New Castle, IN – Rooted in a passion that spans generations, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame remains dedicated to Honoring, Preserving and Promoting the Heritage of Indiana High School Basketball. That commitment continues as the Hall’s Board of Directors announces its 64th induction class, to be celebrated in ceremonies on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Eighteen men are in the class, including 1987 Indiana co-Mr. Basketball Jay Edwards of Marion, and seven other players (John Barnhill of Evansville Lincoln, Wallace Bryant of Gary Emerson, Jaraan Cornell of South Bend Clay, Tom Cutter of Lafayette Central Catholic, Richard Ellis of Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, Rick Fox of Warsaw and Ron Horn of Mississinewa).The class also includes four men who were successful as players and coaches (Brandon Brantley of Andrean, Leo Costello of Lynnville, Harry Larrabee of Shelbyville and Ed Schilling of Lebanon), five coaches (Dick Barr of Muncie Central, Jerry Bomholt of Elwood, Cliff Hawkins of Cascade, Marty Johnson of Highland and Robert “Bob” Punter of DeMotte) and one broadcaster – Howard Kellman of Indianapolis – as the Indiana Pacers/Indiana Fever Silver Medal winner. The Silver Medal is presented to a person who contributed to Indiana high school basketball in a role other than as a player or coach.
The Northeast Indiana area honorees are Rick Fox, Jerry Bomholt and Cliff Hawkins.
Rick Fox, a 1987 Indiana All-Star and graduate of Warsaw High School, was outstanding in two seasons for the Tigers before excelling at the University of North Carolina and with the NBA’s Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, being a part of the Lakers’ back-toback NBA champions in 2000, 2001 and 2002
At Warsaw, Fox totaled 824 points and 498 rebounds in 50 career games, averaging 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds as a sophomore for a 23-3 regional champ as well as 21.1 points and 11.8 rebounds while earning honorable mention All-State accolades as a junior for 21-4 sectional champ. The IHSAA did not allow him to play as a senior, but he practiced with the team all season and was selected to the 1987 Indiana All-Stars and to the 1987 Capital Classic in Washington, D.C.
Jerry Bomholt, a 1971 graduate of Elwood High School, compiled a 602-393 record .605-win percentage in 44 seasons as a varsity basketball coach at nine schools, retiring in February 2025 when health issues prompted him to step down. Bomholt coached at Jay County and went 57-39 from 1980-84 at Jay County (sectionals in 1981, 1982, 1983). He later returned to coach the Patriots, going 53-49 from 2020-25 before his retirement.
Cliff Hawkins, a 1972 graduate of Cascade High School and head coach of the 2004 Indiana All-Stars, compiled a 604-402 record with a 600 win percentage in 44 seasons as a varsity basketball coach, retiring at the end of the 2024-25 season after going 19-7 at Tipton. Hawkins led DeKalb from 1992-
2004. He had an undefeated regular season in 2000-01, won two Hall of Fame Classic
tournaments (2002 at Dekalb, and 2010 at Center Grove) and had eight 20-win seasons. He also guided 1997 Indiana Mr. Basketball Luke Recker and Indiana All-Star Adam Liddell (2003) at DeKalb.
Barnhill, Barr, Cornell, Costello, Ellis and Horn are posthumous inductees. Costello, a 1923 high school graduate, is the winner of the hall’s Centennial Award, which inducts a man who graduated high school from 100 years ago or more.
The 18 inductees as well as the 2026 men’s Silver Anniversary Team members and the 2026 men’s Center Circle Officials Award honorees will be honored at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 64th Men’s Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
A mid-day reception, free and open to the public, will be held earlier on March 18 at the Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle. The evening banquet will take place at Primo Banquet Hall, 2615 National Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227.
Banquet reservations will soon be available on the Hall of Fame’s website or by calling (765) 529-1891.
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