Washington State basketball is already honoring one of their all time greats this season, when they retire Klay Thompson’s number 1 on January 18. On Tuesday, they announced that they would honor Cougar legend this season.

Washington State will hang George Raveling’s name in the Beasley Coliseum rafters in a halftime ceremony on February 9 during WSU’s game against Washington. WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun made the announcement Tuesday.

“George Raveling is an extraordinary figure in Cougar Athletics history and is most deserving of this honor,” Chun said in the school’s release. “A member of both the Naismith Memorial and College Basketball Halls of Fame, George left a tremendous legacy from his time in Pullman and positively impacted countless student-athletes, staff, faculty, alumni and fans.”

Raveling’s history in Pullman dates back to 1972, when he became the first African-American head basketball coach in Pac-8/10/12 Conference history. He spent 11 seasons at the helm of the Cougars, leading the team to NCAA Tournament berths in 1980 and 1983. Before the trip in 1980, WSU hadn’t been to the dance since Jack Friel led WSC to the national championship game back in 1941.

Raveling earned 167 wins (3rd most in program history) and won a pair of conference coach of the year honors before leaving WSU to coach at Iowa and USC. He also was an assistant coach for Team USA during the 1984 Olympics, leading the Stars and Stripes to a gold medal.

The honor will just be the latest in the storied career of Raveling. In 2004 he was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2013 he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall Fame before being honored by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

WSU basketball will open the season two weeks from tomorrow when they host Seattle U in Beasley Coliseum.

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