ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Glen Rice, one of the greatest players in University of Michigan basketball history, was selected as one of six inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, becoming the third Michigan Wolverines player to earn the honor.
Following Monday’s (July 13) announcement, Rice joins a six-member class that includes former Villanova coach Jay Wright, former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, former Kansas coach Ted Owens, former BYU standout Danny Ainge and the late UCLA great Walt Hazzard.
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Celebration on Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri.
Rice’s record-setting Michigan career
Rice starred for the Wolverines from 1986 to 1989 and remains one of the program’s most accomplished scorers.
He capped his collegiate career by leading Michigan to its first NCAA national championship in 1989, earning NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 30.7 points over the Wolverines’ six NCAA Tournament victories.
Rice finished his career with 2,442 points, the second-most in Michigan history, while his 949 career field goals remain a program record.
During Michigan’s 1989 championship run, Rice set NCAA Tournament records with 184 points and 75 field goals, marks that still stand today.
Rice led the Big Ten in scoring in each of his final two seasons, averaging 27.7 points per game as a senior to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors.
A two-time consensus All-American, Rice earned first-team honors as a senior after averaging 25.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, following second-team recognition as a junior.
Michigan later honored his legacy by raising his No. 41 jersey into the rafters at Crisler Center in 2005.
A decorated NBA career
Selected fourth overall by the Miami Heat in the 1989 NBA draft, Rice went on to enjoy a 15-year NBA career, becoming one of the league’s premier scorers.
A three-time NBA All-Star, he earned 1997 NBA All-Star Game MVP honors, was named to the 1996-97 All-NBA second team, and helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the 2000 NBA championship.
His legacy has also been recognized with induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2010.
Michigan’s Hall of Fame legacy
Rice becomes the third Wolverine inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, joining Cazzie Russell (Class of 2011) and former Michigan head coach John Beilein (Class of 2022).
Michigan’s National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame honorees
Glen Rice — Class of 2026
- Led Michigan to the 1989 NCAA national championship
- NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1989)
- Two-time consensus All-American
- 1989 Big Ten Player of the Year
- Second all-time leading scorer in Michigan history (2,442 points)
- Holds Michigan career record for field goals (949)
- Set NCAA Tournament records with 184 points and 75 field goals during 1989 championship run
John Beilein — Class of 2022
- Michigan’s all-time winningest coach (278 victories)
- Two Final Four appearances (2013, 2018)
- Two national championship game appearances
- Four Big Ten championships (three regular season, one tournament)
- Coached 829 career collegiate victories across six schools
Cazzie Russell — Class of 2011
- Three-time consensus All-American
- 1966 National Player of the Year
- Led Michigan to three straight Big Ten championships (1964–66)
- Guided Michigan to the 1965 NCAA championship game
- First overall pick in the 1966 NBA Draft
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