The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
1960 U.S. Olympic Team elected to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
04.05.2010 | Men's Basketball
April 5, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS -- Former University of Texas All-American Jay Arnette has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, the Hall of Fame announced today. Arnette joins two-time All-American and NBA All-Star Slater Martin as the only UT players to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Martin was enshrined in 1981.
The Enshrinement Class of 2010 includes Jerry Buss, Cynthia Cooper, Bob Hurley Sr., Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, along with two celebrated teams: the 1960 USA Men's Olympic team and the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team." The Class of 2010 also includes three legendary players: Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and international star Maciel "Ubiratan" Periera, all of whom will be honored posthumously. The announcement was made at a press conference in Indianapolis, site of the 2010 NCAA Final Four.
The 1960 U.S. Olympic team, coached by the legendary Pete Newell, featured Oscar Robertson and Jerry West and is considered by many to be the best amateur basketball team in Olympic history. Ten members of the 12-man American roster went on to play in the NBA, and six team members have been enshrined as individuals in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Team USA compiled an 8-0 record at the Rome Olympic Games. The squad averaged 101.9 points per game and posted a +42.4 points per game margin of victory en route to the gold medal.
Arnette, a three-year letterwinner for the Longhorns (1958-60), garnered first-team All-America honors by Coach and Athlete and Converse Yearbook and second-team All-America accolades by Helms Foundation during his senior year. Arnette, who had just completed his collegiate eligibility, played in all eight games during the Olympics and averaged 2.9 points per contest for the Americans.
To be elected, finalists are required to receive 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2010 will be enshrined at the Springfield Symphony Hall on August 13 in Springfield, Mass. Additional information on Enshrinement Week will be announced in the near future, and information will be available at www.HoopHall.com.
