Small College Basketball Unveils 2026 Hall of Fame Class

 

Fort Myers, FL– Small College Basketball and the Hall of Fame Committee are thrilled to unveil the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This year’s class brings together an extraordinary group of coaches, players, and contributors whose excellence has defined and elevated the game at the small college level. From record-breaking performances to championship leadership and lasting contributions to the sport, the Class of 2026 represents the very best of small college basketball. Their achievements have not only stood the test of time but have helped shape the future of the game in meaningful and lasting ways. John McCarthy had this to say about this year’s class:

 

"What an impressive and accomplished Hall of Fame Class!,” mentioned McCarthy. “The Class of 2026 is the 10th induction class into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, and we are excited to welcome this special group into the elite group of people known as Hall of Famers.  We are so grateful to Visit Central Florida Sports and Florida Southern College for their continued support in hosting the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and surrounding events.  Congratulations to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026!"

 

Players

Joe Behling (Belmont)

Dominez Burnett (Davenport)

Jeff Gibbs (Otterbein)

Kyle Mangas (Indiana Wesleyan)

Pete Metzelaars (Wabash)

Andrew Olson (Amherst)

Justin Pitts (Northwest Missouri)

Kyle Steigenga (Cornerstone)

Michael Thomas (North Park)

Aaron Walton - Moss (Cabrini)

 

Coach

Steve Moore (Wooster & Muhlenberg)

 

Contributor

John McCarthy (Small College Basketball)

 

This year’s Hall of Fame Class marks the 10th class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The National Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday November 6th inside the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, FL.

 

The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Committee consists of the following individuals: Don Landry, Roy Pickerill, Jim Nelson, Doug Palm, Rich Zvosec, Gary Stewart, Mike Lightfoot, John Rinka, Jim Poteet, Greg Moore, Bob Hoffman, Joe Niland, Bob Wilson, Greg Grant, Charlie Brock, Rusty Osborne, Rick Byrd, and Pat Cunningham.

 

For more information regarding the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame please head to smallcollegebasketball.com.

 

Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Bio’s

 

Joe Behling, Belmont

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Three-time NAIA All-American (1988, 1989, 1990) …  In 1989, Behling was named NAIA National Player of the year, as he scored an astonishing 1,071 points (averaging 31.5 ppg for the season - including a program-record 58 points against Lipscomb Mar. 4 - in leading Belmont to its first NAIA National Tournament. … all-time leading scorer with 2,823 points…averaged 26.4 points per game and shot 65 percent from the field for his career… had his No. 54 retired…compiled a 71-26 record during his career…named the Tennessee Sports Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1990… inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003…inducted into the Belmont Hall of Fame, and jersey is retired at Belmont.

 

Dominez Burnett, Davenport (Mich.)

 

Inaugural winner of the 2016 Bevo Francis Award Two-time NAIA Division II Player of the Year 2015, 2016 Three-time NAIA All-American first team 2014, 2015, 2016 Three-time NAIA All-Tournament Team 2014, 2015, 2016 Four-time All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) first team 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Scored 2,858 (20.4) points in 140 games All-time leading collegiate scorer in the history of the state of Michigan Recorded a streak of 70-straight games in double-figures Burnett led the NAIA in total steals (77) and total scoring (895).

 

Year G FG_FGA Pct 3FG-3A Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg Ast BS St Pts Avg

2012-13 34 183-367 .499 23-84 .274 113-165 .685 163 4.8 66 17 51 502 14.8

2013-14 33 214-397 .539 21-70 .300 203-268 .757 180 5.5 78 12 47 652 19.8

2014-15 37 277-502 .552 41-106 .387 214-253 .846 263 7.1 115 22 58 809 21.9

2015-16 36 298-552 .540 47-143 .329 252-331 .761 269 7.5 111 23 77 895 24.9

Totals 140 972-1818 .535 132-403 .328 782-1017 .769 875 6.3 370 74 233 2858 20.4

 

Jeff Gibbs, Otterbein

 

1999 DIII News All-American third team

Two-time D3hoops.com All-American 2001 (second team), 2002 (first)

2002 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player

2002 NABC Division III Player of the Year

2002 DIII News Player of the Year

2002 D3hoops.com All-American first team

Won 2002 NCAA Division III national Championship (30-3)

Two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Year 2001, 2002

Three-time All-OAC first team

First in career rebounds – 1,496

Fifth in career scoring -1,924

First in career fg%:  63.8%

Led NCAA Division III in rebounding for three consecutive seasons (only player ever to achieve this feat)

Otterbein University and Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame inductee

 

Year                    G                FG        FG%             FT          FT%          REB        RPG          PTS          PPG

1998-99           29         123-202     .609          51-86      .593          276         9.5           297          10.2

1999-00           23         162-264     .614         62-105     .590          307        13.3          386          16.8

2000-01           25         192-302     .638        105-153   .686          390        15.6          489          19.6

2001-02           32         281-421     .667        190-262   .725          523        16.3          752          23.5

Total                 109       758-1189    .638        408-606   .673        1,496      13.7        1,924        17.7

 

Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan

 

Kyle Mangas is one of the most accomplished players in the history of NAIA basketball.  As a freshman, he led Indiana Wesleyan to the NAIA Division II National Championship, where he was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.  For the season, he averaged 21.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg & 2.9 apg and was named as the Crossroads League Player of the Year (first freshman to ever win the award) and First Team NAIA All American.  During his senior season, he averaged 29.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg & 5.1 apg, while shooting 60.3% from the field.  He led the nation in scoring, and his assist total was second in all of the NAIA during his senior year.

 

For his career, Mangas finished with 3,453 points, 818 rebounds, 544 assists, 211 steals and 65 blocks.  He shot 56.3% fg and 81.2% ft.  He led his team to an overall record of 120-20, winning four consecutive Crossroads League regular season titles, three CL tournament titles, four berths in the NAIA Tournament, and the 2018 NAIA Division II National Championship.

 

He was named as the Crossroads League Player of the Year all four years, First Team NAIA All American all four years, Crossroads League Male Athlete of the Year for three consecutive years, won the 2020 Bevo Francis Award as a junior (the only junior to win the award – and it was not awarded during his senior season due to Covid), was named as the NAIA Division II National Player of the Year as a junior, was named the NAIA Player of the Year during his senior season and was named as the NAIA Academic All American of the Year during his senior season.

 

Pete Metzelaars, Wabash

 

1982 NABC Division III All-American first team

1982 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player

Won 1982 NCAA Division III national championship (24-4)

NCAA Division III Record career field goal percentage – 72.4 (784-1083)

First in career rebounds – 1,176 (11.4)

Scored 1,976 points (19.2)

Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame inductee

 

Year G FG-FGA FG% FT-FTA FT% Reb Avg Pts Avg

1978-79 24 122-170 .718 52-84 .619 191 7.9 296 12.3

1979-80 26 187-270 .693 103-159 .648 295 11.3 477 18.3

1980-81 25 204-283 .720 117-160 .737 320 12.8 525 21.0

1981-82 28 271-360 .753 136-195 .697 370 13.2 678 24.2

Totals 103 784-1083 .724 408-598 .682 1176 11.4 1976 19.2

 

Andrew Olson, Amherst

 

Two-time NABC Division III Player of the Year 2007, 2008 Two-time NABC Division III All America first team 2007, 2008 Two-time D3hoops.con All-American first team 2007, 2008 Won 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship (30-2) Two-time NESCAC Player of the Year 2007, 2008 First in career assists – 758 (sixth in NCAA Division III history) First in single game assists – 15 Twelfth in career scoring – 1,238 Twice a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award 2007, 2008 His four-year record 111-12.

 

Year G FG-FGA Pct 3FG-A Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg A BS St Pts Avg

2004-05 28 72-151 .477 13-42 .310 41-51 .804 62 2.2 113 1 24 198 7.0

2005-06 32 110-226 .487 35-73 .479 46-50 .920 56 1.8 179 0 34 301 9.4

2006-07 32 125-270 .463 53-133 .398 52-60 .867 81 2.5 243 2 36 355 11.1

2007-08 31 130-263 .494 50-108 .463 74-89 .831 75 2.4 223 3 41 384 12.4

Totals 123 437-919 .480 151-356 .424 213-250 .852 274 2.8 758 6 135 1238 10.1

 

Justin Pitts, Northwest Missouri

 

2017 NABC, Basketball Times and Division II Bulletin, D2CCA Division II Player of the Year Two-time NABC Division II All-American first team 2017, 2018 Two-time Division II Bulletin All-American first team 2017, 2018 Won 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship (35-1) Three-time MIAA Player of the Year 2016, 2017, 2018 Four-time All-MIAA first team 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Three-time MIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player 2016, 2017, 2018 Won 2016 Bevo Francis Award for top small college player Second in career scoring – 2,359 (19.8); assists – 575 (4.6) His four-year record – 114-18.

 

Year G FG-FGA Pct 3FG-A Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg A BS St Pts Avg

2014-15 28 172-311 .553 51-103 .495 87-192 .853 79 2.8 92 4 45 482 17.2

2015-16 32 253-455 .556 80-162 .494 107-138 .775 196 3.3 160 3 47 693 21.7

2016-17 36 275-553 .497 80-204 .392 124-145 .855 125 3.4 183 6 53 754 20.9

2017-18 28 187-362 .517 60-155 .387 96-112 .857 71 2.5 149 0 41 530 18.9

Totals 124 887-1681 .528 271-624 .434 414-497 .833 381 3.1 575 13 186 2459 19.8

 

Kyle Steigenga, Cornerstone

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2017-18: NAIA All-American First Team and National Player of the Year...became first MBB player in NAIA history to make the first team in all four years…FirstTeam All-WHAC and WHAC Player of the Year…Went over 3,000 career points and now holds the state of Michigan all-time points lead (3,023)…Averaged 20.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per night…finished with 13 double-doubles…Named to NAIA DII National Tournament Team…His 332 points and 135 rebounds rank first all-time at the NAIA DII National Tournament...named the Emil Liston award winner

 

2016-17: NAIA All-American First Team…First Team All-WHAC and WHAC Player of the Year… …Went over 2,000 career points…Averaged 21.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per night…finished with 20 double-doubles…Named to NAIA DII National Tournament Team…828 points ranks 5th all-time at Cornerstone for single season…371 rebounds ranks 3rd in single season at CU

 

2015-16: NAIA All-American First Team…First Team All-WHAC…1st Team CoSIDA Academic All-American…Led the Golden Eagles in scoring (21.0) and was second in rebounding (7.1)…Had 33 double-figure scoring games…Started in all 34 games

 

2014-15: NAIA All-American First Team… Named NAIA National Tournament MVP… Named WHAC Newcomer of the Year and was named a All-WHAC First Team…Ranked second in the country in field goal percentage at 68.2%… fourth in the country in total scoring with 772 points… Ranked ninth in total rebounding at 291 rebounds…Started all 38 games averaged a team high 20.3 PPG and a team second high 7.7 RPG… Recorded 24 blocks his freshman season for 2nd highest on the team.

 

Led Cornerstone to a 33-5 record and the 2015 NAIA Division II National Championship as a Freshman, and was named National Tournament MVP, and was named First Team NAIA DII All American.  Four-time First Team All WHAC and two-time WHAC Player of the Year.

 

He led the Golden Eagles to an overall four-year record of 124-21, winning the 2015 NAIA Division II National Championship.

 

Steigenga averaged over 20 ppg in each of his four seasons and finished with 3,023 points, 1,201 rebounds and 271 assists, while shooting 63.5% fg for his career. 

 

Michael Thomas, North Park

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Two-time NABC Division III All-American 1980 (second team), 1981 (first)

1979 Associated Press Little All-American first team

1980 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player

Won three consecutive NCAA Division III National Championships 1978 (29-2); 1979 (26-5); 1980 (28-3)

Two-time NCAA Division III Championship All-Tournament Team 1979, 1980

1981 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Most Outstanding player

Four-time All-CCIW 1978 and 1979 (second team); 1980 and 1981 (first team)

First in career scoring – 2,085 (17.7); assists – 701 (5.9); steals – 257 (2.2)

His four-year record 99-22

 

Year      G   FG-FGA   Pct   FT-FTA   Pct   Reb   Avg   Pts   Avg

1977-78  31  190-387  .491   67-89   .753    97   3.1   447  14.4

1978-79  28  205-429  .477   42-52   .807    58   2.1   452  16.1

1979-80  31  238-447  .532   60-74   .811    80   2.6   536  17.3

1980-81  28  263-527  .499  124-147  .844   142   5.1   650  23.2

Totals  118  896-1790 .501  303-362  .837   377   3.2  2085  17.7

 

Aaron Walton-Moss, Cabrini

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Two-time NABC Division III Player of the Year 2014, 2015 Two-time NABC Division III All-American first team 2014, 2015 Three-time D3hoops.com All-American first team 2013, 2014 2015 2012 D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year Led 2014 Division III in assists, triple-doubles (9) and defensive rebounds (9.6) Three-time Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Player of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015 Two-time ECAC South Player of the Year Second in scoring – 1,641 (8.4); rebounds - 906 (10.2) Third in career assists – 495 (5.6); fifth in steals – 166 (1.9) Posted 44 double-doubles and five triple-doubles Four-year record 99-20

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Year G FG-FGA Pct 3FG-3A Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg Ast BS St Pts Avg

2011-12 19 85-147 .578 2-8 .250 46-64 .719 164 8.6 34 11 33 218 11.5

2012-13 22 140-269 .520 7-31 .226 47-78 .603 199 9.0 110 15 45 334 15.2

2013-14 24 225-387 .581 21-60 .350 123-158 .778 262 10.9 141 13 37 594 24.8

2014-15 24 179-384 .466 20-81 .247 117-153 .765 281 11.7 210 20 51 495 20.6

Totals 89 829-1187 .530 50-180 .278 333-453 .735 906 10.2 495 59 166 1641 18.4

 

Steve Moore, Wooster & Muhlenberg

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He kicked off his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio University. From 1976 to 1981, he served as an assistant coach at Wittenberg, helping the team capture an NCAA Division III national championship in 1977. From 1981 to 1987, he was the head coach of Muhlenberg College, where he recorded 87 wins and 65 defeats. In 1987, Moore was named head men's basketball coach of The College of Wooster. Moore retired from coaching following the Fighting Scots' loss in the first round of the 2019-20 NCAA Division III basketball tournament. When he retired in 2020, Moore had a record of 867 wins and 253 losses (780-188 at Wooster), ranking 12th in all-time men's basketball wins, regardless of division. He also was second all-time in games won in the NCAA Division III, when leaving Wooster. While at Wooster, his players received a total of 21 All-America accolades. Under Moore's guidance, Wooster had a record of 522 wins and 113 victories in the 2000s, which made the Fighting Scots the winningest NCAA Division III team of the century. Moore was named North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year nine times and is a five-time NABC Great Lakes District Coach of the Year. In 2008, he was presented with NABC's "Guardians of the Game" award.

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John McCarthy, Small College Basketball

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John McCarthy has been involved in college basketball at the small college levels for 35 years.  He’s served as an assistant coach (Wilmington College – now University and Lynn University), Head Coach (Wilmington College – now University), Athletic Director (Lynn University), and a member of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.  From 2007-2012, McCarthy served as the Director of the historic NAIA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium, and he led the celebration of the NAIA’s 75h Anniversary.

 

McCarthy also founded the Collegiate Basketball Invitational, which brought together the top small college players in the country for a large-scale national event.  During his time in Kansas City, McCarthy led the initiative to brand Kansas City as the College Basketball Capital of America. 

 

In 2015, McCarthy founded Small College Basketball, which has morphed into a major national initiative that now includes the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame Classic, the Small College Basketball Association, the Small College Basketball Foundation, six National Awards, the National Awards Show and several robust social media platforms.  Also, under McCarthy’s leadership, the Tribute to Small College Basketball and a major display in the College Basketball Experience have been created.  Through his experiences, research and passion, McCarthy has become an ambassador and historian for the game of basketball at the small college levels.

 

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