Look at the Top 5 all-time leaders in Loyola Marymount University men’s basketball history, and the name Anthony Ireland is featured prominently among the likes of Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble and Terrell Lowery.
Ireland, one of three Lions to earn three First Team All-West Coast Conference selections, played the most games in program history (132). He is second all-time in assists (557) and steals (200). Ireland ranks third in points scored (2,169) and fifth in made 3-pointers (195).
Ireland, one of the all-time greats in LMU history, is getting one of the ultimate honors from the schools. He is a member of the Class of 2019 of the LMU Athletics Hall of Fame.
“Congrats to an all-time great @AIreland3LA on your 2019 Hall of Fame induction!” tweeted LMU athletics after citing those statistics.
Ireland was so well-known and respected in the WCC that the Brigham Young University bench, along with its students and fans, gave him a standing ovation when he left a game for the final time in the league tournament in 2014.
“I got a little emotional,” Ireland said in an article in the Daily Herald (Utah) written by Jason Franchuk. “I did hear the fans yelling my name, cheering for me. It was just a beautiful thing.”
BYU coach Dave Rose said Ireland was “just a terrific player.”
Max Good, LMU’s coach at the time, told Franchuk this: “He’s got so much respect throughout our league. He’s got modern-day athletic ability and he’s a grinder; and a tough little sucker. He doesn’t do outrageous stuff that…frankly, makes me sick to watch a lot of games. He has none of that in him. He just plays basketball. He works at basketball.”
Ireland plays professionally for BC Avtodor Saratov in Russia. He was a beloved figure with the Lions, and now he’s heading into the LMU Athletics Hall of Fame.
