CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith and legendary Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillop are among 11 inductees into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday.
The Class of 2024 has 11 members and will be celebrated at a commencement ceremony on May 10 in Uptown Charlotte. This year’s class brings the total enrollment to 411 students.
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Randolph Childress, Sheila Ford Duncan, Caroline Lind, Bob McKillop, Jim Nantz, Shea Ralph, Don Skell, Steve Smith Sr., Marilyn “K” Tucker, Ron Wellman.
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steve smith senior
Smith was selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He wasted no time making an impact, scoring a touchdown on the first play of his career. From there, he went on to break Panthers records and still holds the all-time records for touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards. After leaving the Panthers, he spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
During his illustrious career, Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl five times and named All-Pro three times. He was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Fame in his 2019 year. He is one of just 54 NFL players with over 10,000 receiving yards and is also a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
bob mackillop
McKillop spent the majority of his 33-year career coaching Davidson’s program, leading the Wildcats to 23 conference championships. His teams made it to the NCAA Tournament 10 times, including an incredible run to the Elite Eight in 2008 with Stephen Curry. Belk His arena court was named in McKillop’s honor in 2014.
McKillop announced his retirement in June 2022, stepping down to allow his son Matt to take over the reins of the program.
The Wildcats won at least 20 games 17 times under McKillop and won at least 25 games in seven seasons. Davidson went three undefeated seasons in conference play, including a 43-game winning streak in the SoCon from 2007 to 2009. The streak is one win away from being the longest in SoCon history and the eighth-longest in NCAA history.
Jim Nantz
The Charlotte native has become synonymous with CBS Sports’ coverage of the NFL, March Madness and the Masters Golf Tournament. Nantz, who greets fans with the signature phrase “Hello, friend,” has spent more than 30 years calling out sports. He was the recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio-TV Award in 2011.
Nantz hosted his final March Madness game in 2023, ending his 32-year stint as one of the tournament’s announcers. She told reporters that Nantz has been with CBS since 1985 and that she hopes to be called up to the Masters through 2035 and possibly beyond. He has been called to seven Super Bowls with the network during his long career and is the main anchor of CBS NFL’s Top Crew alongside Tony Romo.
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