SOMERSET, N.J. - Former Marist basketball star Rik Smits, a 1988 graduate of the College, was announced as an inductee to the Northeast Conference (NEC) Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Smits was the first Marist basketball player selected in the NBA Draft, as he was the second overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in 1988 following four outstanding seasons with the Red Foxes.

Smits went on to enjoy a 12-year NBA career, all coming with Indiana. He appeared in the NBA All-Star Game in 1998 at Madison Square Garden, and made the NBA Finals in his final season, 2000. He totaled 12,871 points, 5,277 rebounds and 1,111 blocked shots in his NBA career, and retired as the Pacers' all-time leader in blocked shots.

His sophomore and junior years (1986 and 1987) culminated in NCAA Tournament appearances. He was named Conference Rookie of the Year in 1985, First Team All-Conference and Tournament MVP in 1986, Player of the Year and All-Tournament Team in 1987, and Player of the Year in 1988. He was named Associated Press Honorable Mention in 1988, and set 25 school records in his career. In his final game in a Marist uniform, he scored a then-school record 45 points - to match his uniform number - against Saint Francis (Pa.).

Smits is one of three Marist men's basketball players to have his jersey retired in program history, joining Drafton Davis and Steve Smith.

Former Saint Francis (Pa.) women's basketball standout Beth Swink and former Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball coach Tom Green join Smits in the induction class.