Rutgers basketball to honor more greats in the rafters

For decades, only three Rutgers men’s basketball greats have been honored in the rafters of the RAC (now Jersey Mike’s Arena): Bob Lloyd, Phil Sellers, and James Bailey. But that is about to change.

A ring of honor-style display called “Knights of Honor” will be introduced in the upcoming season. The inaugural class of honorees will include Eddie Jordan, Mike Dabney, and Hollis Copeland, who were all part of Rutgers’ 1976 Final Four squad alongside Sellers and Bailey. The three former players were recently informed of their induction.

While some details of the Knights of Honor display are still being finalized, such as the date of the inaugural ceremony and the exact location of the honorees’ names and uniform numbers in the arena rafters, it is expected to take place during a home game, most likely a Big Ten game.

It’s worth noting that unlike Lloyd, Sellers, and Bailey, whose uniform numbers have been retired and cannot be worn by current or future Rutgers men’s basketball players, the numbers of Knights of Honor inductees will remain in circulation. Rutgers has set a high bar for jersey-number retirement, typically requiring honorees to be consensus All-Americans. While Lloyd and Sellers were first-team All-Americans and Bailey was a second-teamer, the new inductees do not meet this criteria.

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell has long desired to formally and visually honor other program greats, especially with the growing interest in Rutgers basketball. The “Knights of Honor” display follows a trend seen in other college basketball programs where jerseys are honored without retiring the number. Rutgers Athletics officials have been researching similar displays in recent months to determine the criteria for this recognition. More details about Rutgers’ criteria will be announced in the future.

Eddie Jordan, who remains the program’s career leader in assists and ranks second in steals, was also the East Regional MVP in the 1976 NCAA Tournament. Mike Dabney ranks fourth in program history in points, while Hollis Copeland ranks fifth. All three players received honorable mention All-American recognition.

Their induction into the “Knights of Honor” carries additional significance following the recent passing of Phil Sellers.

Longtime Scarlet Knights fans and basketball history enthusiasts can already start speculating about future inductees into the “Knights of Honor.” Roy Hinson, Quincy Douby, John Battle, Keith Hughes, Jim Valvano, and Kelvin Troy are some of the names that come to mind. As the program continues to grow, it’s possible that Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr., and Caleb McConnell could also join the ranks in the future.

This new display is not only a fun discussion and a nod to history, but it also enhances the atmosphere of the arena.

Jerry Carino has been covering the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at [email protected].