Master sculptor Brian Hanlon once again brought life to a plaza with the unveiling of his latest bronze masterpieces on Friday, September 11, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where more than 50 Hall of Famers were in attendance for the annual induction ceremony.
An eight-foot sculpture of the founder of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, sitting on a bench is flanked by smaller statues of three young basketball players who are "listening" intently to the coach who came up with the idea from a childhood game called "Duck on a Rock."
The new Naismith Coaches Circle Monument is part of the 2015 Hall of Fame Enshrinement, which includes the induction of eleven new members into the Hall of Fame at Springfield Symphony Hall.
"It's going to be an awesome event chock full of iconic basketball stars," Brian Hanlon who is the official sculptor for the Hall of Fame said prior to the event. "Not only will 'Dr. J' (Julius Irving) be there but so will Michael Jordan, four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood and former college coach George Raveling who is now Nike's Director of International Basketball. Also coming to present will be Charles Barkley, Pat Riley, Bill Walton and Lisa Leslie. The list goes on and on."
The new monument sits on a 25-ton granite base engraved with Naismith's Core Values like leadership and perseverance as well as inspirational quotes from current and former basketball coaches who have supported the project.
In addition, each coach was able to honor their mentors by engraving their names on basketball-themed granite benches, finishing off the dedication with an autograph.
In addition to inventing the game of basketball in 1891, Dr. Naismith is also credited with designing the first football helmet and writing the first basketball rulebook that contained 13 rules. He also established the basketball program at University of Kansas where he coached from 1898 to 1907.
The Hall of Fame that bears his name was founded 20 years after his death in 1959. Unlike the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors international and American professionals, as well as American and international amateurs.
Now 56 years later, Naismith's name continues to live on in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Naismith Awards, which include the Naismith College Player of the Year, the Naismith College Coach of the Year and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year. Naismith is also a member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame and the FIBA (the International Basketball Federation) Hall of Fame.
About Brian Hanlon/Hanlon Sculpture Studio: Brian P. Hanlon is a classically trained master sculptor and founder of Hanlon Sculpture Studio, a full-service art studio that designs, creates, and installs awe-inspiring and signature monuments featuring bronze, aluminum, stainless steel and granite sculptures, illustrative and informational graphics, and interactive kiosks. The Studio provides complete site design services from sculptures to hard and softscapes, and offers total project management from design to installation and unveiling. In collaboration with administrative staff at colleges, universities, corporations, non-profits, and municipalities, the Studio develops the scope of artwork projects that are designed to enhance the spirit, pride, and tradition of the local community. For more information, visit www.hanlonsculpture.com.
