50th Anniversary men's basketball team announced

The Weber State University Athletic Department has announced its men's basketball 50th anniversary team in celebration of 50 years of Division I basketball, in conjunction with the Division I men's basketball 50th Anniversary Celebration set for Friday-Saturday, March 8-9.

The 50th anniversary team comprises players from each era of Wildcat basketball and includes all-time great players Gene Visscher, Willie Sojourner, Bob Davis, Jimmie Watts, Bruce Collins, Rico Washington, Jimmy Degraffenried, Harold Arceneaux, Jermaine Boyette and Damian Lillard. The 50 players combined for more than 50,000 career points.

50th Anniversary Team

Weber State became a four-year and NCAA Division I institution in the 1962-63 season. The Wildcats were an independent school the first year and the following season, 1963-64, became a charter member of the Big Sky Conference.

This Friday, March 8 will be “An Evening With Legends” at the Dee Events Center, providing Wildcats fans an opportunity to listen to former Weber State head coaches and players. Head coaches Dick Motta, Phil Johnson, Gene Visscher, Neil McCarthy, Ron Abegglen and Randy Rahe are all scheduled to attend the event and share stories and memories of Wildcat basketball through the years. In addition, several players including Justus Thigpen, Brady Small, Bruce Collins, Jimmy Degraffenried and David Patten will also be in attendance at the event. A book chronicling the history of Wildcat basketball over the past 50 years will also be available to order.

Tickets for the Evening with Legends are on sale now at the Weber State Ticket office or through the Wildcat Club. Call 801-626-8500 or 801-626-6576.

The celebration will continue on Saturday, March 9 at the men's basketball team's final regular season home game against Eastern Washington. The former coaches and players will be honored at halftime.

The Weber State men's basketball program has had tremendous success over the past 50 years. Weber State has captured 19 Big Sky Championships, the most of any school in conference history. WSU has also advanced to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, also the most in conference history, and has won six NCAA Tournament games.

Entering the 2012-13 season Weber State boasted the 23rd best winning percentage in men's basketball Division I history. A total of 12 Wildcats have been drafted in the NBA. In 2012 ESPN.com named Weber State the 39th best college basketball program in the country over the past 50 years.

For more information on the Evening With Legends and 50th anniversary celebration contact the WSU Wildcat Club at 801-626-6576.

Weber State University Athletics

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