Yevette Haskins (from left) and former Western Kentucky basketball player and coach Clem Haskins share a laugh with former Diddle Arena timekeeper Richard Garrison on Saturday. Clems Haskins jersey was retired at Diddle.(Photo by Paul Conrad)

Many years and accomplishments have passed since he starred for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, but Clem Haskins says every time he comes back, Its like its yesterday. When Harold Bozarth, a former teammate, heard the Gems jersey was going to be retired during halftime of Saturdays game against Louisiana-Lafayette, he made a call. He just called me from New Jersey two days ago, Haskins said. I hadnt talked to him in 30 years. I just had to see you, he told me. I remember you being very supportive of me, especially when I first arrived here. The jersey of Haskins, who wore number 22 as an All-American at Western, was unveiled and joins those of former Hilltopper coach and All-Americans John Oldham, who also coached at Western, whose jersey was retired on Dec. 11, Jim McDaniels and Lillie Mason Stockton, whose jerseys were hung on Jan. 22 and 23, respectively. Its a great honor, Haskins said. Im very appreciate of Western Kentucky and the administration; its an unbelievable honor. I guess I did something right. Haskins led the Hilltoppers in scoring all three seasons and set school and Ohio Valley Conference records that still stand. As a sophomore, Haskins scored 55 points on Jan. 30, 1965, in Westerns 134-84 win over Middle Tennessee. In a day when freshman did not play, Haskins had 1,680 points the most ever scored a Hilltopper with a three-season career; his career 28.7 points per game scoring average is still the second highest among all Hilltoppers. But Haskins undeniable legacy was his ability to play smart; that, he said, is the biggest change hes seen in the game. Players today are more athletic, he said. But as far as understanding the game and utilizing those talents, thats whats lacking; players are not as sound. I survived 10 years of the NBA with my head; I didnt have all the athletic ability, but I had the mental ability. After being the third player selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1967 NBA draft, Haskins went on to play three seasons with the Bulls, followed by stints with the Phoenix Suns (1970-74) and the Washington Bullets (1974-76).But Haskins credits those who taught him and coached him as being the reason for his success. Much of it, he says belongs to E.A. Diddle and John Oldham, his coaches at Western. Calling the three years he played for Oldham wonderful years, Haskins says what he learned has stayed with him throughout his career. It was training that paid off as Haskins won 58 percent of the games he coached at the Hilltoppers helm for six years (1980-86), during which time Western won OVC championships in 1981 and 82 and played in the NCAA Tournament twice (1981 and 86).Leaving Western to take the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota, Haskins led the Golden Gophers to the NCAA Final Four in 1997.He said much of the credit goes back to the coaches he had as a young player. Diddle, said Haskins, was ahead of his time; he was just a great motivator. Not that his career has been trouble-free. There have been personal tragedies and hard adjustments. As the first black man to play for Western, Haskins said he came through at a very difficult time. But thanks to the players and coaches I had a young man needed that kind of support. And then, there was a car wreck on Mothers Day, 1967, that killed his friend and teammate Dwight Smith, who was on his way back Princeton. During a recent NCAA investigation into the Minnesota basketball program, Haskins said it was his friends like Oldham who, during that time, he called me and how much I appreciate that. Haskins, who retired to be on his farm in Campbellsville, said hes had several offers. If I take anything, it will probably be with an NBA team he said.