The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 64th men’s induction class on Tuesday morning.
The 18-member class for 2026, which includes 1987 co-Mr. Basketball Jay Edwards of Marion and former NBA star Rick Fox, a Warsaw standout. The class will be honored on March 18 with a mid-day reception, which is free and open to the public, and a banquet that night at Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere is a closer look at the 18 inductees:
John Barnhill, Evansville Lincoln (1955 graduate): The late “Rabbit” Barnhill totaled 522 career points, averaging 13.8 points as a senior for a 21-1 team. He went on to become a three-time NAIA All-American at Tennessee A&I (later named Tennessee State), where he totaled 1,253 career points and helped the Tigers to a 120-16 four-year record with NAIA national championships in 1957, ’58 and ’59. Barnhill played seven seasons in the NBA with the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets and San Diego Rockets and three ABA seasons with the Indiana Pacers and Denver Rockets. He averaged 11.4 points and 4.1 assists in 1969-70 for the ABA champion Pacers and helped the franchise to another ABA title in 1972. He served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1974-76 and worked as a special education teacher in Los Angeles from 1976 to 2001. He and his wife Janet had three children, John Jr., Schylar and Elayna. He was 75 years old when he passed away on Nov. 11, 2013.
Dick Barr, Muncie Central (1944): The late Barr compiled a 479-321 record in 34 seasons as a high school coach, including a 416-286 record with eight sectional titles and one regional crown in 31 seasons at six Indiana high schools. Barr coached six Indiana All-Stars, including 1971 Mr. Basketball Mike Flynn at Jeffersonville. He led Tipton for 13 seasons during two different stints, coaching Indiana All-Stars Dick McIntosh (1964), Don Curnutt (1965) and Kreigh Smith (1984). Barr also coached at Parker in Randolph County, Kendallville, Huntington Catholic and Hammond. He was an all-state player in football at Muncie Central, then went on to serve in the U.S. Navy, including 13 months in the South Pacific during World War II. He played football and basketball at Ball State, Tulane and Bulter. He graduated from Butler in 1950. Barr was married to Jeanne and had daughters Kathy and Janis and stepsons Curtis and Jeff Crawford. He was 92 when he passed away on Jan. 28, 2018.
Jerry Bomholt, Elwood (1971): Bomholt compiled a coaching record of 602-393 in 44 seasons at nine schools. During his coaching tenure, he won 13 sectional titles and the 1998 Class 2A state runner-up at Southwestern (Hanover). As a player at Elwood, he was named second team all-conference as a senior, averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 assists. He played on the freshman team at Wabash College in 1971-72, then transferred to Ball State and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1975. Bomholt coached at Anderson Highland, then Jay County from 1980-84, winning three sectional titles. He then coached at Northwestern, Shenandoah, Columbia City, Princeton, Southwestern (Hanover), Shawe Memorial, Franklin, Southwestern again and Jay County again before retiring in 2025. He was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2003. Bomholt and wife June have three adult children – Scott, Jay and Amy – and five grandchildren.
Assistant coach Brandon Brantley with instructions for Isaac Haas as Purdue men's basketball holds its second scrimmage Oct. 25, 2014, in Mackey Arena.Brandon Brantley, Andrean (1991): The 1991 Indiana All-Star averaged 22.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks to lead Andrean to a 19-5 record and third consecutive sectional title. He completed his career with 1,021 points, 10th on the school’s all-time list. Brantley went on to be a key player at Purdue, where he totaled 803 points, 591 rebounds and 114 blocks (10th on school’s all-time list) in 129 games over four seasons. Brantley went on to a 10-year professional basketball career in Spain, Finland, England, Italy, Greece and France. He began his coaching career in 2006 at Ben Davis as an assistant for five seasons, then joined Purdue’s staff in 2013. Brantley is now in his 13th season at Purdue with coach Matt Painter, primarily coaching award-winning big men such as Caleb Swanigan, Isaac Haas, Matt Haarms, Trevion Williams, Zach Edey and Trey Kaufman-Renn. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Lafayette.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWallace Bryant, Gary Emerson (1978): The 7-foot center totaled 1,016 point and 669 rebounds in 65 games over three seasons at Gary Emerson, highlighted by a senior season that saw him average 26.1 points and 15.8 rebounds for a 19-4 Tornados’ team that was ranked No. 1 for part of the season and won the Hall of Fame Classic. In a memorable two-point win over Gary Roosevelt, Bryant totaled 45 points and 17 rebounds in front of a crowd of 12,000 fans. He played at the University of San Francisco, where he's 13th in career scoring with 1,529 points and fifth in rebounding with 1,062. He played on three NCAA tournament teams and three West Coast Conference champions. Bryant was a two-time all-WCC selection, averaging 15.2 points and 10.9 rebounds as senior for a 25-6 team. He was drafted in the second round of the 1982 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and totaled 323 points in over three seasons with the Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers. Bryant went on to play professionally overseas for 12 years. He coached in the USBL, ABA and high school and junior high teams in Stockton, Calif. He is married to Adonia and have four children – Dewan, Darnell, Sean and Nicolas – and 19 grandchildren.
Jaraan Cornell, South Bend Clay (1996): The late Cornell propelled South Bend Clay to the 1994 state championship, where he was named the MVP of the state finals as a sophomore. He finished his high school career two years later as the Colonials’ all-time leader in points (1,700) and rebounds (784) for teams that went 84-15 with two sectional titles, one regional and one semistate crown in addition to the state title. The 6-3 lefty guard averaged 21.8 points and 9.0 rebounds as a senior on a 22-4 team. Cornell went to Purdue, where he's 19th on the all-time program scoring list with 1,595 points and added 390 rebounds, 269 assists and 176 steals. He is just one of five Purdue players with 1,000 points, 250 assists and 150 steals. Cornell played briefly with the Gary Steelheads of the CBA. He later worked as a special education teacher at South Bend Clay and boys basketball assistant from 2010-13 and girls’ coach from 2013-15. Cornell, father of Ciarra and Jaye, passed away on June 6.
Leo Costello, Lynnville (1923): The late Costello is the winner of the Centennial Award, which is presented to one inductee who graduated high school 100 years or longer ago. Costello was a four-year starter and three-year standout, named all-sectional twice and all-Warrick County as a senior. He went to DePauw University, earning three letters in basketball and baseball. He was the leading scorer in basketball. Costello went on to coach at Loogootee from 1929-43 and 1945-52, compiling a 263-202 record in 21 seasons, winning sectional titles in 1939, ’48, ’49, ’50 and ’51. He was also a principal and superintendent and coached other sports, including track, baseball and softball. Costello and wife Marjorie were parents to Jovian McKinley and Leo Costello Jr. He was 56 when he passed away on Aug. 4, 1961.
Tom Cutter, Lafayette Central Catholic (1973): Cutter, a 6-8 forward, averaged 22.9 points, 21.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 5.3 blocked shots as a high school senior, shooting 65.4% from the field and leading the Knights to sectional and regional championships, snapping Lafayette Jeff’s 29-year sectional title streak. For his career, Cutter totaled 1,009 points, 1,001 rebounds and set 19 single season and career records. He went to Western Michigan, where he set school records that still stand for season field goal accuracy (64.5% as a junior) and career (59.5%). He scored 1,178 career points and pulled down 947 rebounds (second all-time). Cutter was selected in the eighth round of the 1977 NBA draft by Cleveland. He went into a career in accounting and banking, serving on several civic groups in Lafayette. Cutter was inducted into the Western Michigan athletic hall of fame in 2000. He and his wife Janet have three adult sons, Alexander, Patrick and Nicholas.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJay Edwards, Marion (1987): The 1987 co-Mr. Basketball was a three-time state champion, Indiana University star, a high school and college All-American and 13-year professional player. The 6-4 guard totaled 1,860 points, third in school history, and 694 rebounds while shooting .518 from the field and .792 from the line in 98 career games for teams that went 107-10, including a 85-4 in his final three seasons for back-to-back-to-back state champions. Edwards poured in 24.6 points with 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a junior for a 27-3 team and netted 21.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists as a senior for a 29-1 squad. Edwards won the inaugural Gatorade/Indiana Player of the Year winner in 1986, then shared that award with Jones in 1987. Edwards also was a 1987 McDonald’s All-American, a Parade second-team All-American and a USA Today third-team all-USA player. He totaled 1,038 points, 197 rebounds and 199 assists at IU. He averaged 15.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists in 23 games and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1987-88. Edwards followed by scoring 20.0 points with 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and collecting honors as Big Ten Player of the Year for a team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. Edwards played six seasons in the CBA, as well as internationally in Spain, Argentina, Venezuela and The Philippines in a career that ended in 2002. Edwards and his wife, Christine, are parents to three adult children – Jay Jr., Devon and Jared. The couple currently lives in Marion.
Richard Ellis, Crispus Attucks (1962): The late Ellis was an Indiana All-Star who helped the Tigers to two sectional titles. The 6-3 forward averaged 19.8 points and 17.1 rebounds for a 23-4 team. After high school, Ellis played at Trinidad Junior College in Colorado for one season, averaging 28.0 points and 18.4 rebounds for a 29-4 team. He played two seasons at the University of New Mexico, totaling 597 points and 396 rebounds in 56 games. As a junior, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds en route to being named first team all-Western Athletic Conference and AP honorable mention All-American for a 26-6 team that reached the NIT quarterfinals. Ellis played for the Camden (N.J.) Bullets of the Eastern Basketball League in 1965-66, then concluded his basketball career with the barnstorming Harlem Clowns for three seasons. He worked for 21 years at Crispus Attucks, as well as for a Chevrolet dealership and American States Insurance Company. He was married to Sharon and father of Janice, twins Jeffrey and Gregory, and Timothy. He also had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Ellis was 77 when he passed away on Aug. 14, 2021.
Derek Fisher (center) gives a push to Mark Jackson as Rick Fox watches during Game 4 action.Rick Fox, Warsaw (1987): Fox was an Indiana All-Star at Warsaw before going on to excel at the University of North Carolina and would go on to play in the NBA, winning championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, 2001 and 2002. At Warsaw, Fox totaled 824 points and 498 rebounds, averaging 21.1 points and 11.8 rebounds for a 21-4 team. The IHSAA did not allow him to play as a senior, but he did practice with the team and was selected to the Indiana All-Stars. At North Carolina, Fox scored 1,703 points and is fourth in career steals with 197. His teams earned four NCAA tournament appearances and won two ACC tournament titles. He was a third-team All-American as a senior, averaging 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists on a Final Four team. Fox was selected in the first round of the 1991 NBA draft, playing with the Boston Celtics for six seasons and the Lakers for seven seasons. He amassed 8,966 (9.6 average per game), 3,517 rebounds (3.8), 2,649 assists (2.8) and 967 steals (1.0). Fox’s top individual season was in 1996-97 when he averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists with Boston. He went on to become an actor with more than 200 movie and television credits. He also spent five seasons as an NBA analyst for TNT and NBATV. He is father to two adult children, Kyle and Sasha.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCliff Hawkins, Cascade (1972): Hawkins, the 2004 Indiana All-Star coach, compiled a 604-402 record in 44 seasons as coach. In 12 seasons at DeKalb, he amassed a 195-87 record with six sectional titles, three regional crowns and a state runner-up in 2003. Overall at eight schools, his teams won 12 conference championships, eight conference tournaments, 12 sectionals, three regionals and one semi-state. Before DeKalb, he coached at Caston, Tri-Central and Greenfield-Central. After leaving DeKalb in 2004, he led Center Grove to a 126-94 record with one sectional title. He then coached at Madison and North Miami and completed his coaching career at Tipton from 2019-25 with a 107-43 record and four sectional titles. Hawkins guided 1997 Indiana Mr. Basketball Luke Recker and two other Indiana All-Stars in Adam Liddell (2003) and Andrew Smeathers (2011). Hawkins was a two-year letterman at Cascade, averaging 13.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals as a senior. He played one season at IUPUI, averaging 3.2 points in 12 games for the 11-15 Metros in 1973-74. Hawkins and his wife, Julie, have two adult children – Matt and Megan – and two grandchildren.
Ronnie Horn, Mississinewa (1957): The late Horn averaged 27.0 points as a senior and was named an Indiana All-Star after leading Mississinewa to a 20-3 record. For his high school career, the 6-foot-6 center totaled 1,050 points in 55 games, a 19.1 average, while twice earning first-team all-Mississinewa Valley Conference, all-Grant County and all-sectional accolades. He had a high game of 43 points against Wabash on Feb. 1, 1957. Horn went on to Indiana University, where he averaged 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 1958-59. He left IU for the U.S. Army, played two years for the U.S. Armed Forces team, was named an alternate for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team and was selected in the second round of the 1961 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. For his NBA/ABA career, he totaled 91 points and 89 rebounds in 39 total games (regular season and playoff). After basketball, he worked in the Pennsylvania Correctional System for 23 years, retiring in 1993. Horn and his wife, Janet, were parents to eight children – Terry, Brett, Ronald, Basil, Brian, Janell, Shannon and Colleen – and had 10 grandchildren when he passed away at 64 on Oct. 5, 2002.
Marty Johnson, Highland (1976): Johnson, the executive director of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, is best known from his time as boys’ basketball coach at East Noble, where he compiled a 306-182 record in 21 seasons from 1985 through 2006. During his time at Kendallville, he won seven sectional titles and two regional titles and six Northeast Hoosier Conference titles. Johnson coached the 1997 Indiana All-Stars. He coached at Whiteland for three seasons from 2006-09, then served as athletic director at Perry Meridian before moving into an administrative role for Perry Township Schools. Johnson averaged 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior at Highland. He attended University of Indianapolis, graduating in 1980 after playing four years of basketball. Johnson averaged 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds as a senior. Overall, he posted a 359-238 record as a coach. He served as the IBCA assistant executive director from 2002-14 and associate executive director from 2014-22 prior to becoming the IBCA executive director in June 2022. He and his wife, Traci, have two adult children – Kyle and Morgan – and one grandchild.
Harry Larrabee, Shelbyville (1970): Larrabee was an Indiana All-Star who totaled 1,390 points while shooting 43% from the field and 80% on free throws in keying the Golden Bears to a three-year 55-20 record with three sectional titles. The 5-10 guard averaged 28.2 points per game as a senior for a 14-11 team. Larrabee went to Texas, where he totaled 899 points and 206 rebounds in 80 games over three seasons, including two Southwest Conference championships and two NCAA tournament appearances. He averaged 14.5 points and 2.8 rebounds as a senior. Larrabee then became a coach, compiling an overall record of 341-271 in 23.5 seasons guiding college men, college women, high school boys and high school girls. He coached at Alaska-Anchorage and Texas State and led the Alaska-Anchorage women’s team for 2½ seasons. Larrabee returned to Shelbyville in 2000, going 102-73 in eight seasons with the boys and 18-5 in one season with the girls. Larrabee and his wife, Betsy, have three adult children – Scott, Sarah and Todd – and eight grandchildren.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBob Punter, DeMotte (1965): Punter is best known for compiling a 302-117 record in 18 seasons as varsity coach at Valparaiso High School. During his tenure, Punter’s teams captured nine Duneland Conference titles as well as nine sectionals, two regionals and one semi-state and finished as the 1994 state runner-up with a 28-1 record. Punter guided four Indiana All-Stars in Bryce Drew, Tim Bishop, Scott Martin and Robbie Hummel with Drew also being named 1994 Mr. Basketball, the 1994 IHSAA Trester Award winner and a 2025 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Punter was a three-year basketball letterman at DeMotte, helping the Indians to a combined 50-22 record and a 1964 sectional championship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in math education from Indiana State University in 1969. Punter was a teacher and coach at Valparaiso for 38 years. He and his wife, Barbara, are parents to three adult children – Erin, Jeff and Laura – and have six grandchildren.
Ed Schilling, Lebanon (1984): Schilling, the current head coach at Pepperdine, is an accomplished player and coach. As a high school player, the 6-foot-2 guard helped his teams to three sectional and three regional titles. That included averages of 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and a state-leading 8.0 assists as a senior for a 22-4 team coached by Jim Rosenstihl. Schilling attended Miami University, where he set school records for assists in a career (629) and game (17). He also totaled 474 points, 332 rebounds and is 10th in MU history with 148 steals in 104 games over four seasons for teams that went 66-51, won the 1986 Mid-American Conference regular-season title and played in two NCAA Tournaments. Schilling achieved success coaching at the high school, college and NBA levels. He led Park Tudor to an 87-18 record from 2009-13, winning state titles in 2011 and ’12. Currently in his second season at Pepperdine, Schilling also coached at Wright State from 1997-2003. He has 13 years as a college assistant at Massachusetts, Memphis, UCLA, Indiana and Grand Canyon and was an assistant with the New Jersey Nets in 1996-97. Schilling is married to April McDivitt, 1999 Indiana Miss Basketball, and he is the father five children – Christiana, Edmund, Natalie, Ava and Callie.
Silver Medal
Howard Kellman, Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. (1970): Kellman spent 35 seasons as the voice of the WHMB-Channel 40 high school Game of the Week for basketball and football (from 1990 to 2024), including calling the Hall of Fame Classic tournaments for 20 years. He also long has been the voice of Indianapolis Indians baseball on radio, starting his 50th season in that role in April 2026, and follows a personal motto of PEP (Pursue Excellence Passionately). Kellman earned a bachelor’s degree with cum laude honors in radio/television from Brooklyn College in 1975. He landed his first professional broadcasting job by calling St. John’s University basketball on WRVR-FM as a junior in college. Over the years, he broadcast games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets and the Triple-A World Series on ESPN. He also has covered the MLB World Series, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts and statewide college sports for CBS, ABC and AP Radio. In addition, he is the author of “61 Humorous & Inspiring Lessons I Learned From Baseball,” a 148-page book published in 2010. He and his wife, Robin, live in Carmel.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 2026 men's induction class
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