WHEELING — The honors continue to roll in for Eddie Becker.

Less than a year after being inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame, the former Wheeling High basketball star has been selected for induction into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame. Enshrinement ceremonies will take place Saturday, Sept. 16, prior to the West Virginia-Delaware State football game.

Becker was a Mountaineer hoop standout from 1952-54. He left WVU as the second leading scorer in school history. The Friendly City native tallied 1,127 points and grabbed 346 rebounds.

“It is a great, great honor. I feel very good about it,” Becker said. “I had no idea I was even being considered. It is very humbling.”

Becker averaged 14.8 points in his Mountaineer career — 18.7 points as a senior, 15.0 points as a junior and 11.4 points as a sophomore. He scored a career-high 33 points against St. John’s in his senior season. He led the 1951 WVU freshman team in scoring with a 25-point per game average.

Becker was named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament first team in 1952 and to the Southern Conference All-Tournament Second Team in 1953. At the time he graduated, he was one of 19 players listed on the WVU All-Time Team.

While Becker put up big numbers and earned many accolades at WVU, it is a career he believes could have been much more productive.

“As a sophomore Red Brown was our coach and we had a 6-9 senior in Mark Workman from Charleston. Coach Brown told us when we brought the ball downcourt that he didn’t want the ball go inside to Workman 9-out-of-10 times but rather 10-out-of-10 times,” Becker said. “That season we played at Niagara. I made 10-of-14 shots from what is now the 3-point line. The Niagara newspaper the next morning said my play in that game was the best they ever saw in that arena.

“The next day we had a game in Old Madison Square Garden and Coach Brown didn’t start me. He was mad at me for not getting the ball to Workman,” he added. “The next two years without Workman were a little better but not much. I had two jealous teammates who wouldn’t pass me the ball my last two years. That is what I had to encounter.”

The foundation for his WVU Hall of Fame career was forged at Wheeling High.

The talented six-footer helped to lead Wheeling High to a 25-0 record and the state championship in 1950. He earned first team all-class all-state honors.

A year prior, Becker and his Wildcat teammates advanced to the state finals, bowing to Fairmont Senior. He was a two-time All-State Tournament pick. Becker averaged 16.1 points as a junior and topped 20 points a game for Wheeling High. He also played football for the Wildcats.

“I had a wonderful time at Wheeling High. Everett Brinkman was a great coach. He wouldn’t pull that Red Brown stuff,” Becker said. “I was recruited by Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. I may have made a mistake. I could have had a great career at Kentucky.”

After his WVU days, Becker went to work for the Goodyear Tire Co. before entering the service, earning the rank of First Lt. Following his military career, he went to work for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.

He moved to Wellington, Fla. some 10 years ago with his wife, the former Barbara Rahr, also his high school sweetheart. They have a son and daughter, both of whom reside in Florida.

Becker will turn 85 on June 14.

BUBBA’S BITS

THE SAM Andy Classic is a natural. Andy is a legendary figure in Ohio Valley basketball circles. Having a class hoop event in his honor is a worthy tribute. He died last summer at the age of 76. Kudos to current Wheeling Park head coach and Andy protegee Michael Jebbia, Park Athletic Director Dwaine Rodgers and WesBanco Arena General Manager Denny Magruder for making the Dec. 15 event come to fruition. The classic will feature six local teams playing in the premier basketball venue in the Ohio Valley.

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THAD MATTA did a solid job directing the Ohio State basketball program for 13 years, although the last two seasons have not been great. His departure from the Buckeyes will be a healthy one for him. He needs to get his body back in working condition. With that completed, he is young enough (49) with a quality resume that will yield a plum collegiate or NBA coaching job down the road.

THE EASTERN District Track and Cross Country Association has established a Hall of Fame. The inaugural induction ceremony is set for June 21 in Cambridge. Among those being enshrined in the first class is former Times Leader Sports Editor Cal Pokas.

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THE NBA GOAT talk has outlived its usefulness. The NBA playoffs have proved a never-ending forum on the debate whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the Greatest Of All Time. I say neither. My vote goes to Bill Russell of the Celtics. He won 11 titles in his 13-year playing career while going against Wilt Chamberlain.