Chick-fil-A Sponsors Program To Recognize Former Hoops Standouts
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 7, 2001) — Featuring former greats from all 12 Southeastern Conference member institutions, the 2001 class of the Chick-fil-A SEC Basketball Legends will be honored at the SEC Men’s Basketball TournamentMarch 8-11 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. as announced on February 7 by SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer.
“We are again excited about this program and of Chick-fil-A’s continuingsupport of SEC basketball,” Kramer said. “Honoring these former standoutsgives the conference the opportunity to thank those who helped establish therich basketball tradition in our conference.”
The 2001 class includes T.R. Dunn, Alabama; Joe Kleine, Arkansas; SonnySmith, Auburn; Andy Owens, Florida; Zippy Morocco, Georgia; Wallace “WahWah” Jones, Kentucky; Joe Dean, LSU; Denver Brackeen, Ole Miss; W.D. “Red”Stroud, Mississippi State; John Roche, South Carolina; Ernie Grunfeld,Tennessee; and Charles Davis, Vanderbilt.
Each Chick-fil-A SEC Basketball Legend will be recognized at halftime ofhis institution’s first game at the tournament. The legends will also behonored as a group during pregame festivities before the first semifinalgame on Saturday, March 10 at Noon CT.
Highlighting the schedule of events at the Dr Pepper SEC Fan Fare will beappearances by the legends on the Chick-fil-A Press Box Stage. Complimentaryposters of the legends will be available in the autograph area near thepress box stage. FanFare will be open Thursday-Saturday, March 8-10 at theNashville Convention Center.
This marks the third year of the basketball legends program. Last year’sgroup included Wendell Hudson, Alabama; Tommy Boyer, Arkansas; Gary Redding,Auburn; Neal Walk, Florida; Alec Kessler, Georgia; Cliff Hagan, Kentucky;Rudy Macklin, LSU; Don Kessinger, Ole Miss; Jim Ashmore, Mississippi State;Kevin Joyce, South Carolina; A.W. Davis, Tennessee; and Billy Joe Adcock,Vanderbilt.
Biographical sketches of the 2001 honorees follow.
2001 Chick-fil-A SEC Basketball Legends
University of Alabama-T.R. Dunn
Dunn played guard at Alabama from 1974-77. Dunn, most known for histenacious defense, was a two-time All-American for the Crimson Tide andplayed on three straight SEC Championship teams (1974-76). Dunn was asecond-round pick by Portland in the 1977 NBA draft. He was named to theNBA’s All-Defensive team three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985. The DenverNuggets retired his jersey in 1991. After playing in the NBA, Dunn was anassistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets from 1991-99. He is currentlythe head coach for the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA.
University of Arkansas-Joe Kleine
Kleine played center at Arkansas from 1983-85. Smokin’ Joe was adominating inside scorer and rebounder for the Razorbacks, leading Arkansasto three straight NCAA tournament appearances. An All-Southwest Conferenceselection in both 1984 and 1985, Kleine was drafted sixth overall by theSacramento Kings in the 1985 NBA draft. He played 15 seasons in the NBA andwas a member of the 1988 NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. Kleine also joined theArkansas Razorback Sports Network this season as a color analyst on thebasketball radio network. He currently ranks sixth on Arkansas’ all-timescoring list with 1,753 points in just three seasons.
Auburn University-Sonny Smith
Smith is Auburn’s second all-time winningest coach with a 173-154 (.529)record in 11 seasons at Auburn. The Tigers became the first school in SEChistory to win four games in four days in claiming the 1985 SEC TournamentChampionship. He guided Auburn to its first NCAA Tournament in schoolhistory with a five-year run from 1984-88. The Tigers were one game awayfrom the Final Four in 1986 before losing to eventual NCAA ChampionLouisville 84-76 in the Elite Eight. In fact, the Tigers were knocked outby the eventual NCAA Champion three straight years by Louisville (1986 EliteEight), Indiana (1987 second round) and Oklahoma (1988 second round). TheRoan Mountain, Tenn., native coached Auburn All-Americans Charles Barkleyand Chuck Person.
University of Florida-Andy Owens
Owens played forward at Florida from 1967-70. A three-time All-SECperformer, Owens finished his career third on Florida’s all-time scoringlist and currently ranks 10th with 1,445 points in three years of varsityplay. He still holds the school record for top scoring average in a seasonwith 27.0 points per game during the 1970 season. Owens was drafted in the11th round of the 1970 NBA draft by the Seattle Supersonics. A member ofthe University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, Owens has been a 12thCircuit Court Judge in Sarasota, Florida since 1983.
University of Georgia-Zippy Morocco
Morocco played guard at Georgia from 1950-53. An All-SEC selection duringhis senior campaign, Zippy averaged 23.6 points per game in 1953. Moroccofinished his career holding SEC records for points in season (590), freethrows in a season (210) and free throws in SEC games (131). His 38-pointeffort versus Tennessee in 1953 currently ranks sixth in Georgia history.The NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers drafted Morocco in the 1953 draft.
University of Kentucky-Wallace Jones
Jones played forward at Kentucky from 1946-49. One of the greatestathletes of his time, “Wah Wah” lettered in baseball, basketball andfootball at Kentucky. He earned All-SEC honors in football and basketballand was named to the SEC Men’s Basketball All-Tournament team all fouryears. In basketball, Jones was a member of UK’s Fabulous Five whichcaptured the 1948 and 1949 NCAA titles and the 1948 Olympic gold medal. Hewas an All-American in 1949 and he currently ranks 37th on the Kentuckyscoring charts with 1,151 career points. He was previously honored as anSEC Football Legend and is the SEC’s first athlete to be honored as a legendin two sports. His number has been retired in both sports at Kentucky. TheNBA’s Washington Capitals drafted Jones in 1949.
Louisiana State University-Joe Dean
Dean played guard for the Tigers from1949-52, three-times earning All-SEChonors. He was an honorable mention All-American in 1952, played in theCollege All-Star Game the same year and later was an alternate on the 1956United States Olympic Team. He is a member of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame,the Indiana Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Basketball Coaches’ Hall of Fame andthe National Association of Basketball Coaches Silver Anniversary team. Foralmost 20 years, he was nationally known as the color analyst for SECbasketball on NBC, TBS, ESPN, TVS and Jefferson Pilot Network telecasts ofthe league. His “String Music” line became an SEC trademark catch phrase. Hehas recently retired after 14 years as the Athletic Director at his almamater.
University of Mississippi-Denver Brackeen
Brackeen played center at Ole Miss from 1954-55. Brackeen transferred toOle Miss from East Central Junior College where he was an All-Americaselection and was chosen as the nation’s Most Outstanding Junior CollegePlayer after the 1952-53 season. He made an immediate impact at theUniversity of Mississippi, earning All-SEC honors in both 1954 and 1955.During his senior season, Brackeen averaged 27.2 points per game and wasnamed UPI SEC Player of the Year and AP SEC Most Valuable Player. He alsoearned All-American honors after the season and set a total of 24 schoolrecords during his two-year career at Ole Miss. Brackeen was drafted in the2nd round of the 1955 NBA draft by the New York Knickerbockers. He retiredfrom the Adjutant General Office of the Mississippi National Guard in 1992with the rank of Major General.
Mississippi State University-W.D. Stroud
Stroud played guard at Mississippi State from 1960-63. Known for hisplay-making ability, “Red” Stroud was an All-SEC selection all three varsityyears at MSU. Stroud-led teams won three straight SEC Basketball titles andhe was tabbed SEC Most Valuable Player after the 1962 season. He alsoearned All-American honors as a junior and competed on Mississippi State’sfirst-ever NCAA Tournament team in 1963. He currently ranks 20th on theschool’s all-time scoring list with 1,116 career points. Stroud is a memberof the MSU and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and was selected in the 5thround in the 1963 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.
University of South Carolina-John Roche
Roche played guard at South Carolina from 1968-71. The only three-timeAll-American in USC history, Roche holds the school records for points in agame (56), consecutive free throws made (41) and career points in athree-year period (1,910). Roche earned first-team All-ACC and All-ACCTournament honors after all three of his varsity seasons and was named the1971 ACC Tournament Outstanding Player. He led the Gamecocks to aschool-best three-year mark of 69-16. He also was an All-America selectionin 1969, 1970 and 1971. Roche was drafted in the 1st round of the 1971 NBAdraft by the Phoenix Suns and played 3 ½ seasons in the NBA and 4 ½ seasonsin the ABA.
University of Tennessee-Ernie Grunfeld
Grunfeld played forward at Tennessee from 1974-77. A prolific scorer,Grunfeld finished his career at UT as the school’s all-time leading scorerwith 2,249 career points. Currently second on the Tennessee scoring chart,Grunfeld teamed with Bernard King from 1975-77 to create one of the mostdominating scoring duos in NCAA history. Grunfeld led the SEC in scoringaverage at 25.3 points per game in 1976 and finished second to King in both1975 and 1977. An All-America selection in 1976 and 1977, Grunfeld was alsorunner-up to King for UPI Player of the Year honors in the SEC for his lasttwo seasons. Grunfeld was drafted in the 1st round of the 1977 NBA draft bythe Milwaukee Bucks. He enjoyed a nine-year NBA playing career with Bucks,Kansas City Kings and New York Knicks from 1977-86. He is currently theGeneral Manager for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Vanderbilt University-Charles Davis
Davis played guard/forward at Vanderbilt from 1977-81. Making an immediateimpact, Davis was the first player at Vanderbilt to average 15-or-morepoints per game during his freshman year. An All-SEC performer during the1979 season, Davis is the sixth leading scorer in Vanderbilt history with1,675 career points, averaging 16.0 points per game. His career total of683 field goals still ranks first in the Vanderbilt record books. Davis wasdrafted in the 2nd round of the 1981 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets.He played nine seasons in the NBA for the Bullets, Milwaukee Bucks, SanAntonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. He is currently the Executive Director ofthe Charles Davis Foundation, which provides community service forunderprivileged children.
