NEW CASTLE | NBA coaches Gregg Popovich, a Merrillville grad, and Scott Skiles, a LaPorte native, along with New Mexico coach Steve Alford and three other players on NCAA championship teams at Indiana, were selected Monday to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

They, along with former Gary Roosevelt star Dolph Pulliam, will be inducted March 25 at a banquet in Indianapolis.

Popovich played at Merrillville and at the Air Force Academy and is now coach of the NBA San Antonio Spurs. Skiles led Plymouth to the 1982 state high school championship and played at Michigan State and in the NBA. He is now the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Alford, who played at New Castle High School, was an All-American at Indiana and led the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA championship. The other inductees from IU championship teams are Wayne Radford of Indianapolis Arlington, who played on the Hoosiers' unbeaten 1976 team, and Steve Bouchie of Washington and Ted Kitchel of Cass, members of Indiana's 1981 NCAA title team.

Also elected to the Hall of Fame are Denny Bishop of South Bend Central; Phil Cox, the 1972 Mr. Basketball from Connersville; Fred Fleetwood, Southport; Dick Hickox, Fort Wayne North; Bill James, Scottsburg; Charles Jenkins, Providence; Bob Sakel, Jasper; Vaughn Wedeking, Evansville Harrison; and the undefeated 1969 Indianapolis Washington team, which was led by George McGinnis and Steve Downing.

Jenkins, a longtime sportscaster, was elected as the Hall of Fame's annual Silver Medal winner for his contributions to basketball.

For local reaction to this story, read Tuesday's edition of The Times.