Raiders assistant remembers legendary weekend

On Saturday, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Gene Bess’ legacy was solidified as he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with some of the biggest stars in basketball history.

Bess was joined by Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Becky Hammon, David Hixson, Jim Valvano and others as each of them cemented their place in hoops history.

Bess received his iconic orange jacket and hall of fame ring on Friday evening before the induction took place on Saturday.

Three Rivers College men’s basketball assistant Trey Rakes made the journey to Massachusetts and got to witness firsthand Bess’ induction into the hall but he also got to brush shoulders with his basketball idols.

“It was the coolest and best experience I’ve ever encountered or been a part of,” Rakes said of seeing Hall of Fame weekend upclose.

“I’ve watched a lot of these guys as a young kid,” he said. “Growing up watching Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade and Tony Parker.”

But for Rakes, seeing Bess inducted was special.

“Honor a JUCO-only head coach and getting that recognition he deserves, it makes you dream and it paves the way for guys like me,” he said. “He showed that it can be done.”

Many of Bess’ former assistances and players were on hand for the honor and Rakes, despite not coaching directly with Bess, was told by the others he was still a remember of the Raider legacy that is Gene Bess.

“It was still very special to get to talk with them and hear story of their playing time as Raiders and what they accomplished, what coach Bess mean’t to them and all he’s done in their lives,” Rakes said.

Despite seeing players he grew up watching from a young age, Rakes said the people he was most in awe of during the weekend were coaches.

John Calipari and Roy Williams, along with Chris Bosh, presented Bess into the hall but Tom Izzo and Tubby Smith were also on hand for the festivities.

“The college coaches were, for me, the most special people that I met and got to talk with,” Rakes said.

Bess wasn’t the only coach from a non-Division I to be inducted as former Massachusetts-Amherst head coach David Hixon was also enshrined.

Rakes said those two did a a lot for the game.

“It just proved that no matter what level you’re at, you can still have an impact and be recongized for your contributions to the game of basketball.

When asked about the interaction he saw with Bess and his formers players, Rakes just said it was apparent there a special relationship.

“You can tell there’s so much love and respect,” he said. “What they have for coach and what he has back for them,” Rakes said. “It was just really cool to see that up close.”