1948 WVSC Basketball Team Only undefeated college team in US for 1948
Lloyd Statue 6 Inscription
Lloyd Statue 3
Statue 4-Inscription about WVSC 1948 team
Earl Lloyd was a standout basketball player at West Virginia State College from 1946 to 1950.
His accolades include being named to the CIAA All-Conference Team three times (1948-1950), twice named as
an All-American by the Pittsburgh Courier (1949-1950), and leading WVSC to two CIAA Conference and tournament
titles in 1948 and 1949. Lloyd was also a member of the undefeated championship team in 1948.
Lloyd's basketball accomplishments did not end when he left Institute. On October 31, 1950, he became
the first African American to play in an NBA game. Five years later, while a member of the Syracuse Nationals,
Lloyd became the first African American to win an NBA championship. After his playing career, Lloyd became the
first African-American Assistant Coach and the second African Americn Head Coach, both with the Detroit Pistons
in 1968 and 1970 respectively.
As one could predict, this illustrious career led to countless awards and recognitions. Lloyd was named to
the All-Time CIAA All-Tournament team, the CIAA Hall of Fame in 1998, the CIAA Silver Anniversary team, voted
one of the CIAA's 50 Greatest Players, named the CIAA Player of the Decade from 1947 - 1956, and was named
to the NAIA Goldern Anniversary Team. While these accomplishments are simply outstanding, the greatest honor
came when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Induction into the Naismith
Hall of Fame is the highest honor one can earn through the game of basketball. Lloyd's inclusion solidifies his
importance and ensures his story will live on forever as one of the giants of the game.
Lloyd Statue 7-Inscription 1
Lloyd Statue 2
Artist Brian Hanlon, of Hanlon Sculpture Studio, created the bronze statue in 2014. That is noted on the back of the stone base, along with "Special Thanks" to Mannie Jackson,
owner ot the Harlem Globetrotters, who supported the lobby work.
The Earl Lloyd statue is located in the lobby of the D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center at West Virginia State University.
The Walker Convocation Center was a major $19 million update, expansion and renovation of academic and athletic space to the second Fleming Hall (built in 1941).
The convocation center was named in honor of longtime Kanawha Valley civic leader D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker and dedicated on February 28, 2014. The Walker
Convocation Center features a 1,350 seat-area, athletic court and renovations to the academic areas in Fleming Hall.
