Massimino, Webber are Hall of Fame finalists

NEW ORLEANS – Former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino and former 76ers power forward Chris Webber are one step away from reaching basketball immortality.

The two were among 14 finalists selected Saturday for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The 2017 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced on April 3 before the NCAA championship game at the Final Four in Phoenix. The Class of 2016 will be enshrined during Hall of Fame festivities in Springfield, Mass., in September.

Two others with Philly-area ties were also finalists: Notre Dame women's coach Muffet McGraw, a St. Joseph's grad, and former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, a Chester native.

Massimino is recognized for leading Villanova to the 1985 NCAA championship. In 19 seasons with the Wildcats, he led them to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including five Sweet 16 milestones. Massimino, who is currently at Keiser University, has coached collegiately for close to 50 years.

Webber became a five-time all-star and winning the 1994 rookie-of-the-year award.  He played 15 NBA seasons. The Sixers acquired him in a trade from the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 23, 2005. They waived him on Jan. 11, 2007.

Webber and Massimino are two of nine first-time finalists, long-time refereen Hugh Evans, NCAA champion Rebecca Lobo, two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, two-time NBA defensive player of the year Sidney Moncrief, Baylor women's coach Kim Mulkey, Kansas coach Bill Self and former Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

Also named finalists were five-time NBA all-star Tim Hardaway and former high school basketball coach Robert Hughes and Wayland Baptist University.

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.