Wall of Fame Ceremony to Honor Cleveland County’s Basketball Legends

Event on Nov. 8 at Gardner-Webb to Recognize 50 Players, Along with Coaches and Officials; Acclaimed Florida Coach Leonard Hamilton is Keynote Speaker

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University is pleased to host the Wall of Fame ceremony on Nov. 8 in Tucker Student Center. The ceremony—sponsored by the Alumni Basketball Association and the Cleveland County Business Development Center—will honor the 50 greatest players of Cleveland County from 1965-1999. Legendary coaches and game officials will also be recognized.

Acclaimed former Florida State University head basketball coach Leonard Hamilton will serve as the keynote speaker for this prestigious event. Hamilton is a native of Gastonia, N.C., and a former collegiate player at Gaston College and UT Martin. His remarkable 33-year career as a collegiate head coach cemented his legacy as a program builder. He is the winningest coach in Florida State history, having led the Seminoles to 16 postseason appearances during his tenure. He is also the first coach to be named Coach of the Year in both the Big East and the Atlantic Coast Conference, earning the prestigious award five times combined. His teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 on four occasions and the Elite Eight once.

“We are incredibly honored to have Coach Hamilton as our keynote speaker,” said Richard Hooker, Executive Director from the Cleveland County Business Development Center.

Dennis Toms, CEO for the Alumni Basketball Association, added, “His deep roots in the game and his reputation for integrity and excellence make him the perfect person to inspire and celebrate the legends who will be inducted into the Wall of Fame. He truly embodies the spirit of dedication and success that we are honoring.”

This tribute reflects not only individual greatness but also the collective legacy of how Cleveland County has produced athletes whose influence extended far beyond the court. It is a celebration of community, perseverance, and the power of sports to build lasting legacies.

The Wall of Fame will be housed at the Clarence M. Palmer Center (Holly Oak Park) in Shelby, serving as a community landmark where residents and visitors alike can honor the town’s deep basketball heritage.

Event proceeds will benefit scholarship and mentorship programs for local youth, as well as planning and development for honoring women next year.

Of the 50 honorees, seven of them have ties to Gardner-Webb athletics. That list includes:

• Tee Burton: GWU Golf Coach; former basketball standout at Crest High School.
• Coach Ed Peeler: GWU Alumnus, Crest High Boys’ Basketball Coach for 29 seasons, compiling a 562-362 record.
• John Borders II: Burns Class of 1975, All-Conference, All-Tournament, and MVP honors; played at Gardner-Webb for two seasons.
• Freddie Lovelace: Burns Class of 1994, led the team to its first-ever regular season Southwestern Conference Championship; received scholarship to Gardner-Webb.
• George Adams: Kings Mountain Class of 1968, leading scorer in school history; At Gardner-Webb, he was a two-time All-American; drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, played with the San Diego Conquistadors; Awards: Kings Mountain Sports Hall of Fame, GWU Athletics Hall of Fame, Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame, and nominee for North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.  
• Coach Eddie Holbrook: Gardner-Webb Men’s Basketball Coach for 14 years, compiling a 344-67 record. Of his 14 teams, 12 finished with national top-10 rankings. Eight of his players became All-Americans, while five went on to careers in the NBA.
• Eric Brewton: A defensive back at Gardner-Webb University, he was a three-time NAIA All-American (1985, 1987, 1988) and four-time All-South Atlantic Conference player, graduating in 1988. His 25 career interceptions remain a school record, and in 1998, he was inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame. After his football playing days ended, Brewton discovered a new passion: basketball officiating. Over nearly three decades, Brewton has officiated more than 3,000 games. In 2001, he was named ACC Basketball Official of the Year. He has worked numerous Final Fours and has been ranked the #1 WNBA Referee for several years—a testament to his consistency, fairness, and command of the game.

Event details and tickets can be found at www.clevelandlegacy.com.

Sanctioned by the City of Shelby, the N.C. High School Athletic Association, The Cleveland County Business Development Center, and Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at gardner-webb.edu.