Midcoast Athletics

Hart, Erickson to be inducted in Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Aug. 19

Mon, 08/13/2018 - 4:30pm

BANGOR — Two notable Midcoast basketball figures will be inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend on Sunday, Aug. 19. 

Jeff Hart and Dean Erickson join Cindy Blodgett, Jim Bessey, Paul Belanger, Bill Obermeyer, Peter Hamlin, Sandi Carver, Leroy Patterson, Joe Russo, Brenda Beckwith, Barbara Krause, Delmont “Del” Merrill, Keith Ogden, Rick Woods and Bill McAvoy as members of the Class of 2018. 

Also being inducted into the Hall, as “Legends of the Game” are Dwight Hunter, Arthur “Artie” Warren, Bill Fletcher, Jim Beaudry, Elwood “Bimbo” Pinkham and Thaxter Trafton. 

Tickets for the event can be purchased for $55 by clicking here. A ticket includes a ceremony ticket, full buffet and a commemorative program. 

Induction Biographies

Hart, a Farmington native, has coached the Camden-Rockport Windjammers for over 30 years; compiling a record of nearly 500 wins, 6 Gold Balls, and 10 Eastern Maine Championships. Jeff’s 2010 team went undefeated on its way to a State title. Coach Hart, who played for incoming Hall of Famer Jim Bessey, has been Class B Coach of the Year twice and  has coached numerous All-Star games both in Maine and nationally. Jeff was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Erickson was a standout point guard for Art Dyer’s Medomak Valley teams in the mid-1970s, helping lead the Panthers to the 1975 and 1977 Class B state finals, winning the gold ball in 1977. Erickson scored 594 points and handed out 375 assists during his career at Medomak Valley, with the Panthers going 65-7 during that period. Erickson was a first-team selection on the BDN All-Maine basketball team in 1977. Erickson continued his basketball career at Brown University, playing three seasons for the Ivy League school. Dean lives in Los Angeles, California where he owns a wealth management company. He has published several books and spent 7 years as an actor, appearing on, among other shows,  Frazier, in a recurring role.


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