names from the likes of ESPN Dick Vitale, Harlem Globetrotter Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown, Miami Heat forward Grant Long, and Detroit Pistons Terry Mills. The class of 2023 had some big names as well, Dr. Charles Tucker who played guard at Western Michigan University and was drafted in 1968 to the ABA Dallas Chaparrals, then became a sports agent and represented major names such as former Los Angeles Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Also NBA Great Isiah Thomas, Larry Johnson, Dennis Hopson, Otis BridsBirdsongong, Michael Ray Richardson, and Michigan State University Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo.
The ABHOF also enshrined five women players that have made major contributions to the game of basketball Lavonia Perryman, Cheryl, Debra Walker, Dana Joubert, and Lisa Kirby. The inaugural class was in 2019 and now the ABHOF has enshrined five classes and 78 players. The goal of the ABHOF is to build a state-of-the-art hall of fame to tell the history of basketball along with a basketball fieldhouse complex.
But the night ended with Pee Wee Kirkland getting another standing ovation from the crowd as he told the packed house a documentary was being filmed, he told the fans how he played against some of the game’s greatest players and how he turned down NBA and that his life mission is to continue to travel around the world and educate the youth on a life long lesson thought basketball.
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
