EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Athletics Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Thursday that Hall of Famer and former-NBA player Fred Taylor's No. 30 jersey will be retired and raised into the rafters of the UTRGV Fieldhouse before the homecoming men's basketball game against Utah Valley on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
 
Taylor's jersey number is the fourth to ever be retired in the department's history, and the third in men's basketball, along with Luke Jackson's No. 54, which was retired across all sports, Otto Moore's No. 34, which was retired in men's basketball, and head baseball coach emeritus Al Ogletree, whose No. 44 was retired in baseball.
 
"I think it's an honor to be mentioned with the other guys who have had their numbers retired," Taylor said. "We have had so many great athletes come through this university in all sports and I want to personally thank [UTRGV Director of Athletics] Chris King for making this happen. Only two numbers had ever been retired before he arrived, and that number has doubled under his watch. His diligence made this moment come to fruition."
 
A 6-5 guard/forward from Houston, Taylor played at legacy institution Pan American College from 1967-70, finishing as the program's third (now fourth) all-time leading scorer with 1,721 points. He also ranks third in field goals made (681), fourth in free throws made (359), and seventh in rebounds (699). He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
 
As a senior, Taylor earned All-American Honorable Mention by averaging a then-program record 27.9 points per game, the fourth-highest single-season total, by scoring 671 points, then the second (now sixth) highest total. During that season, he twice hit 18 baskets in a game, then tied for the third-highest (now sixth) single-game total in program history. He also became the first player in program history to knock down at least 10 free throws in a game without a miss by going 10-for-10 against Morehead State on Jan. 31, 1970.
 
During his first season with the program in 1967-68, Taylor led the team to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament by averaging 21.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while hitting 48.5 percent of his shots from the field.
 
A 1970 second round pick (27^thoverall) in the NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Taylor played for the Suns from 1970-71 and the Cincinnati Royals from 1971-72. In 88 games, Taylor averaged 4.4 points on 36.4 percent shooting to go with 1.6 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game.
 
Taylor twice has the opportunity to bring his teams to campus for exhibition games, leading the Suns against the Pistons on Oct. 10, 1970 and against the Golden State Warriors on Sep. 28, 1971 at the fieldhouse.
 
"Few have meant as much to this athletic department as Fred Taylor, who was an integral part of our success before returning to the Valley as an NBA player," King said. "Retiring a jersey is one of the greatest honors in college athletics, and after all Fred did for Pan American, he deserves to have his number hanging for many years to come."
 
The ceremony will be part of an important day for UTRGV Athletics, as the 2019 Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor Class will be inducted at a luncheon at 11 a.m.

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