By Jeff Walker | A-J SPORTS EDITOR

Two South Plains natives will be honored as legends during one of the newest pre-conference tournaments.

Each of the four host schools – Texas Tech, Washington State, Pittsburgh and Mississippi State – have chosen a player or coach to honor in accordance with the Legends Classic, a tournament in its second year.

Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers, a native of Borger, will be honored at halftime of today’s game against East Central (Okla.). Former Monterey standout Craig Ehlo was honored by Washington State during halftime of Tuesday’s game against Fairleigh Dickinson.

“I appreciate the honor,” said Myers, who has been the Tech athletic director since 1996. “It’s really nice, particularly since Pat (Knight) and his staff nominated me. I’m looking forward to it.”

Myers was a player for Tech from 1957-59 before becoming the head coach from 1971-91. He is Tech’s all-time leader with 326 career victories.

Ehlo played for Washington State from 1981-83 before being drafted in the third round by the Houston Rockets. The former Plainsman spent 14 seasons in the NBA with Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta and Seattle. He is currently in the top 20 in career steals and assists in just two seasons in Pullman, Wash.

“He was in the same class as my daughter (at Monterey), I believe,” Myers said of Ehlo. “He was a really good player. He went to Odessa College, and then George Raveling signed him early to go to Washington State. We never played against them, but I saw him play and he was a very good player.”

After playing the Tigers, the Red Raiders will host Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the second and final game of the regional tournament. Unlike many pre-conference tournaments that send regional winners to a neutral site, the Legends Classic guarantees the four regional hosts a spot in the championship event Nov. 28-29 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Tech will face No. 6 Pittsburgh.

Following Monday’s 87-76 win over Sam Houston State, Knight said the team’s goal is to be 5-0 by the time it faces its first ranked opponent of the season. To get to 3-0, some Tech players will have to beat a former teammate.

Justin Wilkerson is the leading returning scorer for the Tigers. After playing briefly as a freshman at Tech, Wilkerson transferred to East Central, coming off the bench last season to average 10.4 points and 6.7 rebounds.

The Red Raiders appear to be adjusting quite well to Knight’s desire to play at a faster pace.

Junior-college transfer Nick Okorie has led Tech in scoring in each of the first two games, while John Roberson set a career high in assists against the Bearkats with eight.

Freshman Ty Graham came off the bench and scored seven points, and Tech is averaging 84 points in two games while its leading returning scorer (Alan Voskuil) has yet to reach double digits.

“I think we developed a bond really early in practice so we just feed off each other,” Okorie said. “Me, (Roberson) and Al (Voskuil) are real comfortable with each other on the court. We know what each person is capable of doing.”

College basketball

• Who: Texas Tech vs. East Central (Okla.)

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Where: United Spirit Arena

• Records: Tech 2-0; East Central 0-0

• TV: None

• Radio: KKAM 1340 AM

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jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com 766-8735

terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com 766-8700