Morehead State Men's Basketball all-time leading scorer Ricky Minard accomplished quite a bit at Morehead State and in his professional career afterwards. But the 2002-03 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year had not accomplished one thing he believed was missing. Earning his degree.
During 2022 spring commencement, Minard finally accomplished that goal as he walked across the stage and received his bachelor's degree from Morehead State President Dr. Jay Morgan.
It was a long time coming (19 years) for the man whose retired jersey is proudly displayed in Johnson Arena and who left college a bit early to pursue his dreams of the NBA. The three-time First-Team All-OVC honoree scored 2,381 points, most in program history, and fifth in league history still. He is also in the Morehead State Athletics Hall of Fame.
"I really enjoyed my time here at Morehead State. I was a part of the 2002-03 OVC championship team," he said. " I met a lot of great people and made a lot of lifelong friends. But most of all I became an Eagle for life."
As it turns out, Minard's NBA dreams came up literally inches short, but he made a living and a name for himself playing professionally overseas.
"I was the final cut on the day before the regular season started. Chris Webber got injured so the (Sacramento) Kings decided to keep a power forward instead of a guard like me," he said. "It was a hard transition, not being in the NBA where I personally thought I belonged. But I made a great career for 13 years overseas where I won a European championship in 2011 and was a Defensive Player of the Year twice."
While he thoroughly enjoyed his playing career, Minard knew that leaving early from Morehead State was something ke knew he could finish.
"It was hard, making the decision to leave early to prepare for the NBA Draft," he said. "The decision to come back to get my degree for me was made probably in the last year before I retired. I knew I needed to start figuring out the stepping stones for after the game of basketball. I thought that was really valid for what I was trying to accomplish after my life in basketball.
"This was a surreal moment because I got to walk across the stage in the gymnasium where I played for four years, with my jersey hanging over the top of my head," he said. "And I get to finish up with a diploma in my hands. I accomplished everything I sought out to do at this university. I hope that my five children seeing me walk across the stage and get my degree, that they understand - and everyone understands - that it's really never too late to finish something you started."
Morehead State Athletics and the University are proud that one of the all-time greatest student-athletes is the epitome of #OnceAnEagleAlwaysAnEagle.
By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations