Utah basketball to honor, hang jerseys for Ogden natives Misaka, Chambers
BENJAMIN ZACK, Standard-Examiner
Wataru 'Wat' Misaka signs a toy basketball at the dedication of a new basketball court named in his honor at Liberty Park in Ogden on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Misaka grew up in Ogden and played basketball at Ogden High School, Weber College and the University of Utah before being drafted by the New York Knicks in 1947. Misaka, who is Japanese-American, was the first non-white athlete to play basketball in what later became the NBA. Ogden City named the newly resurface court "Kilowatt Court" in honor of Misaka's nickname. Around 100 people came out to honor Misaka at the official unveiling of the court.
The University of Utah men’s basketball program is set to induct two Ogden natives into its ring of honor with “honored jersey” ceremonies in the coming month.
The Utes will honor the late Wataru Misaka in two weeks and Tom Chambers in early February, the school announced.
Utah originally announced it would honor Misaka in February 2020 after his death at age 95 on Nov. 21, 2019. Such ceremony has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but will now take place Jan. 22 when the Utes are scheduled to host USC.
Misaka graduated from Ogden High in 1941. He helped Weber State Junior College win consecutive junior college national championships in 1942-43 and was named the JUCO national tournament MVP in 1942.
Misaka went on to the University of Utah and played point guard for Utah’s 1944 NCAA tournament championship team and the 1947 NIT championship team. In between his two seasons playing for Utah, Misaka was drafted into the United States Army and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He was then drafted by the New York Knicks and is considered the first non-Caucasian player in American professional basketball.
Chambers was born in Ogden in 1959 and lived in the area for a time before eventually graduating high school in Colorado. He returned to Utah to play for the Utes from 1977-81. He was a two-time All-WAC center and led Utah to a WAC title and Sweet 16 appearance in 1981.
The San Diego Clippers drafted Chambers eighth overall in 1981, starting his 16-year professional career in which Chambers played for the Clippers, Sonics, Suns and Jazz. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection. He’s currently a studio analyst for Phoenix Suns TV broadcasts.
The ceremony for Chambers is scheduled for Feb. 5 when Utah hosts Oregon.
Misaka and Chambers will be the eighth and ninth men’s players for Utah to have their jerseys hung from Huntsman Center rafters.