Naismith Hall of Fame finalists announced

Candidates for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame have been announced. You can click on the link for more information on players and coaches named as finalists.

First time finalist for the Hoop Hall include: Reggie Miller, Rick Pitino, Bill Fitch and Katrina McClain.

This year’s list includes four first-time finalists: five-time NBA All-Star Reggie Miller, five-time NCAA Final Four coach Rick Pitino, two-time NBA Coach of the Year Bill Fitch and two-time Olympic gold medalist Katrina McClain.  Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are Maurice Cheeks, Bernard King, Dick Motta, Don Nelson, Hank Nichols, Ralph Sampson, Jamaal Wilkes and the All American Red Heads.  The Class of 2012 will be unveiled at the NCAA Final Four in April.

UK connections: Rick Pitino
Boston Celtics connections: Rick Pitino, Bill Fitch, and Don Nelson

As for when we will know how the voting goes:

The Class of 2012 will be announced on Monday, April 2 at a news conference in New Orleans prior to the NCAA’s Men’s Championship game. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2012 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass. on Friday, September 7.