September 26, 2008
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Former Longwood University All-America men's basketball player Jerome Kersey was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night (Sept. 25) as a member of the Class of 2008. The 29th annual induction ceremony took place at the
Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon. Kersey was previously inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame on April 26, and he was one of six initial inductees into the inaugural Longwood Athletics Hall of Fame on November 27, 2005.
Kersey played 17 seasons (1984-2001) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for six different teams, winning an NBA Championship with San Antonio (1999). Prior to his NBA career, he was a four-year starter and two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-American (1984, 1st-Team; 1983, 3rd-Team) at Longwood College (1980-84, now University). A 1984 NBA Draft Second-Round selection (46th overall) of Portland, Kersey was also the 1984 Virginia College Division Player of Year.
A native of Clarksville, Kersey led Longwood to a record of 64-39 during his career. As a senior, he averaged 19.6 points and a national Division II-best 14.2 rebounds en route to his 1st-Team All-America and State Player of the Year honors. Kersey participated in the 1984 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) NBA pre-draft camp, and earned PIT All-Tournament Team honors. He still holds 10 Longwood school-records, including career rebounds (1,162), and scored 1,756 career points for the Lancers to (currently) rank second all-time. Kersey earned numerous additional honors while at Longwood, including All-Region (1982-84), All-State (1983-84), and All-Conference/Player of the Year (1984).
Kersey played 11 NBA seasons in Portland (1984-95), becoming only the second player in franchise history to score 10,000-plus career points (10,067), and grab 5,000-plus career rebounds (5,078) while helping the Trail Blazers to 10 NBA Playoff appearances, including two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992). His best season statistically was 1987-88 when he averaged 19.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals. Kersey also played professionally for Golden State (1995-96), Los Angeles (Lakers, 1996-97), Seattle (1997-98), San Antonio (1998-2000), and Milwaukee (2000-01). His overall NBA regular-season career totals include 1,153 games, 11,825 points (10.3), 6,339 rebounds (5.5), 2,134 assists (1.9), 1,439 steals (1.2), and 799 blocks (0.7). He posted slightly better numbers during his NBA post-season career (126 games), including 1,157 points (12.4) and 717 rebounds (5.7).
Kersey returned to the NBA after his playing career ended as Director of Player Programs for Portland (2003-04), and was an assistant coach with Milwaukee (2004-05). He currently resides in Happy Valley, Oregon where he presently serves as President of Basketball for Portland-based Premier Sports International as well as Director of Project Development for California-based Kuri Productions, Inc..
This year’s Oregon class, in addition to Kersey, includes long-time Benson High School basketball coach, Dick Gray; former Cubs, Pirates, Tigers and Portland Beavers third baseman, George Freese; U of O track standout and acclaimed Nike designer, Tinker Hatfield; passionate Oregon State linebacker, Jack “Mad Dog” O’Billovich; Oregon Bicycle Racing Association director, Candi Murray; and basketball officiating leader, Howard Mayo. Each year the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame helps preserve Oregon’s rich sports heritage through its recognition of outstanding Oregon athletes and special contributors to sport. Howard Mayo represents a new induction category, Officiating, added to recognize outstanding achievements of officials across all sports categories.
The
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame recognizes and honors Oregon’s rich athletic history with its museum and annual induction and awards ceremony. The Hall of Fame’s goal is to inspire participation in sport and foster awareness of the values and life-long rewards gained from this participation. The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is currently closed to the public while seeking a new location.