LEE UNIVERSITY All-American Brooke McKinnon will have the jersey she wore as a Lady Flame displayed in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Ring of Honor in Knoxville.
The Ring of Honor is described as being one of the Hall’s favorite displays, and has become one of the most popular exhibits as well. According to Josh Sullivan, Director of Basketball Relations for the organization, not only does the exhibit provide a colorful backdrop to the Hall of Fame’s many archives, it is also a way of recognizing some young basketball players for their achievements in the sport.
Sullivan added that the exhibit allows the Hall to fulfill its mission to “honor the past, celebrate the present and promote the future” of women’s basketball.
McKinnon, a native of Tellico Plains, helped the Lady Flames post a remarkable 118-22 record during her four-year career. She scored 2,216 points, second on the all-time scoring list. She was named All-SSAC four consecutive years and was the 2010-11 SSAC Co-Player of the Year.
Sullivan pointed out that there are currently over 100 jerseys hanging in the Ring of Honor, including high school and college All-Americans from the 2009-10 season.
“With that having been the case since the Hall of Fame opened in 1999, you can imagine the caliber of players’ jerseys that have once hung in our rafters,” Sullivan said. “Without a doubt, Brooke McKinnon is definitely a part of an elite group, and a part of history now too.”
“This is just an awesome honor for Brooke and our basketball program,” said Lee coach Marty Rowe, who currently ranks as one of the NAIA’s winningest coaches. “To have Katie’s jersey hung last season and Brooke’s going up, is currently a tribute to their accomplishments and what they have meant to our basketball program over the past five years.”
For those wishing to visit The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame it is located at 700 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Drive, near the UT-Knoxville campus.
