DETROIT (9/6/13) – Former University of Detroit Mercy basketball star John Long '78 is among the final list of nominees for the 58th induction class of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF). Voting on candidates in four categories: Professional (10 nominees); College/Amateur (10 nominees); Coaches (five nominees) and Media/Contributor (five nominees) began on Thursday (Sept. 5).

Long, a Titan Hall-of-Famer who ranks second on the Titans' all-time scoring list with 2,167 points, is also the only player to lead the Titans in scoring in all four years that he played. Long averaged 17.1, 19.5, 20.3 and 21.4 points per game from 1975-78.

During the four years that Long was at UDM, the Titans recorded an overall record of 86-25, including back-to-back postseason appearances. The Titans trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1977 snapped a 12-year drought of not reaching the postseason since 1965 as Detroit picked up its first-ever NCAA victory with a 93-76 tally over Middle Tennessee State with Long adding 20 points. The following season, the Titans won another postseason game as Long posted 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 94-86 triumph over VCU in the NIT.

After his legendary career with the Titans, Long moved on to the NBA, where he was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Pistons. He played eight seasons for the Pistons and averaged a career-high 21.9 points per game during the 1981-82 season. He was also a part of Detroit's "Bad Boys" team in 1989 as the Motor City took the championship in four games – the first title in Pistons' history. Long later played for the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, before signing with the Toronto Raptors for one season. Long retired in 1997 and finished his NBA career with 12,131 points.

Sports fans throughout Michigan and the globe can vote for the latest MSHOF class in the categories of Professional and College/Amateur at www.michigansportshof.org. Public voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. The public vote will be factored into the overall election process along with voting by the MSHOF Super Election Committee of previously inducted Hall of Fame members, the current Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and an electing block of veteran media members, college sports administrators and professional team officials.

"The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the list of nominees for the 58th Class and that the public can now vote on-line," said MSHOF Chairman Scott Lesher. "The on-line voting process is an element of our mission of making the Hall of Fame more accessible to the public. The fan voting will blend with the vote of the Hall of Fame Super Election Committee to determine the 58th Induction Class that will be formally enshrined

PROFESSIONAL: Chris Chelios; Sergei Federov; Jason Hanson; Pepper Johnson; Alexi Lalas; Nick Lidstrom; Mike Modano; Robert Porcher; Aleta Sill and John Smoltz

COLLEGE/AMATEUR: Derrick Alexander; Peter Green; Aaron Krickstein; Barry Larkin; John Long; Shelley Looney; Connie Paraskevin; Scott Skiles; Percy Snow and Sheila Taormina