High Point basketball legend Gene Littles got a bench dedicated in his name on Oct. 26 at the Millis Gym.

Littles was part of the 2015 HPU Hall of Fame Class. He played basketball for the Panthers from 1965-1969. He was truly a force of the court. Standing at 6 feet tall, there is no wonder why even 50 years later, he is still in the HPU record books:

– 1st Career Points: 2,398
– 1st Career Field Goals Made: 881
– 1st Career Free Throws Made: 650
– 1st Season Free Throws Made: 193
– 2nd Career Point Per Game: 23.2
– 3rd Season Points Total: 725
– Won two CIAC Conference titles
– Best Season Record in School History: 28-3 (1968-1969)

The list goes on and on with records that Littles has been apart of. After HPU, he went on to have a successful professional career as well. He played six seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and won a championship with the Kentucky Colonels in 1975.

HPU President Nido Qubein, Men’s Basketball Coach Tubby Smith and the HPU basketball team were at a ceremony to help unveil the bench dedicated to the Panther great. The classes of 1968 and 1969 donated it to HPU, and it now sits in front of the Millis Center where the 2019-2020 Panthers will play.

The men’s basketball team held a Purple & White open scrimmage at 7 p.m. that night and won an exhibition game against Averett, where they won 79-68.