Kansas City, Mo. – Jeff Covington, Youngstown State men's basketball's all-time leading scorer, has been elected to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, Founder John McCarthy announced.
This year's National Hall of Fame Class marks the eighth class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The National Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, November 1, inside the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Fla
"Congratulations to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024," stated McCarthy. "Each and every member of this class has clearly earned and deserved to be included in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, and we are thrilled to welcome them into this prestigious national Hall of Fame. What an impressive class!"
Covington, who played at Youngstown State from 1974-78, was the 1978 Basketball Weekly College Division Player of the Year and a three-time NABC Division II All-American. He garnered third-team honors in 1976; first-team laurels in 1977; and was a second-team selection in 1978. Covington was also a 1977 Associate Press Little All-American Second-Team pick.
He is YSU's all-time leading scorer with 2,424 career points and ranks second in with 1,381 career rebounds. Covington is also a member of the Youngstown State Athletic Hall of Fame.
"Truly this will be a very special moment in my life and certainly shared with the YSU family, surrounding townships and my teammates," Covington said. "We had great fans that supported our basketball team, and I will never forget their enthusiasm during the games.
"I thank Coach Rosselli for giving me the opportunity to play basketball at YSU and to receive my degree in teaching. Coach Rosselli had a profound impact on my life, and he will "always" be with me. I am so thankful to him for helping me to navigate through young adulthood to evolve into a better decision maker."
2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class
Players
Jerry Anderson (Southwest Missouri, now Missouri State)
Jeff Covington (Youngstown State)
Antonio Garcia (Kentucky Wesleyan)
Horace Jenkins (William Patterson)
Duane Klueh (Indiana State)
Milton "Milky" Phelps (San Diego State)
Ralph Talley (Norfolk State)
Coaches
Ken Anderson (Wisconsin Eau Claire)
Dave Hixon (Amherst)
Joe Retton (Fairmont State)
Glenn Robinson (Franklin & Marshall)
Contributor/Player
Del Harris (Earlham & Milligan)
