Rutgers basketball legend Jim Valvano to be Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

On Friday, former Rutgers star Jim Valvano will take his place among basketball greats when he is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. While his playing days ended in 1967, Valvano is still a legend in Piscataway.

During his time as a Scarlet Knight, Valvano scored 1,222 points in three seasons, the 31st most all-time in Rutgers history. He also is tied for second all-time in single-game field goal percentage at Rutgers as a player with .909 against Lafayette on January 30th, 1965. His latest achievement has not gone unnoticed, especially by Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell.

“I want to congratulate the Valvano family for this unbelievable achievement,” Pikiell told Rutgers athletics. “Your family, your religion and Rutgers basketball! Jim Valvano was a legend here for Rutgers basketball. It’s an unbelievable journey that he took to the Hall of Fame. All of us here is Rutgers Nation are proud to be recognized with Jim Valvano. We are proud of the coach he became and most of all proud of all the great cancer research that has come from his legacy.”

After his playing days ended, Valvano returned to Rutgers as an assistant coach from 1967-1969. It was just the start of his coaching career, which would include stops at Connecticut, Bucknell, Iona, and North Carolina State. While at NC State, he led the Wolfpack to an NCC championship in 1983 and a pair of Elite Eights in 1985 and 1986.

However, his most impactful moment did not come on the basketball court. That came at the 1993 ESPY Awards, as the V Foundation was established for Cancer Research, and he gave a speech for the ages. Now he will finally take his place among the greatest the basketball world has ever seen where he belongs.

Story originally appeared on Rutgers Wire