The Class of 2024, the 26th in SNSHF historical past, will likely be formally inducted throughout a ceremony set for June 14 at Lee's Household Discussion board in Henderson, Nev.
Watson is amongst 5 honorees, becoming a member of boxing referee Kenny Bayless, golfer Brady Exber and broadcast government duo Tony Bonnici and Jesse Leeds. The SNSHF consists of previous members reminiscent of tennis participant Andre Agassi, pitcher Greg Maddux, working again DeMarco Murray and basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, amongst many different notables.
Initially from Las Vegas, Watson graduated from Bishop Gorman Excessive College. There, he gained two 4A state titles and two Nevada Gatorade Participant of the Yr honors.
Watson joined the Volunteers in 2002 and performed on Rocky Prime for 4 seasons till 2006. He performed his first three years for Buzz Peterson after which his remaining marketing campaign, 2005-06, underneath Bruce Pearl and helped Tennessee to a 22 -Eight (12). -Four SEC), an NCAA Match remaining bid and an AP top-20 rating.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder began 118 of the 119 video games through which he appeared as a volunteer. He averaged 12.zero factors per recreation for a complete of 1,424, a mark that is still 21st in program historical past 18 years later.
The gifted flooring normal averaged Four.Eight assists per recreation and picked up 577 general. These tallies stay the fourth and second finest, respectively, in Tennessee historical past. Watson paced the Volunteers in assists 4 straight years, one among three gamers ever to take action, becoming a member of Johnny Darden (1975-79) and Tony Harris (1997-2001). His 1.82 assist-to-turnover ratio nonetheless ranks seventh at Tennessee.
A superb defender as properly, Watson averaged 1.66 steals per outing and racked up 198 in whole. These numbers nonetheless rank him fifth and third, respectively, all-time among the many Volunteers. He led the workforce in steals thrice, one among three gamers in program historical past to take action, together with Fred Jenkins (4 occasions; 1983-87) and Vincent Yarbrough (1999-2002).
Moreover, Watson posted an astounding 39.6 % Three-point clip throughout his Tennessee profession, the sixth-best mark ever by a Volunteer.
A second-team All-SEC choose in 2005-06, Watson averaged a career-best 15.Three factors per recreation that season. He was additionally named to the SEC All-Freshman workforce in 2002-03.
After a standout faculty profession, Watson spent elements of two seasons in Italy, Greece and what was then known as the NBA D-League. In 2008, Watson joined the Golden State Warriors to start his NBA profession and stayed within the league for a decade.
Throughout his 10 seasons on the sport's highest degree, Watson appeared in 600 video games and made 104 begins. He averaged 7.2 factors and a pair of.5 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 37.Three % from Three-point vary.
In 2011–12, whereas with the Chicago Bulls, Watson obtained votes for each NBA MVP and NBA Sixth Man of the Yr. He appeared in 48 playoff video games over 4 seasons and reached the Jap Convention Finals twice.
Along with the Warriors and Bulls, Watson has additionally performed for the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic. After his NBA profession led to 2018, Watson spent a part of a season enjoying in Turkey.
Watson is the second Tennessee basketball graduate to be enshrined in a state corridor of fame this yr, as former coach Don DeVoe was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Corridor of Fame in April.
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