Dean Church (1974) - Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame

Dean Church

Induction:
1974
Class:
1965

Dean Church, whose No. 12 is one of five numbers retired in Ragin' Cajuns basketball history, earned the school's first-ever All-America honor when he received the NAIA All-America award following the 1963-64 season. He became the first in program history to ever receive an All-America honor twice when after the 1964-65 season he was named to two All-America First teams – Associated Press Little All-America and NAIA All-America.

Church, who starred at Blackham Coliseum from the 1960-61 through 1964-65 season, finished his career with 1,546 career-points and still ranks 12th all-time in UL's record books. He was a 10th-round pick by Philadelphia in the 1965 NBA Draft and in 1981 he was inducted into the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

In his last two seasons playing for the then-USL Bulldogs, he was named the Gulf States Conference Player of the Year.

At the end of his career, Church held the single-season records for most points (701), points per game (23.4), field goals scored (237), field goal percentage (.570, 237-416), free throw percentage (.832), most games in double figures (30) and 30-plus point games (8).

One of the best from the charity stripe, Church held the school record for most free throws made in a season (227), most free throws made in a game (18), most free throws attempted in a game (20) and attempted in a season (273).