Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that the New Mexico State has announced three new members to their Athleltic Hall of Fame.

They will be formally inducted on March 4, 2022, and honored the following day during halftime of the men’s basketball team’s home game against Utah Valley.

William Benjamin, Men’s Basketball 1988-92.  While Benjamin was with the Aggies, NM State had a record of 95-30, and helped take them to three straight NCAA Tournaments (1990-92).  At the time of his retirement, he was the all-time school leader in Steals.

Bob Kelly, Football 1957-60.  Kelly played at Wide Receiver and Defensive End, and was part of New Mexico State’s first ever bowl win, a 28-8 win over North Texas in the Sun Bowl.  

Maria Roth, Volleyball 1991-95.  Roth was a First Team All-Big West Selection as a Senior and is in the all-time top ten in school history in Kills, Attacks and Digs.  She would later become and administrator for the school, moving up to the position of Associate Athletic Director.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the New Mexico State Athletic Hall of Fame. 

One of the great unsung big men of the 70s, Sam Lacey led tiny New Mexico State to a Final Four in 1970 and still got no respect.  Perhaps this was because fellow big men Bob Lanier and Artis Gilmore were at this same Final Four!  He was one of the most consistent rebounders and defenders of the 1970s for the Kings and may be their most popular player ever.  Of course, we are referring specifically to the Kansas City Kings and they were never serious contenders.  Lacey is also one of the best passing big men the pros ever had and played in over 1,000 games placing him in the top 100 of that category.