The Colorado athletics department and CU Events Center have begun a new tradition to honor outstanding former men’s basketball players, unveiling the Men’s Basketball Wall of Honor.
The initial ten men to receive this distinction are Colorado alumni who played at least five years in the NBA or competed in the Olympics. These legends will be honored with their former CU jerseys displayed in the CU Events Center. The honorees will be recognized in-person with their jerseys revealed in upcoming games.
On Tuesday night, CU revealed its first three Wall of Honor inductees. Burdette “Burdie” Haldorson, Jim Davis and Cliff Meely were honored with a spotlight illuminating their previous numbers and a list of their numerous accolades recounted to the home crowd.
Haldorson played for the Buffs from 1951 to 1955 and led his team to the Final Four with a stellar All-American senior season. The 6-foot-8 forward became CU’s first breakout star and secured two Big Seven championship appearances for the Buffs. Despite being selected in the fourth round of the NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawks, Haldorson chose not to go on to the professional level and instead went on to win two gold medals for the United States in 1956 and 1960. He was later inducted into both the Naismith Hall of Fame and the CU Hall of Fame. Haldorson is one of just two Buffs to have his jersey number (No. 22) retired. Though the CU great passed in 2023, his legacy will live on in the memories of those he inspired and continue to instill excellence in the current and future generations of Colorado men’s basketball.
Another CU alumni who set the standard for excellent student-athletes, Davis played for the Buffs from 1961 to 1964 and was an integral part in the continuation of a storied men’s basketball program. Just the fourth African-American player in Colorado basketball history, Davis averaged a double-double in his junior and senior seasons and led the Big Eight in rebounding each year as well. The 6-foot-9 center propelled his team to two Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA tournament and went on to play eight seasons in the NBA. Davis will long be remembered for his camaraderie with his teammates and his determination to succeed.
The third former Buff celebrated on Tuesday night was Cliff Meely. A two-time Big Eight Player of the Year (1968-1969, 1970-1971), Meely is the sole other CU player to have his jersey number retired (No. 20). To this day, his senior year record of 28.0 points per game still stands, with no one having come close to this mark yet. This was just one of the impressive records Meely gathered throughout his time in Boulder, setting 16 school and eight conference records in his three years playing for the Buffs. After being drafted seventh overall in the 1971 NBA draft, he played for the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers over six seasons before ultimately returning to Boulder to settle down. Meely is still talked about not only for his long-standing success but also because of the high-caliber person he was.
Although none of these revered alumni are still with us to witness this new recognition, their achievements and exceptional character are thought of fondly and frequently with respect to CU’s rich athletic history. These players made their influence felt far beyond the game of basketball and formed lifelong connections with all who got the privilege to know them.
The CU Events Center will continue to unveil more recipients of this honor going forward; this list includes Chauncey Billups, Alec Burks, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jay Humphries, Andre Roberson, Scott Wedman and Derrick White.
Fans can experience the debut of more inductees when the Buffs return home to take on No. 6 Houston at 2 p.m. MT on Saturday, Feb. 8.
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