Hall of Fame
Vernon Long's influence on Lenoir-Rhyne Basketball goes far beyond just his playing career and his impact reached outside the court. Long broke the color barrier at Lenoir-Rhyne, becoming the first African American to play for the Bears in the fall of 1968. During the Civil Rights Era, Long overcame many hurdles to enjoy an exceptional career.Â
On the court, Long poured in 1,253 career points which ranks him 23rd on the all-time scoring list despite playing in an era without a three-point line. Long remained in the school's top 10 all-time scorers 20 years after he graduated and led LR to 75 wins in his four years. In 1971-72, the Bears won the Carolinas Conference Championship and made the NAIA District 26 finals and came within a basket of making the National Tournament.
