Former UCLA basketball player and coach Walt Hazzard has been selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, the university announced Monday.
Hazzard, who led UCLA to its first NCAA men’s basketball championship and an undefeated season in 1963-64, will be inducted as part of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 alongside former coaches Jay Wright, Tubby Smith and Ted Owens, as well as former players Danny Ainge and Glen Rice, according to the university.
A two-time All-American under legendary coach John Wooden, Hazzard averaged a career-best 18.6 points per game as a senior and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1964 Final Four after helping the Bruins finish 30-0.
He also earned Player of the Year honors from the Helms Athletic Foundation and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Hazzard, who died in November 2011, later returned to UCLA as head coach for four seasons, from 1984-85 through 1987-88.
His first Bruins team captured the program’s first National Invitation Tournament championship in 1985, and he led UCLA to the Pac-10 regular-season title, conference tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1987 while earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors.
Hazzard was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1984 and into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor in 2004.
Beyond his collegiate accomplishments, Hazzard won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo before embarking on a 10-year NBA career after being selected by the Lakers in the first round of the 1964 NBA Draft.
He averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 assists over 724 NBA games.
The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 will be formally inducted Oct. 22 during ceremonies at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri.
Hazzard will become the 10th former UCLA player or coach inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.