St. John's University Athletics
Dr. Richard Lapchick, Willie Hall Inducted Into New York City Basketball Hall Of Fame
9/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
QUEENS, N.Y. - Dr. Richard Lapchick and Willie Hall were formally inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as members of the 2015 induction class on Wednesday night during the 26th annual induction dinner at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan.
The eight-member induction class featured two coaches (Johnny Mathis and Bob McKillop), one contributor (Lapchick) and five players (Hall, Mike Davis, Chamique Holdsclaw, Geoff Houston and Sam Worthen).
Often referred to as the “social conscience of sport,” Lapchick serves as the Director of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF. The 1967 St. John’s alumnus is also the Founder and Director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics In Sport as well as the President and CEO of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport. Lapchick has been named “One of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sport” and “One of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America.”
Presented with the Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Award at the 2012 Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, Lapchick also received the Life Achievement Award from the National Basketball Retired Players Association in 2014. Lapchick, who also earned an honorary degree from St. John’s in 2001, is a regular columnist for ESPN.com and The Sports Business Journal.
Playing for head coach Joe Lapchick from 1959-62, Hall helped lead the Redmen to three postseason appearances and a 58-18 (.763) overall record in three seasons. Highlighted by a trip to the NIT Finals in 1961-62, St. John’s made two NIT appearances and one NCAA Tournament appearance in Hall’s career. Hall grabbed 577 rebounds, a total that ranks 34th in the St. John’s all-time record books.
Inducted into the Basketball Old-Timers of America Hall of Fame in 2013, Hall played his high school ball at Archbishop Molloy. A member of the Stanner Hall of Fame as an individual, Hall is also in the Stanner Hall of Fame as a member of the 1957-58 varsity squad, helmed by Lou Carnesecca, that went undefeated.
