Tim Thompson, Dean Church, Bob Cutrer and Bill McHorris – four of the Cajuns’ top-25 all-time scorers – have confirmed that they will be attendance for the UL Basketball Reunion this weekend.

All four players played under former head coach Beryl Shipley in the late 50’s and early 60’s with their careers overlapping each other.

Topping the list, and a member of Shipley’s first team, Thompson still ranks 11th all-time with 1,587 points in the Cajuns’ record books. Upon graduation, Thompson was the Cajuns’ all-time leading scorer.

A four year letterwinner, Thompson was named All-Gulf State Conference each season. His first two seasons garnered second team honors while first team honors came in his junior and senior seasons.

In 1960-61, Thompson and teammate McHorris led the Cajuns to an 18-5 record and finished the season ranked 10^th in the nation in the Final College-Division poll.

Church and Cutrer were members of the Cajuns’ 1965 NAIA Division 27 Championship team. The duo was also part of the 1963-64 squad that was named Gulf States Conference Co-Champions.

Church finished his career with 1,546 career-points and still ranks 12^th all-time in UL’s record books. During the 1964-65 season, he was named to two All-America First teams – Associated Press Little All-America and NAIA All-America. Church earned the NAIA All-America award in 1963-64 and was the first Cajun to ever receive an All-America honor twice. He was a 10^th-round pick by Philadelphia in the 1965 NBA Draft and in 1981, he was inducted into the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com The Cajuns’ first two-time All-American, Dean Church, will be attending the UL Basketball Reunion this weekend.

 

In his last two seasons, he was named the Gulf States Conference Player of the Year. At the end of his career, Church held the single-season records for most points (701), points per game (23.4), field goals scored (237), field goal percentage (.570, 237-416), free throw percentage (.832), most games in double figures (30) and 30-plus point games (8). At the time, he also set the career record in field goal percentage at .548 (529-965).

One of the best from the charity stripe, Church still holds the school’s record for most free throws made in a season (227), most free throws made in a game (18), most free throws attempted in a game (20) and attempted in a season (273). His streak of 17 consecutive free throws made in a single game still tops UL’s record book.

Cutrer played from 1962-65 and ranks 22^nd all-time with 1,378 points. He averaged 13.4 points per game over his 103-game career. His senior season, UL was named the 1966 GSC Champions after posting a 10-2 record in league play. That same year, Cutrer was tabbed All-GSC First Team and was a NAIA All-America honorable mention. In 1964 and 1965, he  earned second team honors from the league.

In 1965-66, Cutrer broke Church’s single-season field goal record after shooting .600 (177-295) from the floor.

McHorris, a three-time First Team All-GSC selection, was a member of Shipley’s second team at UL. He played three seasons from 1958-60 and ranks 24^th all-time with 1,355 points.

One of the fastest to reach 1,000 points at the time, McHorris scored 999 points in his first two seasons and broke the barrier in just his 53^rd career game. Over his 72-game career, he averaged 18.8 points per contest and ranked 4^th on the all-time scoring list.

Fans will have a chance to meet the quartet and other legends of UL basketball on Saturday at the Cajundome with a pre-game autograph session from 6-7 p.m. 

This weekend, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns celebrate 100 years since the start of basketball at the University. Current and former coaches, players and staff members from seven different decades will get together Friday and Saturday for the UL Men’s Basketball Reunion.

Players, coaches, managers, trainers and other personnel from the 1940’s to the 2000’s will return to Lafayette to swap stories and share memories from past playing days.

Saturday’s game versus the Warhawks is also "Take a Kid to the Game" day. Admission is free to young fans under 12 years old. The first 500 kids will also receive a free basketball. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. CT.

Athletic Network Footnote: Click here for the Men’s Basketball Reunion Page  http://athleticnetwork.net/site1894.php