Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame
When the Big Sky Conference selected its silver anniversary basketball team in 1988, Gary Lechman was the only Gonzaga player recognized on the 25-year team and he was the senior man on the squad – all the other players chosen played after Lechman’s final college year of 1967. At that, Lechman, who played forward and center at just 6’3”, still ranked among the all-time leaders in career scoring average and rebounding. The Roseville, Calif., native was the first player ever named first team all-conference three times. As a junior, Lechman paced Gonzaga to a winning season that included a 10-game victory streak highlighted by his 37 points against Washington State. And as a senior, he averaged 23-plus points per game as Gonzaga had a 21-6 year. Finally, Lechman was chosen to the Helms Athletic Foundation All-American squad, and he became the first Gonzaga player ever chosen Academic All-American.
