Erickson keynote speaker at PC Hall of Fame event

Keith Erickson, a star of UCLA’s first national championship men’s basketball teams who went on to play for Porterville’s Bill Sharman for the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Porterville College Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 10 at River Island. Social hour will be at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6. Tickets are $40, $220 for a group of six and $300 for a group of eight.
It’s also expected that Sharman, as long as he doesn’t have any conflict due to his duties with the Lakers, will also attend the event.

Erickson was a member of the 1964 and 1965 NCAA championship teams coached by the legendary John Wooden, who called Erickson “the best athlete I ever coached.” Erickson also played with the 1964 United States Olympic volleyball team.

After his career at UCLA, Erickson was drafted by the Golden State Warriors. During his 12-year career, Erickson also played for the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers. He played five seasons with the Lakers and played on the 1972 NBA Championship team that was coached by Sharman.

Erickson also had a long career as a broadcaster, which included serving as a color commentator with Lakers’ legendary play-by-play announcer, Chick Hearn.

During the past few years, Erickson has spent much of his time as a motivational speaker. Among his subjects is “The Legacy of John Wooden.”

The 2012 PC Hall of Fame Committee will announce soon its Distinguished Alumni award honoree for this year along with two athletes who will be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame. For more information, contact Porterville College Foundation secretary Carol Bodine at cbodine@portervillecollege.edu.