Hall of Fame Inducts Rice, Smith, and Hazzard

Three legendary figures join the Class of 2026 at the ceremony held in Kansas City.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration of a basketball player in mid-motion, capturing the kinetic energy of collegiate basketball and legendary athletic achievement. — The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inducted six new members, including Glen Rice and Tubby Smith, during a ceremony in Kansas City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame honored a new class of inductees during an event in Kansas City on October 22, 2026. Among the six total members added to the hall are Glen Rice, Tubby Smith, and Walt Hazzard.

Why it matters

The ceremony serves as a major milestone for the institution established by the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation in 2006. Inductees are selected for the honor based on their career performance and nomination consideration.

The Class of 2026 features six total members, including three Black inductees. Career highlights for the group include Glen Rice scoring 184 points in the 1989 NCAA tournament and Danny Ainge recording 2,500 career points at BYU.

The players

Glen Rice

He is a former University of Michigan star who secured the 1989 national championship.

Tubby Smith

He is an accomplished head coach who led Kentucky to a 1998 national championship and spent six seasons at the University of Minnesota.

Walt Hazzard

The late athlete played for UCLA from 1961 to 1964 and remains a significant figure in collegiate basketball history.

National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation

This organization serves as the founding body of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Danny Ainge

He is one of the six 2026 inductees who notably scored 2,500 career points while playing at BYU.

The details

The induction event took place at The College Basketball Experience, which serves as the physical home for the Hall of Fame. The class also includes Ted Owens, Jay Wright, and Danny Ainge, recognizing their various contributions to the sport.

Walt Hazzard played basketball at UCLA from 1961 to 1964.
Tubby Smith won a national championship at Kentucky in 1998.
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in 2006.
Walt Hazzard passed away in 2011.
The induction celebration took place in Kansas City on October 22, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The induction highlights the ongoing growth of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a premier institution for preserving sports history. This class selection continues the tradition of honoring coaches and players whose careers define the competitive landscape of the NCAA.

The induction of figures like Glen Rice and Tubby Smith anchors historical context for the current college basketball season. Their inclusion provides fans and analysts with a baseline to compare modern career scoring and coaching achievements against the greats of the past.

The takeaway

These honors underscore the lasting legacy of athletes and coaches who achieved success on the national stage. Fans of college basketball can look to these careers as benchmarks for peak performance in tournament and conference play.