RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will recognize two of its all-time great men's basketball teams and one of its most decorated players on a new Wall of Honor at upcoming games.
 
On Jan. 23, EKU will recognize the 1952-53 team at its game against Tennessee Tech.  The 2004-05 squad will be honored at the Jan. 30 game against rival Morehead State.  Colonel great Jack Adams will be recognized on Feb. 18 when Eastern plays Belmont on ESPNU.  Each will be recognized uniquely on the new Wall of Honor located on the east side of McBrayer Arena near the video board.
 
"It's important to us that we stay connected with all our former student-athletes," Director of Athletics Steve Lochmueller said.  "It's great to be able to welcome back members of these outstanding teams, their families and the family of Jack Adams.  These student-athletes accomplished so much and brought such distinction to Eastern Kentucky University."
 
In addition to honoring the 2004-05 team on Jan. 30, all former men's basketball players and coaches are invited back to campus for Alumni Weekend and will be recognized at the game.
 
Under the guidance of the legendary Paul S. McBrayer, the 1952-53 team made Eastern's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  EKU went 16-9 overall, captured its first Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship with a 9-1 league record and was ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation by the Associated Press.
 
That team posted wins over Virginia Tech, BYU, Louisville, Xavier, and rivals Western Kentucky and Murray State.  Eastern fell to Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Fort Wayne.
 
Elmer Tolson led the 1952-53 team in scoring at 17.6 points per game and was second in rebounding (8.8 rpg).  Shirley Kearns averaged 14.4 points per game.  Jim Bingham contributed a team-best 9.5 rebounds per game and 12.9 points per contest.
 
The 2004-05 team won what was at the time a school record 22 games on its way to winning the OVC Tournament and playing in the NCAA Tournament.  The Colonels beat Tennessee State, Southeast Missouri and Austin Peay in the conference tournament. 
 
Travis Ford's squad then put a scare into No. 7 Kentucky at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.  EKU cut the UK lead to five points twice in the final four minutes before falling 72-64.  Eastern shot 44 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Wildcats, 35-31.
 
Matt Witt led the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and assists (6.3 apg).  Michael Haney averaged 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
 
Jack Adams, who passed away in October, is the only EKU athlete in any sport to have his number (40) retired.  However, his number is not enshrined inside McBrayer Arena.  That will change on Feb. 18.
 
Adams was a two-time All-OVC first team selection.  He still holds five program records, including scoring 49 points against Union College in 1955.  Adams currently ranks 11th on EKU's all-time scoring list with 1,460 points and fourth on the rebounding list with 870 career boards.
 
Adams scored 40 points and pulled down 27 rebounds in a win over Loyola of New Orleans as a senior.  He would go on to have a successful professional career as well.  He averaged 18 points per game for New York in the American Basketball League.  Adams scored 56 points and collected 28 rebounds in a game while playing for the Cleveland Pipers in the AAU National Basketball League.
 
In 2006, Adams was inducted into the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame.