Rice Selected to National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
7/13/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's basketball legend Glen Rice was selected Monday (July 13) as one of six inductees to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, becoming the third Wolverine inducted into the prestigious hall.
Rice joins a six-member class that includes former Villanova coach Jay Wright, former Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, former Kansas coach Ted Owens, former BYU standout Danny Ainge and the late UCLA great Walt Hazzard.
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Celebration on Oct. 22, 2026, at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Mo.
"Every player who comes through Michigan knows who Glen Rice is and what he means to this program," said David and Meredith Kaplan U-M basketball head coach Mike Boynton Jr. "He helped deliver our first national championship, set a standard of excellence that still defines Michigan Basketball and built a legacy that has stood the test of time. This honor is incredibly well deserved, and we're excited to celebrate Glen and everything he has meant to our program."
One of the greatest players in Michigan basketball history, Rice starred for the Wolverines from 1986-89 and remains one of the program's most accomplished scorers. He capped his collegiate career by leading Michigan to its first NCAA national championship in 1989, earning NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 30.7 points over the Wolverines' six NCAA Tournament victories.
Rice finished his career with 2,442 points, the second-most in Michigan history, while his 949 career field goals remain a program record. During Michigan's 1989 championship run, he established NCAA Tournament records with 184 points and 75 field goals -- marks that still stand. He led the Big Ten in scoring in each of his final two seasons, averaging 27.7 points per game as a senior to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors.
A two-time consensus All-American, Rice earned first-team honors as a senior after averaging 25.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, following second-team recognition as a junior. Michigan later honored his legacy by raising his No. 41 jersey into the rafters at Crisler Center in 2005.
Selected fourth overall by the Miami Heat in the 1989 NBA Draft, Rice enjoyed a 15-year NBA career and became one of the league's premier scorers. A three-time NBA All-Star, he earned 1997 NBA All-Star Game MVP honors, was named to the 1996-97 All-NBA second team and helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the 2000 NBA championship.
His legacy has also been recognized with induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (2007) and the University of Michigan Hall of Honor (2010).
Rice becomes the third Wolverine inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, joining Cazzie Russell (Class of 2011) and former Michigan head coach John Beilein (Class of 2022).
Michigan's National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Honorees
Glen Rice (Class of 2026)
• Led Michigan to the 1989 NCAA national championship
• NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1989)
• Two-time consensus All-American
• 1989 Big Ten Player of the Year
• Second all-time leading scorer in Michigan history (2,442 points)
• Holds Michigan career record for field goals (949)
• Set NCAA Tournament records with 184 points and 75 field goals during the 1989 championship run
John Beilein (Class of 2022)
• Michigan's all-time winningest coach (278 victories)
• Two Final Four appearances (2013, 2018)
• Two national championship game appearances
• Four Big Ten championships (three regular season, one tournament)
• Coached 829 career collegiate victories across six schools
Cazzie Russell (Class of 2011)
• Three-time consensus All-American
• 1966 National Player of the Year
• Led Michigan to three straight Big Ten championships (1964-66)
• Guided the Wolverines to the 1965 NCAA championship game
• First overall pick in the 1966 NBA Draft
