Celebrating a Basketball Legend
Walt Hazzard, a cornerstone of UCLA’s basketball dynasty, has been chosen for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, a testament to his lasting impact on the sport.
During his three‑year varsity stint from 1962 to 1964, he helped the Bruins claim their first NCAA men’s title in 1964, finishing the season undefeated at 30‑0. The following year he earned All‑America honors, capping a college career that also included an Olympic gold medal.
Later, from 1984‑85 through 1987‑88, he returned to Westwood as head coach, guiding the program through a four‑year stretch that, while not replicating the earlier perfect run, reinforced his deep connection to UCLA basketball.
The induction ceremony will take place on October 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri, where Hazzard will be celebrated alongside other legends of the game.
The Hall of Fame, founded in 2006, has already enshrined icons such as John Wooden, Dean Smith, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell, and Hazzard’s upcoming induction continues that tradition of honoring the sport’s most influential figures.