SPOKANE, Wash. — With everyone gearing up for Hoopfest, one special event Wednesday night got to honor five legends in local basketball history, all looking forward to the festivities this weekend.
The Hooptown Hall of Fame got five 2024 Hall of fame inductees this year, all with incredible histories in the sport. One of those people was Gonzaga men's basketball legend Adam Morrison, who said he was excited to receive the honor, never thinking when he started playing in college, he'd ever make it this far.
It was a moment for five Inland Northwest basketball legends.
One, humbled by the experience, as he talks about his love of Hoopfest.
"It's a tremendous event for the community I played in as a kid, 4th through eighth grade," Morrison said.
Morrison played for Gonzaga for three years, making his mark as one of the most notable college basketball players in the 2005-2006 season, later playing for the Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers.
But now, he's back in the city he grew up in, taking what he learned, and teaching it to those he loves.
"I'm coaching my youngest son, so it's pretty cool to be tied in with that," Morrison said. "And they do a lot with AAU basketball and community stuff like this, so it's cool to be recognized by that group."
He was one of many with the honor, along with Larry Wendel, Terry Kelly, Linda Sheridan and Tammy Tibbles.
Kelly is a Gonzaga Prep and Washington State University alum who was on the founding board of Hoopfest.
Tibbles grew up in the small Eastern Washington town of Creston before making her way onto the GU basketball team, where she earned the state record for most points scored in a game in 1985.
Sheridan, who is also from Spokane, coached the Shadle Park Highlanders to back-to-back state championships in 1988 and 1989, 10 trips to state and seven GSL Championships and a gym named in her honor.
Wendel started his 50-year officiating career in Spokane Valley and has gone on to work games for the then PAC-10, Big Sky and West Coast Conference.
All were grateful for their recognition, and excited for the weekend ahead, getting to see thousands in Spokane, playing the sport they all hold a special place in their hearts.
"It's world-renowned," Morrison said. "When I played professionally all over people always talked about Spokane and were like "Oh, Hoopfest," there were more people than you'd expect, so it's just cool to be a part of it."
Morrison is excited for this weekend, as well as many others, and is excited to see an expected bigger turnout this year compared to last.
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