Hoops Hall Notes Newlin, NBA Stars Among Newest HOF Class
NEW CASTLE – Tippecanoe Valley graduate Ron Newlin and a pair of NBA stars are among the latest Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame induction class.
Newlin, a 1976 Valley graduate, is the recipient of this year’s Indiana Pacers Silver Medal award, which includes Hall of Fame induction. Newlin is a former Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame executive director.
The Silver Medal – given to someone for outstanding contribution to Indiana high school basketball other than as an Indiana high school basketball player or coach – is presented to Newlin, who served as executive director of the HOF from 1987 through 1995. His most public involvement during his tenure came as the organization constructed and opened their current museum in New Castle in June 1990. The project was heavily influenced by Newlin and his background, previously having served as assistant director at the Indiana State Museum.
Newlin also oversaw a $1.7 million statewide capital campaign to help fund construction of the museum, as well as grow the organization’s membership and donor base and create its’ Indiana Basketball History quarterly magazine, before departing the organization five years after the museum’s opening.
A sophomore at Akron High School during its’ 1974 sectional championship season, he graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School in 1976 following consolidation. He holds a degree in history from Ball State University. Employed with Bloomerang, a start-up fund-raising software company, he resides in Indianapolis.
Newlin is among a class that includes Brebeuf’s Alan Henderson and Gary Roosevelt’s Glenn Robinson. Both are inducted in their first year eligible (26 years after high school graduation), joining a select group of just nine players previously inducted into the Hall in their first year of eligibility (Steve Alford, Damon Bailey, Kent Benson, Larry Bird, Dave Colescott, Kyle Macy, George McGinnis, Rick Mount and Oscar Robertson).
Robinson is an Indiana high school and college legend with a lengthy pro career. The 1991 Indiana Mr. Basketball after leading Gary Roosevelt to a state championship victory, he was a two-year 1st team all-state selection after scoring 1,710 career points (21.6 career HS ppg). Scoring another 1,706 points in just two seasons at Purdue University, he set the Big Ten single-season scoring record with 1,030 points leading the Boilers to the NCAA Elite Eight as a sophomore (30.3 ppg), leading to unanimous selection as 1994 Big Ten Player of the Year and being named 1994 NCAA National Player of the Year as winner of the Naismith Award, Wooden Award and USBWA Player of the Year honors. The #1 draft pick of the 1994 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks, Robinson scored over 14,000 points in an 11-year career with four franchises. The 2nd all-time leading scorer in Milwaukee Bucks team history (behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), he was also a member of the 2005 World Champion San Antonio Spurs. Retired, he lives in Roswell, Georgia.
Henderson is recognized for one of the greatest all-around careers in Indiana basketball history. Setting numerous records in his career at Brebeuf Preparatory, he averaged 27.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game as a senior, leading Brebeuf to a state runner-up finish and earning Henderson 1st team All-American honors. Totaling 2,419 career points, he graduated as the all-time leading scorer in Marion County history and 5th in IHSAA history. In a record-breaking career at Indiana University, he set the career blocks record (213) and remains the program’s all-time leading rebounder (1,091). He is the only player in IU history to rank in the top five in career points (1,979), rebounds, blocks and steals (148), was named a 1995 NCAA All-American and was selected as one of 15 players on IU’s All-Century Team. A 1995 1stround NBA Draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks, he played 12 seasons in the NBA and was named the 1998 NBA Most Improved Player. Since his NBA retirement in 2007, he now resides in Indianapolis.
Rounding out the 2017 class are Edward “Jingles” Engelhart of Washington, Bill Hampton of Crispus Attucks, Phil Isenbarger of Muncie North, Jim Lytle of North Dearborn, Herb McPherson of Mississinewa, Bob Reinhart of Dale, Steve Risley of Lawrence Central, Dave Sanders of Sheridan, Al Tucker of Patricksburg and Centennial Award winner Edwin Hubble.