Hopson’s memories good ones for Idaho, too

Phil Hopson is a success story on numerous levels.

He contributed to a remarkable turnaround in the University of Idaho men’s basketball program in the early 1980s. Idaho had endured eight consecutive losing seasons when the Portland native arrived in Moscow. The Vandals won 17 games in Hopson’s first season and coach Don Monson’s second in 1979-80. They followed that up with a 25-4 record, Big Sky title and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Idaho went 27-3 in 1981-82 and knocked off Iowa in overtime in the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet 16 before Oregon State ended the Vandals’ dream season. Idaho won 20 games in Hopson’s senior season.

Nearly 25 years later, Hopson will take his place in the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame tonight during the annual North Idaho Sports Banquet at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. Hopson will be enshrined along with former Idaho track and field coach Mike Keller; ex-Vandals football standout Dick Litzinger, and Mary Jean Hinkemeyer, a pioneer for girls sports programs in the Silver Valley. Awards will also be presented to North Idaho’s top coaches, athletes and teams in the prep and college ranks.

Hopson never thought about the Hall of Fame until he was in the audience last year watching former teammate Brian Kellerman’s induction.

“It crossed my mind at that point,” said Hopson, who is in the top 10 of the school’s career lists for games (115), points (1,226), field goals (515), field-goal percentage (56.6), rebounds (733) steals (127) and blocked shots (69). “But it was a big surprise to be selected.”

Hopson said the best part will be reminiscing about Idaho’s run with Monson and former teammates Kellerman, Al Williams and Kelvin Smith, all of whom are expected to attend.

“To relive that is a wonderful feeling,” Hopson said. “We were a real cohesive group, played well together and there were no egos involved. All we wanted to do is prove we could play as a team and win. Once we proved that to ourselves, we got rolling and did some amazing things.”

Williams, now the athletic director at North Idaho College, recalls Hopson was a shy freshman when the two were assigned to room together. They hit it off immediately and have remained close friends. Williams is a godparent to Hopson’s son, Mac, and helped bring the younger Hopson to North Idaho College two years ago. Mac played basketball at NIC as a freshman and at Washington State as a sophomore.

“Phil was introverted and he didn’t speak around people much until he got comfortable with people,” Williams said. “We went everywhere together for two years and he really came out of his shell as a junior.”

The roommates would spend hours trying to name the colleges that NBA players had attended.

“Basketball was my passion and his as well,” Hopson said. “That’s the way he brought me out of my shell. We’d stay up all night talking basketball.”

Monson brought out the best in the bouncy, 6-foot-6 Hopson on the court. The coach recalled one game at the Far West Classic in which Idaho scored 14 baskets on lob plays, many finished off by Hopson.

“I watched him play twice in the (Oregon) state tournament and he was actually playing center,” Monson said. “He’d rebound the ball, pass it out and they’d break down the floor and by the time Phil would get to the top of the key the other team would be going the other way. I never got to see him do much offensively but I liked his quickness and ability.”

Hopson was named second-team All-Big Sky three straight years.

“He could do so many things,” Monson said. “He played forward but also on the block. His quickness was invaluable. We ran a match-up zone most of the time and he was an intricate part of that.”

Hopson went on to play professionally in Australia and Argentina. At one point, he teamed with Kellerman and current Washington coach Lorenzo Romar to win an AAU national tournament.

After his professional playing days ended, Hopson returned to Moscow with wife, Lauren, and Mac to finish his degree in 1990. Hopson had struggled academically early on at Idaho until testing revealed a correctable reading disorder.

“College wasn’t really that important to me (initially),” Hopson said, “but as time ticked along I realized how important it was.”

Hopson, who coached Mac’s AAU teams for years, still plays in rec leagues in Portland. He has worked with Portland-area youths for the past 16 years.

“I’m extremely proud of Phil Hopson,” Monson said. “I don’t know of anybody that knew Phil that doesn’t like him.”