2026 NJCAA Hall of Fame inductees announced

May 6, 2026

Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA has announced the sixth annual NJCAA Hall of Fame class, to be recognized at the 2026 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards presented by Nufabrx, slated for Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC.

Designed to tell the story of the NJCAA, the NJCAA Hall of Fame honors individuals who have paved the way for opportunities at the two-year level – athletically and professionally, and those who have been pioneers throughout the history of the Association. Inductees in the Hall of Fame include administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and meritorious contributors and influencers.

The Class of 2026 of the NJCAA Hall of Fame includes:

Bernadette Locke-Mattox - Former head coach of the University of Kentucky women's basketball team. While at Kentucky in 1990, she became the first female to serve as assistant coach for a men's NCAA Division I basketball team, when she served under Rick Pitino. She formerly served as an assistant coach with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. Played basketball at Roane State Community College (TN) before transferring to the University of Georgia.
Pete Mickeal – Two-time basketball national champion at Indian Hills Community College (IA) and drafted #58 overall in the 2000 NBA Draft to the Dallas Mavericks. Considered one of the greatest American players to play professional basketball in Europe.
Fran Garmon – Guided Temple Junior College (TX) to the first ever National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Basketball Championship in 1975. Served as head coach for U.S. teams at the 1979 World University Games and the 1983 Pan American Games, directing the USA to gold medals in both events. International experience also includes serving as an assistant coach with the USA Select Team in 1978, manager for the 1981 USA Junior National Team, head coach of the 1982 USA National Team, and assistant coach for the 1983 World Championship Team.
Art Becker – After a standout professional basketball career in the American Basketball Association, he brought his talents to Scottsdale Community College (AZ), where he served as athletic director and NJCAA administrator, including a six year stint as NJCAA president/chair from 2005 to 2011.

In addition to the NJCAA Hall of Fame class of 2026 recipients, the event will honor the Champion Award winner, the Difference Maker Award winner, and the Association's three annual individual student-athlete awards – the Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year, the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Lea Plarski Award, honoring an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, and athletic ability. The Champion Award honors a member or former member of the NJCAA community who exemplifies resilience, excellence, and passion. The Difference Maker Award honors a supporter of the NJCAA and the NJCAA Foundation in their endeavors. Recipients of these annual awards will be in attendance to be recognized and receive their awards.

Tickets for the event are $125 for attendees and registration is required to attend. To register and to learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, visit: HERE.

To view a full list of past inductees, visit: NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame

Bernadette Locke-Mattox – Roane State Community College

Bernadette Locke-Mattox is a trailblazing basketball coach and former student-athlete whose career has helped open doors for women and African American coaches across the sport. The Roane State Community College (TN) standout continued her playing career at the University of Georgia, where she was the first female student-athlete to earn All-American and Academic All-American honors. Locke-Mattox went on to become the first woman to serve as an assistant coach for a men’s NCAA Division I basketball team when she joined Rick Pitino’s staff at Kentucky in 1990.

She later made history again as the first African American head coach of a women’s basketball program in the Southeastern Conference, leading the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team from 1995 to 2003, and later as an assistant coach for the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. Throughout her career, Locke-Mattox has been recognized as a pioneer, mentor, and barrier-breaking leader whose impact extends well beyond the court.

Pete Mickeal - Indian Hills Community College

Pete Mickeal is one of the winningest basketball players in NJCAA history. To date, he is the only NJCAA player to have won two national championships, a national player of the year award, and a national tournament MVP award, all of which came during his two years as a student-athlete at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. During his time at IHCC, he and his teammates went 76-1, and he is the only player in Indian Hills history have his number retired.

Orginally from Rock Island, IL, Mickeal transferred from IHCC to the University of Cincinnati, where he competed alongside Kenyon Martin under Coach Bob Huggins. As the 1999-2000 Bearcats commanded the #1 national ranking for most of the season, Mickeal's play at small forward earned him recognition as an Honorable Mention All-American, and a member of the Conference USA first team. He would go on to be selected in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.

Almost all of Mickeal's years as a professional player were spent overseas in Europe, where he became one of the most successful American players in history. A 17 year professional career saw him play in eight different countries, win a 2002 ABA championship, and be named ABA league MVP and finals MVP. He won the 2010 Euro League Championship, and was a three time Spanish League champion.

Following his retirement, Mickeal began Mickeal Sports Group, a full service sports representation agency.

Fran Garmon – Temple Junior College (now Temple College)

Fran Garmon is a trailblazing women’s basketball coach whose leadership helped shape the early history of NJCAA women’s athletics. As head coach at Temple Junior College in Texas, Garmon guided the Lady Leopards to the first-ever NJCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in 1975, defeating North Iowa Area Community College 59–58. Over 16 seasons at Temple, she built one of the nation’s premier junior college programs, compiling a 383–157 record before continuing her collegiate coaching career at Delta State University and Texas Christian University.

Beyond the NJCAA, Garmon made an impact on the international stage, serving as head coach for USA Basketball teams that won gold medals at the 1979 World University Games and the 1983 Pan American Games. A member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Garmon is remembered as a pioneer, mentor, and championship coach whose career helped elevate opportunities for women in basketball.

Art Becker – Scottsdale Community College

Art Becker was a decorated basketball player, coach, and athletics administrator whose career spanned every level of the game. A standout at Arizona State University, Becker earned all-conference recognition before being selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1964 NBA Draft. He went on to play professionally in the American Basketball Association, where he was a two-time ABA All-Star and a member of the 1970 ABA champion Indiana Pacers.

Following his playing career, Becker made a lasting impact in the two-year college ranks as a coach, administrator, and national leader in the NJCAA for over 50 years. He joined Scottsdale Community College in 1974 as head men’s basketball coach, later also coaching men’s tennis, and went on to serve the NJCAA in various national leadership roles, beginning his term as NJCAA President in 2005. A member of the Arizona State University Athletic Hall of Fame, Becker was recognized for his lifelong contributions to basketball, junior college athletics, and student-athlete development.