John McLendon the first African-American coach in a professional league and Cumberland Posey, a Baseball Hall of Famer also make the 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class

Congratulations are in order, today, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 10 members of the Class of 2016.

This year’s class includes eleven-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson; three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal; four-time WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes; 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson (posthumously); two-time NABC Coach of the Year Tom Izzo; and the first African-American coach in a professional league, John McLendon.

McLendon was the first black coach of an integrated professional team in the modern era (post-World War II). That team was the Cleveland Pipers of the semi-pro National Industrial Basketball League, and, later, the professional American Basketball League. He coached the Pipers from 1959-62, winning the NIBL in 1961. When the Pipers joined the ABL later in 1961, McLendon became the first black coach of a pro league.

John McLendon named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame

McLendon also coached college basketball at what was then called North Carolina College for Negroes (now N.C. Central University) from 1937 to 1952. The N.C. College Eagles played a high-scoring, fast-breaking style of basketball, wearing opponents down with the sheer pace of their game, a style years ahead of that era.

Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected four directly elected members. They include Zelmo Beaty (posthumously) from the Veterans Committee, Yao Ming from the International Committee, Jerry Reinsdorf from the Contributor Committee and Baseball Hall of Fame member, Cumberland Posey from the Early African American Pioneers Committee.

Posey was an exceptional multisport athlete recognized as the greatest African American basketball player of his time, playing from the early 1900s to mid-1920s.

Cumberland Posey baseball hall of famer makes 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class

Posey was also a college basketball standout at Duquesne University before helping lead the Homestead Grays baseball team to dominance in the Negro leagues as a player, a manager and an owner.

Swoopes is the first player signed to the WNBA. She helped Texas Tech to a national title, won four titles with the Houston Comets (WNBA), was a three-time WNBA MVP and won three Olympic gold medals.

"The impact the Class of 2016 has had on the game of basketball is gigantic," said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. "To have several icons of the game be recognized in the same year makes this class one of the most memorable to date. We look forward to honoring each of these inductees during Enshrinement in September."

To be elected, North American and Women's Committee finalists must receive 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Direct-elect committees are incorporated into the election process to maintain a strong focus on keeping history on the forefront of the voting procedures and to preserve a balance between two eras of basketball.

"The Class of 2016 is big in stature, personality and impact," said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. "These ten inductees have each contributed to the game in their own meaningful way and we are very pleased to honor them in Springfield."

The Class of 2016 will be enshrined at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, September 9.