This is great news at a time Arizona needs it.
University of Arizona men’s basketball letter winner Michael Wright will be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor on March 9 in a ceremony prior to the semifinals of the 2018 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the conference announced on Monday.
As part of the 17th class of inductees, 10 other former student-athletes and a former coach will join Wright.
The Hall of Honor induction ceremony will be streamed live starting at 5 p.m. MST on that Friday on the Pac-12 Now app and Pac-12.com to authenticated subscribers. The inductees will also be recognized in the Pac-12 Fan Plaza prior to Friday’s semifinal session as well as on court at halftime of the first semifinal game.
Michael Wright
The late Michael Wright will forever be remembered as the epitome of what it means to be an Arizona Wildcat. The three-time All-Pac-10 selection was a standout player on the court, beloved teammate off the court, and a fan favorite in the city of Tucson. Wright is a member of Arizona’s prestigious 1,000-point, 750-rebound club, finishing his college career with 1,491 points and 822 rebounds. He went on to receive All-America honors in his final two seasons.
A was player who left it all on the court, Wright endeared himself to Arizona fans by his relentless play, tenacity and toughness. Beyond the statistics, he was always remembered as a selfless teammate, dedicated student, and a figure children in the community looked up to.
Wright was part of UA’s Final Four appearance in 2001 as the Wildcats advanced to the national championship game. The Chicago native ranks in the top 10 in a handful of UA career statistics, including field goal percentage, free throws, free throws attempted, rebounds and rebounding average. Wright’s career started with the 1998-99 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award and ended with enshrinement in McKale Center’s Ring of Honor.
Following his collegiate career, Wright continued Arizona’s professional lineage when the New York Knicks selected him with the 39th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. He went on to spend more than a decade playing in some of the top leagues throughout Europe.
Wright’s legacy continues on after his passing with the establishment of the Michael Wright A-Club Scholarship Endowment. The fund raised over $85,000 dollars to provide financial support to former student-athletes who wish to complete their undergraduate degree after finishing their eligibility. The endowment was built by the generous donations of Michael’s teammates, coaches, Arizona staff and Wildcat fans. His legacy will be everlasting through his endowment, his impact as an Arizona Wildcat and now as a member of the Pac-12 Hall of Honor.
Information for this story was provided by the Arizona Communications Services office.
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