The University of Mississippi Athletics
Eric Laird Named 2020 SEC Legend
2/27/2020 | Men's Basketball
Late Rebel to be Honored at Saturday’s Game and at SEC Tournament
OXFORD, Miss. – The late Eric Laird, a Rebel who earned All-SEC accolades twice during the 1980s, will be honored during Saturday's men's basketball game against Vanderbilt (Feb. 29). Laird's family members will represent him on Craddock Court as Ole Miss celebrates its 2020 SEC Legend.
Laird will also be recognized along with the rest of the 2020 SEC Legends at the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, March 11-15, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
A four-year letterwinner from 1982-85, Laird ranks 16th on the Ole Miss all-time scoring list with 1,421 points. He ranks third in school history with 179 career steals. Laird became an Honorable Mention All-America pick as a junior (1984-85), finishing fourth in the SEC in both scoring (17.3 ppg) and steals (55). He scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games that year and was named SEC Player of the Week after combining for 47 points in wins over Georgia and Tennessee. As a sophomore, Laird helped the Rebels reach the NIT, where he recorded a school-record eight steals in the third round encounter at DePaul.
A native of Memphis, Laird was the Memphis Player of the Year and an all-state honoree as a senior at East High School. He helped East to a basketball state championship and a football league title, as he was also a prep All-America wide receiver.
Sadly, Laird passed away February 15, 2007 at the age of 43, but his legacy will live on as an SEC Legend.
Ole Miss Basketball SEC Legends
2020 – Eric Laird
2019 – Justin Reed
2018 – Rob Evans
2017 – Jason Harrison
2016 – Johnny Neumann
2015 – B.L. Graham
2014 – Ansu Sesay
2013 – Rahim Lockhart
2012 – Jack Waters
2011 – Bob Weltlich
2010 – Cob Jarvis
2009 – Keith Carter
2008 – Joe Harvell
2007 – Elston Turner
2006 – Sean Tuohy
2005 – Coolidge Ball
2004 – Gerald Glass
2003 – Carlos Clark
2002 – Joe Gibbon
2001 – Denver Brackeen
2000 – Don Kessinger
1999 – John Stroud
Laird will also be recognized along with the rest of the 2020 SEC Legends at the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, March 11-15, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
A four-year letterwinner from 1982-85, Laird ranks 16th on the Ole Miss all-time scoring list with 1,421 points. He ranks third in school history with 179 career steals. Laird became an Honorable Mention All-America pick as a junior (1984-85), finishing fourth in the SEC in both scoring (17.3 ppg) and steals (55). He scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games that year and was named SEC Player of the Week after combining for 47 points in wins over Georgia and Tennessee. As a sophomore, Laird helped the Rebels reach the NIT, where he recorded a school-record eight steals in the third round encounter at DePaul.
A native of Memphis, Laird was the Memphis Player of the Year and an all-state honoree as a senior at East High School. He helped East to a basketball state championship and a football league title, as he was also a prep All-America wide receiver.
Sadly, Laird passed away February 15, 2007 at the age of 43, but his legacy will live on as an SEC Legend.
Ole Miss Basketball SEC Legends
2020 – Eric Laird
2019 – Justin Reed
2018 – Rob Evans
2017 – Jason Harrison
2016 – Johnny Neumann
2015 – B.L. Graham
2014 – Ansu Sesay
2013 – Rahim Lockhart
2012 – Jack Waters
2011 – Bob Weltlich
2010 – Cob Jarvis
2009 – Keith Carter
2008 – Joe Harvell
2007 – Elston Turner
2006 – Sean Tuohy
2005 – Coolidge Ball
2004 – Gerald Glass
2003 – Carlos Clark
2002 – Joe Gibbon
2001 – Denver Brackeen
2000 – Don Kessinger
1999 – John Stroud
Saturday, March 14
Friday, March 13
Thursday, March 12
Thursday, March 12