SPRINGFIELD, M.A. — When the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame released its list of nominees for the 2025 Class, Jack Powers '58 and Junius Kellogg '55 were included on the ballot for the "Contributor" category among 35 other names, according to a press release from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Tom Konchalski, Bob Gibbons and Donnie Walsh are among the Contributor Nominees for the 2025 Naismith Hall of Fame Class. pic.twitter.com/2qTu6yEnPs
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) December 19, 2024
Powers is universally revered for his role in founding the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) which he presided over as executive director for over 20 years, while Kellogg was heralded for exposing the early 1950s point-shaving scandal that rocked the college basketball scene in New York City.
Powers has received props from the Naismith Hall of Fame before when he was honored at the First Annual MAAC Honor Roll Dinner in March 2012. He is enshrined in "The MAAC Experience", which is the league's exhibit there. Powers had a stint as the president of the MAAC.
Powers' connection to Manhattan University dates back an astonishing 70 years. He is forever remembered for his contributions as a player (1955-58), as head coach (1969-78), and as director of athletics (1980-88). He was enshrined in the Manhattan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, and was the first Jasper to have their number retired during 'Jack Powers Night' on Feb. 25, 2016, when Manhattan faced off against MAAC rival Iona.
Powers' most famous moment as a player came during an 89-84 win over Jerry West and West Virginia in the First Round of the 1958 NCAA Tournament. Powers lit up Madison Square Garden (and West Virginia) with 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Jaspers' first of three wins all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Powers tallied 1,139 points in three seasons.
Kellogg was the first African American to play basketball for Manhattan. In 1951, he was offered $1,000 to shave points in Manhattan's upcoming game versus DePaul, but instead notified Manhattan coach Ken Norton and authorities about the illegal betting scheme. Kellogg went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters before a car accident left him paralyzed and in search for new meaning in life. He continued to stay involved in the sport by taking part in wheelchair basketball, which later allowed him to serve as the head coach for the USA team at the 1964 Paralympics where Kellogg and the Americans took home gold.
Kellogg was inducted into the Manhattan Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 as a member of the inaugural class. Kellogg passed away in 1998 at 71 years of age, but his legend lives on at the university with a plaque hung inside Draddy Gym dedicated in his honor.
The finalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced on Friday, Feb. 14 in San Francisco during NBA All-Star Weekend. The entire Class of 2025 will be revealed during the national broadcast at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5. Enshrinement weekend will begin on Friday, Sept. 5 for the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The festivities will conclude with the Enshrinement Ceremony held the next day at Symphony Hall in Springfield.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Inductees (Contributor Committee)
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Doug Collins
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Herb Simon
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Jerry West
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