SAN ANTONIO – University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball head coach Dr. Carson Cunningham was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's 2021 Silver Anniversary Team for his outstanding high school performance in 1996, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday.
 
The honor is awarded based on outstanding accomplishments as a senior basketball player 25 years ago. Dr. Cunningham is one of 18 honorees.
 
The Andrean High School product capped his high school career in 1996 as an Indiana All-Star, AP and the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association second team all-state selection, a two-time Bloomington H-T first team all-state selection and Indianapolis News first team all-state as he amassed 1,476 career points. He was also a two-time (1995, 1996) NWI Times Area Player of the Year and the 1996 Gary Post-Tribune Area Player of the Year.
 
In his senior season, Cunningham averaged 23 points, five assists and two steals per game leading Andrean to a 19-2 record. As a junior, Cunningham averaged 20.9 points per game to lead the Fighting 59ers to a 19-6 record, capturing the sectional title and earning first-team underclass all-state honors.
 
After high School, Cunningham started 26 of 27 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Purdue. Cunningham totaled 1,289 points, 444 assists and 108 steals in 123 games played with the Boilermakers. He was a member of the 1999 Sweet 16 team and started on the Boilermakers' 2000 Elite Eight team, averaging 11.25 points, 3.75 assists and 2.25 rebounds in the tournament.
 
Cunningham was a two-time academic All-American and earned his doctorate in history. He played professionally for three seasons in Estonia, Australia and the CBA. After his playing career, Cunningham spent five seasons – from 2008-13 – as head coach at Andrean, winning four sectionals and one regional title. From 2013-18, Cunningham was the head coach at Carroll College (MT), winning two conference championships and two conference tournament titles before coming to UIW in 2018. Cunningham currently holds a 123-100 mark in seven seasons as a collegiate coach.
 
The Indiana Basketball Silver Team includes 13 members named to the 1996 Indiana All-Star squad and five other all-state players included to recognize the top of Indiana's high school class of 1996.

1996 Indiana All-Stars include: Mr. Basketball Kevin Ault, Ben Anderson, Lee Coomler, Jaraan Cornell, Carson Cunningham, Andrew Graves, Chris Hahn, Mickey Hosier, Michael Lewis, Gary McQuay, Greg McQuay, LaMont Roland and Carl Sykes.
 
The remaining five, named to various all-state teams are Duane Clemens, Brian McCauley, Jeff Poisel, Yon Price and B.J Watts.
 
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