WVU commemorates life of West, will retire No

Jan 18, 2025, 05:58 PM ET

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– West Virginia commemorated the life of NBA excellent Jerry West, the school’s all-time leading scorer, at its sellout game Saturday versus No. 2 Iowa State, and announced at halftime that his No. 44 will be retired across all sports at the university.The Mountaineers then managed the upset, knocking off the Cyclones 64-57 on the strength of a 39-point second half.Video tributes and stories about West, who passed away June 12, 2024, at the age of 86, were shown throughout the game, including past clips from Pat Riley, Magic Johnson and former West Virginia stars Rod Thorn, Willie Akers and the late “Hot” Rod Hundley.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated As part of Saturday’s remembrance, Los Angeles Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer revealed a$5 million present to support West Virginia trainees in West’s memory. West worked for the Clippers as a specialist for the 7 years prior to his death.Fans presented for pictures next to a statue of West outside West Virginia’s arena and were provided commemorative gold-and-blue pendants with the No. 44 and the engraving “Forever a Mountaineer. “The university retired West’s No. 44 in 2005. West’s number is preserved in the rafters along with the retired numbers of Thorn and Hundley.West’s partner, Karen, and 3 of his sons were given a standing ovation at halftime on the court, including Jonnie West, a member of the Mountaineers’Final 4 team in 2010. The Associated Press contributed to this report.