PARKVILLE, Mo. – Park University’s Director of Athletics, Claude English, and head women’s basketball coach, Joe C. Meriweather, will be honored this Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. before tipoff of the Portland Trailblazers vs. Atlanta Hawks National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibition game at the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

English and Meriweather will be on hand along with several fellow former Hawks and Trailblazers in a special tribute to those who live in the Kansas City Metro area.

After playing basketball for Christian College in Dallas, Texas, and the University of Rhode Island, English was selected in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers where he played the 1970-71 season. English also played in the Eastern Basketball Association for the Hartford Capitals, the affiliate team for the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1973-74, English won the Eastern Basketball Association Championship with the Capitals. He was a three-year captain at Hartford.

Before taking the helm of the Pirate women’s basketball program, Meriweather enjoyed a long professional career in the NBA and overseas. Drafted in the first round by the Houston Rockets in 1975, he also played for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, New York Knicks and played his final five seasons with the Kansas City Kings from 1980-85. During his 10-year NBA career, he averaged 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Following his time in the NBA, Meriweather played abroad in Badalona, Spain, and Bologna, Italy.

Ticket prices for the game start at only $10. Additional tickets are available at an assortment of levels including $30, $50, $65, $90 including a limited number of courtside seats for $200 each. You may find available tickets at Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and charge by phone at (816) 931-3330. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling 816.949.7175 or e-mailing grouptickets@sprintcenter.com.

Doors open at 5:30 and tipoff time is set for 7:00 p.m.

-PARK-