McClinton To Have Jersey Retired

University of Miami Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt and head men's basketball coach Frank Haith have announced that three former Hurricane greats will be paid tribute to with the institution of honored jerseys. Jack McClinton (2006-09), Don Curnutt (1967-70) and Dick Hickox (1958-61) will have their jerseys raised to the rafters of the BankUnited Center during halftime of the home game versus Duke on Wed., Feb. 17.

"The University of Miami men's basketball program continues to grow and elevate its standards for excellence," Hocutt said. "With these honored jerseys, we take the opportunity to recognize some of the great Hurricanes players that have laid the foundation for where our program is today."

The honored jerseys will hang alongside the retired jerseys of No. 24 Rick Barry (1962-65) and No. 40 Tim James (1995-99). Although the numbers reflected on the honored jerseys will not be retired, they will hang in recognition of the great contributions to Hurricanes basketball made by McClinton, Curnutt and Hickox.

"There have been some awesome basketball players at Miami over the years," said Haith. "These three men in particular have meant a lot to this program, and were truly instrumental to the success of their teams and to Miami basketball as a whole."

The selection of the honored jersey recipients is determined by the Director of Athletics and head basketball coach, in conjunction with an anonymous advisory committee. Criteria used in the selection process include athletic achievements at UM, commitment and loyalty to the continued success of the university and its athletic department and a personal commitment to courage and integrity.

Miami's first two-time All-ACC First Team selection, McClinton led the Hurricanes in scoring for three-straight seasons - including 19.3 points per game as a senior in 2008-09, closing his career ranked seventh in UM history with 1,702 points. He is the ACC's all-time most proficient three-point shooter, converting a league-best 44.0 percent over his career, while averaging 3.01 treys per game - the fifth-highest average in conference history.

McClinton, a second-round draft pick by the San Antonio Spurs in June, scored a career-high 38 points in the 2008 NCAA Tournament first round win over St. Mary's (Calif.) and posted three-straight 30-point games as a senior versus Wake Forest (32), Duke (34) and North Carolina (35), becoming the first Hurricane to finish with 30-plus points in three-straight games in 20 years. The 6-1 Baltimore-native, currently playing professional basketball in Turkey, closed his collegiate career with a UM-best 35-game three-point streak - including hitting a career-high tying seven treys versus North Carolina and at Providence. He holds Miami records for career three-pointers (286), single-season three-pointers (101 in 2008-09), three-point field goal percentage in a game (4-4, 1.000) and career three-point field goal percentage (44.0).



(hurricanesports.com)