Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Erick Dampier Garners Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Selection
October 27, 2020 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications
JACKSON – Former Mississippi State men's basketball and NBA standout Erick Dampier can add Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum inductee to his impressive list of career accolades as the organization announced its class of 2021 on Tuesday.
Dampier is joined by Debbie Brock (Delta State), Lindsey Hunter, Jr. (Jackson State/NBA), Terrence Metcalf (Ole Miss/NFL), Dave Randall (Ole Miss/ATP) and Randy Watkins (Ole Miss/PGA) in the six-person class.
Mississippi State amassed 66 victories and earned three postseason appearances during Dampier's career, highlighted by 1996 NCAA Final Four and 1995 NCAA Sweet 16 trips under head coach and fellow Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Richard Williams. He was named MSU's SEC Basketball Legend in 2014.
Dampier was a two-time Associated Press (AP) All-America Honorable Mention pick and two-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First-Team selection during his junior and senior seasons. He ranks among Mississippi State's top 10 in total blocks (249 – 2nd), blocks per game (2.68 – 2nd), field goal percentage (58.7 – tied 3rd), rebounds (859 – 6th) and rebounds per game (9.2 – 8th).
Dampier piled up 1,231 career points which ranks eighth among three-year players and 25th overall at Mississippi State. He registered double figures in 74 of his 93 career appearances, fueled by nine efforts of 20-plus points.
Dampier collected 33 career double-doubles and is one of five players in program history to amass 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus blocks during a game since 1974-75. One of his most memorable performances was a 21-point, 10-rebound and 8-block effort to ignite a 78-64 victory over No. 19 Utah during the 1995 NCAA Tournament Second Round.
Dampier was a lottery pick and chosen 10th by the Indiana Pacers in the 1996 NBA Draft. His NBA career spanned 16 seasons with stops in Indiana, Golden State, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta. He scored 7,309 points, 7,005 rebounds and 1,398 blocks in 987 games.
Prior to Mississippi State, Dampier prepped at Lawrence County High School in Monticello, Mississippi where he led his team to two straight state championships.
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi's rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination where sports legends come to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, learn and dream. The 501(c) (3) organization recognizes excellence in athletics and contributions to sports statewide.
Due to concerns about the pandemic, no induction ceremony dates have been set at this time.
Mississippi State won 11 of its last 15 SEC games to earn a top 4 finish in the conference standings last season, the program's highest overall regular season finish since 2010-11. The Bulldogs have tucked away three consecutive 20-plus win seasons under sixth-year coach Ben Howland. The last time the program accomplished that feat was the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. The 68 victories also are the fourth-highest total in program history for a three-year span.
Mississippi State will look to punch its return ticket to March Madness in 2020-21 led by returnees Abdul Ado, Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart Jr. The trio will be joined by talented transfers in Javian Davis, Jalen Johnson and Tolu Smith along with a skillful freshmen class headed by Derek Fountain, Andersson Garcia, Cameron Matthews, Keondre Montgomery and Deivon Smith.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum – Class of 2021
Debbie Brock – Delta State women's basketball
Erick Dampier – Mississippi State men's basketball/NBA
Lindsey Hunter, Jr. – Jackson State men's basketball coach/NBA
Terrence Metcalf – Ole Miss football/NFL
Dave Randall – Ole Miss men's tennis/ATP
Randy Watkins – Ole Miss men's golf/PGA
Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame and Museum – MSU Men's Basketball Inductees
2021, Erick Dampier
2014, Richard Williams
2012, Jeff Malone
1995, Doug Hutton
1990, W.D. Stroud
1983, Jim Ashmore and G.D. Pillow
1977, Bailey Howell
1974, Babe McCarthy
1966, K.P. Gatchell
1965, T.I. Gaddy
JACKSON – Former Mississippi State men's basketball and NBA standout Erick Dampier can add Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum inductee to his impressive list of career accolades as the organization announced its class of 2021 on Tuesday.
Dampier is joined by Debbie Brock (Delta State), Lindsey Hunter, Jr. (Jackson State/NBA), Terrence Metcalf (Ole Miss/NFL), Dave Randall (Ole Miss/ATP) and Randy Watkins (Ole Miss/PGA) in the six-person class.
Mississippi State amassed 66 victories and earned three postseason appearances during Dampier's career, highlighted by 1996 NCAA Final Four and 1995 NCAA Sweet 16 trips under head coach and fellow Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Richard Williams. He was named MSU's SEC Basketball Legend in 2014.
Dampier was a two-time Associated Press (AP) All-America Honorable Mention pick and two-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First-Team selection during his junior and senior seasons. He ranks among Mississippi State's top 10 in total blocks (249 – 2nd), blocks per game (2.68 – 2nd), field goal percentage (58.7 – tied 3rd), rebounds (859 – 6th) and rebounds per game (9.2 – 8th).
Dampier piled up 1,231 career points which ranks eighth among three-year players and 25th overall at Mississippi State. He registered double figures in 74 of his 93 career appearances, fueled by nine efforts of 20-plus points.
Dampier collected 33 career double-doubles and is one of five players in program history to amass 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus blocks during a game since 1974-75. One of his most memorable performances was a 21-point, 10-rebound and 8-block effort to ignite a 78-64 victory over No. 19 Utah during the 1995 NCAA Tournament Second Round.
Dampier was a lottery pick and chosen 10th by the Indiana Pacers in the 1996 NBA Draft. His NBA career spanned 16 seasons with stops in Indiana, Golden State, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta. He scored 7,309 points, 7,005 rebounds and 1,398 blocks in 987 games.
Prior to Mississippi State, Dampier prepped at Lawrence County High School in Monticello, Mississippi where he led his team to two straight state championships.
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi's rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination where sports legends come to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, learn and dream. The 501(c) (3) organization recognizes excellence in athletics and contributions to sports statewide.
Due to concerns about the pandemic, no induction ceremony dates have been set at this time.
Mississippi State won 11 of its last 15 SEC games to earn a top 4 finish in the conference standings last season, the program's highest overall regular season finish since 2010-11. The Bulldogs have tucked away three consecutive 20-plus win seasons under sixth-year coach Ben Howland. The last time the program accomplished that feat was the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. The 68 victories also are the fourth-highest total in program history for a three-year span.
Mississippi State will look to punch its return ticket to March Madness in 2020-21 led by returnees Abdul Ado, Iverson Molinar and D.J. Stewart Jr. The trio will be joined by talented transfers in Javian Davis, Jalen Johnson and Tolu Smith along with a skillful freshmen class headed by Derek Fountain, Andersson Garcia, Cameron Matthews, Keondre Montgomery and Deivon Smith.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum – Class of 2021
Debbie Brock – Delta State women's basketball
Erick Dampier – Mississippi State men's basketball/NBA
Lindsey Hunter, Jr. – Jackson State men's basketball coach/NBA
Terrence Metcalf – Ole Miss football/NFL
Dave Randall – Ole Miss men's tennis/ATP
Randy Watkins – Ole Miss men's golf/PGA
Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame and Museum – MSU Men's Basketball Inductees
2021, Erick Dampier
2014, Richard Williams
2012, Jeff Malone
1995, Doug Hutton
1990, W.D. Stroud
1983, Jim Ashmore and G.D. Pillow
1977, Bailey Howell
1974, Babe McCarthy
1966, K.P. Gatchell
1965, T.I. Gaddy
Players Mentioned
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