SPOKANE, Wash. – Former Gonzaga standout Adam Morrison was one of seven individuals that were inducted into the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame at the Spokane Arena Tuesday.
Morrison's name was synonymous with college basketball in 2006. He adorned the front of magazines and had the country talking about his mane, mustache and Gonzaga basketball. He led the Bulldogs to a 29-4 overall record and a No. 5 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. For the eighth-straight year the Zags earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament - this time a third seed, after posting a perfect 14-0 record in the West Coast Conference regular-season and winning the WCC Tournament.
Morrison led the nation in scoring in his last year, averaging 28.1 points per game. He is only the second Gonzaga player ever to do so. Morrison was also Gonzaga's seventh John R. Wooden Award Player of the Year candidate and the fourth player to earn Wooden Award All-American. He was named Gonzaga's inaugural Associated Press pre-season selection as a junior, and was a consensus Associated Press All-America first-team pick. Morrison also earned National Association of Basketball Coaches Co-Player of the Year and USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Co-Player of the Year accolades during 2006.
Other national honors Morrison earned in 2006 were: Naismith Trophy Top Four Finalist, NABC All-District 14 First Team, and USBWA All-District 9 First Team.
A star player nationally, Morrison also dominated the West Coast Conference. He earned back-to-back WCC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors (2005, 2006) and was a two-time WCC First Team honoree. Morrison was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2006 after averaging 28.1 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, along with a 49.6 field goal percentage, 77.2 free throw percentage and a 42.8 three-point percentage.
Other national honors in 2005 were: USBWA All-District 9 First Team, and Basketball Times All-West Coast First Team.
Morrison was also a member of 2004 USA World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Team that earned a gold medal at the World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the summer of 2004. He averaged 8.2 points per game and 1.7 rebounds per game in three games, missing the gold medal game because of a sore knee.
Morrison, a childhood diabetic since age 12, has developed into a role model for children with diabetes to show they, too, can live a normal life.
Morrison finished his career as the third-leading scorer in Gonzaga history with 1,867 points. He is also third in the career rankings for field goals made (659), fourth in free throws made (398) and ninth in three-point field goals made (127). Morrison's name is also scattered throughout the GU single-season rankings. He is first in single-season points (926 in 2006), field goals made (306 in 2006) and free throws made (240 in 2006). Morrison was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats as the third pick overall in the 2006 draft; the highest draft pick by a Gonzaga player.
Joining Morrison were former Eastern Washington football coach Dick Zornes, Mead volleyball coach Judy Kight, Washington State distance runner Bernard Lagat and Spokane Chiefs great Ray Whitney. Longtime EWU sports information director Dave Cook and Central Valley scorekeeper and Greater Spokane League historian Bill Pierce received Scroll of Honor awards.
Hall of Fame memorabilia for all inductees can be viewed year-round at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
ABOUT SPOKANE SPORTS
Founded in 1989, Spokane Sports is a non-profit, economic development organization responsible for recruiting, retaining, and facilitating sports events for the Spokane region. As advocates for sports development, our efforts help our region realize the economic, social, and community development benefits of sports. Learn more by visiting us online.
ABOUT THE INLAND NORTHWEST HALL OF FAME
The Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame, a committee of the Spokane Sports Commission, celebrates the achievements of top athletes, coaches, and contributors in the Spokane region. Our region's athletic talent is a huge source of pride and positive recognition for our area, and we want to honor those who have attracted regional and national attention. Hall of Fame memorabilia for all inductees can be viewed year-round at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS
The selection committee is comprised of Spokane Sports board members, as well as sports writers, broadcasters and other sports-minded people in our community. To be eligible for nomination to the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame, the candidate must have been a resident of the Inland Northwest at the time he or she gained recognition.
Athletes are not eligible for consideration until five years after his or her last competition. Coaches are eligible three years after their last coaching date, or retirement. Contributors are eligible at the discretion of the committee.
