This year's inductees will be announced in San Antonio on April 7, prior to the NCAA Championship game, and enshrined during a celebration at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA the weekend of September 4-6.
Here's a look at some of the finalists:
Patrick Ewing - Georgetown University Hoyas
One of the most dominant big men the college game has ever seen, Ewing led Georgetown to three Final Four appearances in his four years, and a national title in 1984. His four-year averages as a Hoya: 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocks per game.His post-collegiate career wasn't too shabby, either: the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft, Ewing is the New York Knicks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and field goals. He won Olympic gold in 1984 and again with the "Dream Team" in 1992.
This is Ewing's first appearance as a finalist.
Hakeem Olajuwon - University of Houston Cougars
Olajuwon -- known as "Akeem" during his collegiate career -- led the University of Houston to the Final Four in each of his three seasons with the Cougars, and to the final game twice (losing once to Ewing's Hoyas and once to Michael Jordan's Tar Heels). In 1984, his junior season, Olajuwon led the NCAA in field goal percentage (.675), rebounding (13.5) and blocks (5.6).He left the University of Houston after his junior season to become the first overall selection -- by the Houston Rockets -- in the 1984 NBA draft (two spots ahead of Jordan). He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 95, and is the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots with 3,830.
As with Ewing, Olajuwon is a first-time finalist.
Chris Mullin - St. John's University Redmen
Mullin was Big East player of the year three times during his tenure at St. John's -- no mean feat, considering his tenure coincided with Patrick Ewing's. The sweet-shooting lefty racked up 2,440 career points for the Johnnies and once inspired North Carolina head coach Dean Smith to say, "I don't want to play against guys who shoot ten of twelve from the floor." His career field goal percentage was 55 percent -- stunningly high for a perimeter player. He won the Wooden award as college basketball's top player in 1985.He had a highly productive 17-year NBA career with the Warriors and Pacers. He was a five-time NBA all-star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He's now the general manager of the Warriors.
This is Mullin's second appearance on the list of finalists. He was first nominated in 2007.
Adrian Dantley - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Dantley was a prolific scorer for the Fighting Irish, scoring 2,223 points in three seasons at South Bend, the second-highest career total in Notre Dame history. He was a unanimous first-team All-American in 1975 and 1976, and capped off his final season as an amateur by leading the Olympic team in scoring (19.6 points per game) on their way to gold in Montreal.He continued to light up scoreboards during his 15-year pro career. He was NBA rookie of the year in 1977, averaged more than 30 points per game for four straight seasons (1981-84) and is the 23rd-ranked scorer in NBA history.
This is Dantley's seventh appearance on the list of finalists.
Dick Vitale - ESPN
Dickie V. was color commentator for ESPN's first college basketball broadcast on December 5, 1979. Sometimes it seems he's called just about every game since. With his array of catch phrases (Diaper Dandy, PTPer, etc.) and frenetic style, his voice and mannerisms are synonymous with college basketball.Whether or not that's a good thing is a matter of some debate.
Vitale has been calling games for so long, people forget that, once upon a time, he was a pretty good coach. He led the University of Detroit to a 78-30 record in five seasons and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1977. His record as an NBA coach is less impressive... 30 wins with the Pistons in 1978-79 and a 4-8 record to start the 1979-80 campaign that got him fired.
Vitale recently returned to the mic after a three-month layoff to recuperate from laryngeal surgery.
This is his third appearance as a finalist.
Victor Bubas - Duke University, Sun Belt Conference
Modern college basketball fans probably aren't that familiar with Victor Bubas' name. But the mark he left on the game is obvious to even the most casual observer. As head coach at Duke in the 1960s, Bubas led the Blue Devils to four ACC titles and three Final Fours. For that decade, he's second only to the immortal John Wooden in coaching victories. And later, as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference from 1976-1990, he helped drive the adoption of the three-point line and the 45-second clock.The Rest
The remainder of the 2008 nominees are big names in the world of hoops, but are much better known for their contributions at the NBA level or elsewhere in the game. They include:- Pat Riley - legendary coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat
- Don Nelson - innovative coach of the Warriors, Mavericks and several other NBA teams
- Bill Davidson - owner of the Detroit Pistons and the WNBA's Detroit Shock
- Dennis Johnson - an NBA champion and Finals MVP in 1979 with the Sonics, DJ went on to be a key contributor on the great Celtic teams of the '80s.
- Cathy Rush - a women's hoops pioneer, Rush's teams at Immaculata University compiled a 149-15 record in her seven seasons as coach.
- Togo Soares - led the Brazilian national team to five medals in World Championship competitions and a bronze medal in the 1960 Olympics, and led club teams to five South American championships.
- Maciel Ubiratan Pereira - one of Brazil's greatest players, Pereira led his teams to eleven Brazilian league titles, five South American championships and an Olympic bronze medal in 1964.
- Richie Guerin - A nominee of the veteran's committee, Guerin was a six-time NBA All Star during his playing career with the Knicks and Hawks.
- Johnny "Red" Kerr - Kerr has been involved with the NBA for 60 years as a player, coach, executive and broadcaster.
