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MSU Formally Inducts Three Into Athletic Hall of Fame

MSU Athletics

Three former Eagles were formally inducted into the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night (Oct. 3). The 2014 class includes men's basketball all-time leading scorer Ricky Minard, men's basketball career assist leader Marquis Sykes and football standout Gary Shirk.

The new Hall of Famers will also be recognized on Saturday during Morehead State's Homecoming game against Pioneer Football League foe Campbell. Kick-off from Jayne Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Eagles, who were idle last weekend, will be shooting for their first 3-2 start since 2008.

"I'm glad Ricky, Marquis and Gary are back on campus to enjoy this special weekend," Director of Athletics Brian Hutchinson said. "The Athletic Hall of Fame is the highest individual accolade our department can award. It's my pleasure to welcome these very accomplished individuals to that list."

A native of Mansfield, Ohio, Minard was an Honorable Mention All-American and the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2002-03. As a junior that season, he helped the Eagles to a share of the league's regular-season title and just their second 20-win season in school history.

Minard guided Morehead State to a 66-49 record (.574) in four years. He continues to hold MSU's all-time scoring record (2,381) and ranks second on the school's career assists list (417).

Minard was a First-Team All-League choice as a sophomore, junior and senior. He earned All-South Region honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches twice. Minard's No. 24 jersey is retired in Johnson Arena. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2004 National Basketball Association Draft.

Minard has played for 12 different professional teams overseas. He helped his current program, BC Budivelnyk, in Kiev win the Ukrainian Cup in 2013-14.

Also a native of Mansfield, Ohio, Sykes was a senior on the 2002-03 squad that shared the OVC regular-season title, the program's first since 1983-84. He continues to hold Morehead State's all-time assists record (606) by nearly 200 over his cousin Minard.

Sykes led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio three consecutive years and tied the school's single-game assists record with 16 in 2002-03. A Third-Team All-OVC selection as a junior and senior, he also posted 865 points and 165 steals in 113 career games.

Sykes tallied more than 100 assists each of his four campaigns, including the single-season record (189) in 2001-02. He now serves as the junior varsity boys coach Mansfield, which is his alma mater.

Originally from Richwood, Ohio, Shirk was a First-Team All-OVC choice in 1972. He hauled in 96 career receptions for 1,236 yards and five touchdowns. Shirk led Morehead State with 30 catches in 1970 and 29 receptions in 1972. He paced the Eagles with 402 receiving yards as a sophomore.

Shirk spent seven seasons (1976-82) with the National Football League's New York Giants where he caught passes from fellow MSU Athletic Hall of Fame member and Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms. Shirk amassed 1,640 career yards and 11 touchdowns with the Giants. He was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Established in 1985, the Athletic Hall of Fame honors former Eagles whose achievements in athletics and as ambassadors of the university have had a positive impact on Morehead State. The Hall of Fame has enshrined 134 members.

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