West Virginia announced they will be retiring former Mountaineer Jerry West’s number 44 across all sports at the university. Athletic Director Wren Baker believed West is the first athlete across the nation to receive this honor. The ceremony will take place during half time.
West played at WVU for three years winning 81 of 93 games while he was in the lineup. The three-time All American holds 17 WVU records and led the Mountaineers to a No. 1 ranking in both the AP and UPI Polls his sophomore year in 1958.
West was drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers and spent 14 years in the NBA where he was an All-NBA first team selection seven times.
NBA champion, Olympic champion, a three-time Basketball Hall of Famer is the face of the NBA logo. West passed away on June 12, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Photo courtesy of WVU Athletics
