Kirk Hinrich’s jersey No. 10 will be hung in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse in a halftime ceremony at a yet-to-be-determined game during the 2008-09 college basketball season.
“It’s a great honor,” said Hinrich, starting point guard for the Chicago Bulls, referring to the highest honor that can be accorded a Kansas University basketball player. “To have my jersey up in this building – a place that means so much to me – it’s an amazing feeling.”
KU coach Bill Self says the 27-year-old Hinrich, who was a 2003 Wooden All-American, 2003 NCAA West Regional MVP and member of the ’03 all-Final Four team, is richly deserving.
“Without question, he’s one of the greatest to ever play here,” Self said of Hinrich, a first-team all-Big 12 pick his junior and senior seasons. He was third-team Associated Press All-American in 2003 and honorable-mention selection in ’02.
“His teams won, and he was a huge part of that. He’s been a great pro and is one of the great ambassadors of this university,” Self added.
The Sioux City, Iowa, native said he isn’t sure when he’ll be back for the retirement ceremony. It’ll depend on his NBA schedule.
His jersey likely will hang in the vicinity of his buddy and fellow Iowan Nick Collison’s No. 4. Collison returned for his jersey-retirement ceremony in 2004.
KU officials, by the way, explained Saturday that though there have been guidelines for the hanging of jerseys in the south rafters of the fieldhouse in the past, there are currently no hard and fast rules. School administration in studying a player’s career can, at any time, deem such player worthy of enshrinement.
