Philly U's Magee among finalists for Basketball Hall of Fame

Herb Magee was watching yesterday's Hall of Fame finalists announcement yesterday on a computer in the basketball offices at Philadelphia University. His daughter Kay was with him as the names came in from Los Angeles, the site of tomorrow's NBA All-Star Game.

"They go Al Attles and then Maurice Cheeks," Magee said. "I said, 'You know what, if I was going to go in, they would have called me and told me if I was on the ballot.' The next one comes up is me."

It was a very Philadelphia Final 12 with Magee, Cheeks and retired Villanova professor and referee Hank Nichols. Along with previous finalists Chris Mullin, Jamaal Wilkes and Tex Winter, the Philly Three are joined on the finalists list for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame by Dennis Rodman, Dick Motta, Ralph Sampson, Attles, Teresa Edwards and Tara Van Derveer.

Not sure whether it means anything, but the heading of the release read: "Chris Mullin, Dennis Rodman, Herb Magee and Tara VanDerveer Headline Finalists."

So what was the reaction?

"[Kay] starts bawling," Magee said. "I said, 'Let me hear it to make sure it's me.' Now, I hear Philadelphia University."

The Class of 2011 will be announced on April 4 in Houston, the day of the national championship game at Reliant Stadium in Houston. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee to be elected. The 2011 honorees will be enshrined in Springfield, Mass., on Friday, Aug. 12.

"Anybody who says they don't want to go into their Hall of Fame no matter what sport is crazy," Magee said. "This is really exciting. Then, you got to put it behind you, because now we've got a game tomorrow, you've got practice in an hour."

Spoken like a coach who has won an NCAA-record 921 games and will be taking a 14-9 team against Post University tomorrow at 4 p.m. in his own gym.

Cheeks, one of the great point guards in NBA history, was the glue for the Sixers' 1983 NBA champions. Nobody ever defended at that position any better. He is now an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nichols officiated 10 Final Fours and six national championship games. After giving up the whistle, he was the NCAA's national coordinator of officials.

"I said at the Sports Writers' banquet that the biggest thrill that I've had in coaching was when [Phillies president] Dave Montgomery let me throw out the first pitch on Opening Day," Magee said. "But this is right there. This is really something. What an honor it would be. Just to be nominated is a huge honor." *