Twenty years after his graduation, Nick Van Exel will enter the St. Joseph High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

St. Joseph announced Van Exel will headline an eight-person class at its 15th annual event the weekend of Sept. 26-27. Joining Van Exel (1989 graduate) are athletes Kevin Mayew (1982), Scott Furhmann (1984), Jim Boyniewicz (1988), Karen Czarnecki Teunas (1983) and Stephanie Kenesie (1999), coach Rocky Tirabassi (1987-2007) and program supporter Dick Pignotti (1976 to present).

Event chairwoman Deb Heller said that Van Exel will “accept the award” from the school, but is still unaware whether or not the former NBA All-Star plans to attend the festivities.

The most accomplished basketball player in Kenosha County history, Van Exel retired from the NBA in 2006. The 37-year-old Houston resident’s 13-year NBA career featured six playoff appearances and career averages of 14.4 points, 6.6 assists and a 35.7 shooting percentage from beyond the 3-point arc.

He entered the NBA as the 37th overall selection by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1993 draft after an All-American campaign at the University of Cincinnati. His senior season, Van Exel led the Bearcats to a Final Four by averaging 18.3 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Among the Hall’s eligibility requirements are that nominees are judged solely on their high school accomplishments.

Van Exel had plenty of those too.

During a two-year stretch from 1988 to 1989, Van Exel and Co. ran roughshod in the Metro Conference appearing in back-to-back Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship games. Both times Van Exel was the leading scorer at State. A team co-captain and MVP in 1989, Van Exel averaged 29.7 points, 7.7 assists and 3.2 steals his senior season in achieving first-team All-State honors to go with All-County and All-Metro Conference awards.

Unlike past seasons when inductees were honored at an evening banquet, St. Joseph has expanded its Hall of Fame event to coincide with Homecoming weekend.

It begins on Saturday, Sept. 26, with the inductees invited to appear in the Homecoming parade and honored at halftime of the Lancers’ 1 p.m. game against Racine Lutheran at Ameche Field. On Sunday, Sept. 27, a morning tour of the school and facilities will be followed by a Hall of Fame mass at 10 a.m. and a breakfast at 11 a.m. in the school’s cafeteria. The awards presentation follows the breakfast at 12:30 p.m. Tickets, available at the school, cost $25 for adults and $10 for children.

For more information, contact either Deb Heller or chairman Tom Heller at 262-553-9766.