Search by the First Name of the HOFers
Ernest Blood
Inducted:
1960
Stats
Born
October 4, 1872
Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Died
February 5, 1955
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA
Position
Coach
College
NA
Ernest Blood was a legendary pioneer basketball coach who completed a 50-year career across high school, collegiate, and military levels between 1915 and 1950. Blood coached St. Benedict's Prep from 1925 to 1950 to a 421–128 record, winning five prep-school state championships during his quarter-century at the school. He won a grand total of 1,200 games over the span of his 50 years in basketball, coaching YMCA, high school, prep school and college teams. In recognition of all of his accomplishments as a basketball coach, Blood was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.
Blood's Awards and Honor
- Seven New Jersey state high school championships.
- Five New Jersey prep school championships.
- 159-game high school winning streak (1919–1925).
- Set an American high school record for most consecutive victories.
NBA Teams
Passaic HS (1915–1924)
St. Benedict's Preparatory School (1925–1950)
NBA Records
Career/Tenor:
1915–1950
Career Won:
Over 1200
Passasic High School Records:
200-1
St.Benedict's Prep Records:
421-128
Championship:
7 New Jersey State Championships
Ernest Schmidt
Inducted:
1974
Player Stats
6 feet 4 inches
Born
February 12, 1911
Nashville, Kansas.
Died
September 6, 1986
Kansas, United States
Position
Shooting guard
College
Pittsburgh State University
Ernest Schmidt never actually played in the National Basketball Association; his playing days took place in the 1930s, long before the league was founded in 1946. Instead, Schmidt was an absolute superstar of the pre-NBA college and AAU eras. A 6'4" center with an explosive vertical leap, he was known for utilizing an early version of the one-handed shot and dominating the paint with tip-ins.
Schmidt starred for the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University), where his scoring prowess earned him the nickname "One Grand" because he scored exactly 1,000 points during his collegiate career. Recognizing his dominance during basketball's formative years, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1974.
Schmidt's Awards and Honor
- AAU All-American Second Team (1932)
- 4× All-Conference Selection
- 3× Central Conference Leading Scorer
- 3× Kansas State High School Champion
NCAA Teams
Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg
NCAA Stats
Collegiate Points:
1,000 career points
Conference Championships:
4
Consecutive Team Wins:
47
AAU Career:
1932 to 1936
All-Conference selection:
4 times
Central Conference leading scorer:
3 Times
Everett Case
Inducted:
1982
Coach Stats
Born
June 21, 1900
Anderson, Indiana, U.S.
Died
April 30, 1966
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Position
Coach
College
DePaul University
Everett Case was the transformative figure who turned North Carolina into the "Center of the Basketball Universe." While he never coached in the NBA, his impact on the professional game was structural: he essentially invented the "ACC style" of play—fast-paced, high-scoring, and theatrical—that would eventually produce dozens of NBA stars and coaches. After a legendary high school career in Indiana, Case arrived at NC State in 1946 and immediately revolutionized Southern basketball.
He introduced the post-game net-cutting ceremony, popularized the use of a spotlight during player introductions, and recruited nationally to build a powerhouse. His coaching tree is a "Who's Who" of basketball history, including NBA coaching legend Slick Leonard. For his role as the "Father of ACC Basketball" and his 377 collegiate wins, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Case's Awards and Honors
- NCAA Regional—Final Four (1950)
- 6 SoCon (1947–1952)
- 4 ACC tournament (1954–1956, 1959)
- 3× ACC Coach of the Year (1954, 1955, 1958)
- 3× SoCon Coach of the Year (1947, 1949, 1951)
NCAA Teams
NC State (1946–1964)
NCAA Stats
Wins:
377
Losses:
134
Win(%):
.738
Conference Titles:
10 (6 Southern Conference, 4 ACC)
ACC Tournament Titles:
4 (Won the first three in history)
Final Four Appearances:
1 (1950)
Everett Dean
Inducted:
1966
Stats
Born
March 18, 1898
Livonia, Indiana, U.S.
Died
October 26, 1993
Position
Coach
College
Indiana University
Everett Dean was one of the most respected college basketball coaches of the early 20th century. Dean built a historic legacy across three decades in collegiate athletics as a dual-sport master. After earning All-American honors as a basketball player at Indiana University, Dean embarked on a 30-year head coaching career spanning Carleton College, Indiana University, and Stanford University.
He delivered Indiana's first Big Ten basketball title in 1926 and later led Stanford to the 1942 NCAA National Championship. Beyond basketball, Dean was an elite baseball coach who led Stanford to the 1953 College World Series, making him the only individual inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame as a coach in 1966.
Dean's Awards and Honor
- NCAA Basketball National Champion (1942 - Stanford)
- 3× Big Ten Regular Season Champion (1926, 1928, 1936 - Indiana)
- Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) Champion (1942 - Stanford)
- College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee
- Helms Athletic Foundation First-Team All-American (as player)
- National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Everett Shelton
Inducted:
1980
Coach Stats
Born
May 12, 1898
Cunningham, Kansas, U.S.
Died
April 16, 1974
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Position
Coach
College
Phillips University
Everett "Ev" Shelton was a master tactician and a driving force in the expansion of basketball across the American West. While your query focuses on the NBA, Shelton’s greatness was primarily established in the collegiate and AAU ranks, where he won over 800 games across a 46-year career. He is most famous for his 19-season tenure at the University of Wyoming, where he led the Cowboys to the 1943 NCAA Championship.
He also experienced significant success in the AAU, leading the Denver Safeways to a national title in 1937. His ability to mold talent—including Hall of Famer Kenny Sailors, the pioneer of the modern jump shot—cemented his legacy as one of the game's greatest teachers. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
Shelton's Awards and Honors
- NCAA (1943)
- 8 MSC/Skyline (1941, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1958)
- President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (1960–61)
- Inaugural Inductee, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
- Led Wyoming to a 31–2 record in the 1942–43 season
- One of Wyoming’s most successful basketball coaches
NCAA Teams
Wyoming (1939–1959)
Sacramento State (1959–1968)
NCAA Stats
Wins:
328 (Program Record)
Total Losses:
201
Winning Percentage:
.620
NCAA Championships:
1 (1943)
Conference Titles:
8
NCAA Tournament Appearances:
8
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The NBA Hall of Fame, officially known as the Basketball Hall of Fame, is a prestigious institution that honors the greatest figures in the sport of basketball. Each year, the Induction ceremony celebrates legendary players who have made significant impacts on the game. The Hall of Fame class features basketball legends whose remarkable career achievements and iconic moments have defined the sport.
Inductees are recognized for their substantial player contributions, earning various awards and honors throughout their careers. The Hall also pays tribute to retired jerseys and acknowledges the profound impact on the game by highlighting the historic contributions of its members. With a focus on the legacy in basketball, the NBA Hall of Fame continues to celebrate excellence and inspire future generations of players through memorable speeches and recognition in sports.