CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 1) – Saint Augustine’s University basketball legend John Lockett was inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame at the Charlotte Convention Center on Friday morning.
Lockett is one of seven new inductees. The others are former Saint Paul’s College and Virginia Union University President Dr. S. Dallas Simmons, former Hampton Institute track and field standout Thomasina M. Busch Cunningham, former Saint Paul’s College basketball standout Antwain Smith, long-time CIAA sports information guru Eric Moore, former Winston-Salem State University center and retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Weeks, Sr. and former CIAA Basketball Official Coordinator James “Jim” Burch.
Many of Lockett’s family and teammates were present at the Hall of Fame Breakfast including SAU legendary track and field coach and athletic director George Williams.
“To have my name in the Hall of Fame with guys like [Earl] Monroe and [Bobby] Dandridge, this means a lot,” Lockett said. “I am happy to be a part of Saint Aug. I thank Coach Williams, the late Coach [Jesse] Clements, my teammates, family and everybody else that helped me. This is a blessing.”
A Shelby, N.C., native, Lockett was one of the top CIAA’s scorers and rebounders in the mid-to-late 1960s. A 6-foot-4 guard-forward, Lockett averaged 27.8 points and 14.9 rebounds during his two-year career with the Falcons. He battled against future professional standouts such as Monroe, Dandridge and Mike Gale. An All-CIAA performer, Lockett was inducted into the Falcons’ Hall of Fame in 2004.
After graduating from then Saint Augustine’s College in 1968 with a mathematics degree, Lockett went on to make a positive impact on the lives of many people. A resident of Tulsa, Okla., Lockett is the executive director of the Lock-ett Up Foundation, a literacy and community service program for students and adults in Tulsa, Okla., Kansas City, Mo., and Manhattan, Kan.
In addition to his foundation, Lockett co-founded an inner-city baseball league that has grown to over 50 teams and 700 players. It has been widely hailed as a program that keeps kids busy and out of trouble. He is also a consultant for the $70 million Kauffman Scholars Program through the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo.
His sons Kevin and Aaron both played in the NFL. His grandson Tyler is currently a standout wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.
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-Office of Sports Information
