West Virginia University announced today that former basketball player Rod Thorn will have his number “44” retired. Jerry West also had 44 retired back in 2005.
Thorn averaged 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 1960-61 as a Sophomore, 23.7 points and 12.1 rebounds as a Junior and 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds as a Senior. Thorn was a second team All-American in both his Junior and Senior seasons.
Following his career with the Mountaineers, Thorn was the 2nd overall pick by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1963 NBA Draft. Thorn played 9 seasons in the NBA, where he averaged 10.8 points per game and was named to the All-NBA team in 1964.
The number retirement ceremony will happen during halftime of West Virginia’s game at home against Oklahoma on Feb. 29th.
