Former Santa Barbara Don Jamaal Wilkes is one of 12 finalists to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
This year’s finalists were announced on Friday, and Wilkes will learn if he makes the Hall on April 4th at the NCAA Final Four in Houston. Wilkes was also a finalist in 2010.
Wilkes starred at Santa Barbara High alongside Don Ford in the late 1960’s before playing for John Wooden at UCLA. Wilkes continued on to have a decorated NBA career, which included three all-star appearances and four NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
He won two NCAA titles at UCLA and was a part of UCLA’s storied 88-game winning streak that was just recently topped by UConn’s women’s basetball team.
Wilkes, who currently resides in Los Angeles, is one of five Santa Barbara High athletes to have their jerseys retired in J.R. Richards Gymnasium.
I knew Keith and Leo but never met Don.