Wyoming Basketball Great Theo Ratliff Gets Call to Alabama Hall

Cody TuckerPublished: May 16, 2023

ORLANDO - APRIL 28: Theo Ratliff #50 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks against the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on April 28, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

LARAMIE -- Theo Ratliff was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.

He just earned that same honor in his home state.

The former shot blocker extraordinaire was honored Saturday night in Alabama, joining seven other athletes in the 55th class. Ratliff, a Demopolis native, is now one of 393 to earn this recognition.

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This group was selected through a statewide selection committee and votes were tallied by a local accounting firm.

Ratliff, who played in Laramie from 1991-95, rejected a school record 425 shots, 181 more than Justin Williams. The 6-foot-10, 225-pounder averaged 10.3 points per outing while appearing in 111 games for the Cowboys. The two-time All-WAC selection added nearly six rebounds and shot better than 50% from the field.

Ratliff led the NCAA in blocks during the 1992-93 season with 124.

The 18th overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft, Ratliff joined the Detroit Pistons and made an immediate impact, averaging nearly five points and 1.5 blocks per night while playing more than 17 minutes. He shot 55.7% from the field during his rookie campaign.

During his 17-year NBA career, Ratliff played for Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Portland, Boston, Minnesota, San Antonio, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Lakers. While a member of the Hawks, Ratliff led the league in blocks in 2001, 2003 and 2004. He was also named to his lone All-Star team in '01.

Twice Ratliff was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team. That happened in 1999 with the 76ers and again in '04 with Atlanta.

He capped his career with 5,809 points, 4,596 rebounds and 1,968 blocks.

Ratliff joins Karen Mayson Bahnsen, Karlos Dansby, Roman Harper, Larry Kenon, Jackie Sherrill, Gerald Wallace and Roddy White in the 55th class of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players