Ex-Cleveland Center Fielder Named To Arizona Basketball Ring Of Honor

Kenny Lofton recorded 200 career steals and helped lead the program to the 1988 Final Four and 1989 Sweet Sixteen during his four seasons with the Arizona Wildcats Men's Basketball team.

When Cleveland Guardians fans think of Kenny Lofton, his time on the baseball field usually comes to mind.

During his career with Cleveland, he was a five-time American League All-Star, won four consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards from 1993 through 1996, and was the mainstay leadoff hitter and center fielder on Cleveland’s 1995 American League Championship team.

But before his 17-year MLB career, he played college basketball at the University of Arizona.

And on Thursday, the school announced that Lofton will be inducted into the Arizona Men’s Basketball Ring of Honor.

He played four seasons on the hardwood with the Wildcats, from 1985-86 through 1988-89. Lofton averaged 4.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 128 games played (54 starts). He appeared in every game off the bench during the team’s run to the 1988 Final Four, its first in school history, and started every game during the team’s run to the 1989 Sweet Sixteen.

1995, Cleveland, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Cleveland Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton slides into third base at Jacobs Field during the 1995 season / © RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Lofton’s 200 career steals were the most in program history when his collegiate career ended. He also recorded 67 steals during his senior season, which remained a school record until it was broken by future longtime NBA veterans Jason Terry and Mike Bibby during the 1996-97 season.

On the diamond, Lofton played one season of baseball at Arizona in 1988, when he was teammates with future Hall-of-Fame closer Trevor Hoffman and future six-time Gold Glove Award winner J.T. Snow.

Lofton’s induction ceremony is scheduled to take place during Arizona’s game against Oregon on Saturday, March 2, which tips off at 2 p.m. ET.