Story by Bryan Edwards, Sports Editor
Photos by Nick Bohannon/The News
“I didn’t know this was happening, so I don’t even have a speech,” he said. “All I can say is thank you for pushing me.”
Only nine times in Murray State basketball history has a player’s name and number hung in the rafters of the CFSB Center. A tenth name was added to the illustrious list last week.
Just 24 hours after former Racer guard Isaiah Canaan was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame, Director of Athletics Allen Ward had one more thing to give to him.
All 10 inductees were honored at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Tennessee Tech, but Ward asked Canaan to remain on the floor for just a few moments.
With a mic in hand, Ward went through the long list of accomplishments Canaan had achieved throughout his Racer career.
Canaan is one of six MSU players and one of only 17 in the OVC history to reach 2,000 career points, ranking fifth all-time at Murray State. He was an All-American selection in 2012 and the first player since 1996 to be drafted in the NBA.
“He led his teams to 106 wins during his four years as a Racer; the most of any class in program history,” Ward said. “He was OVC Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and one of only 10 three-time All-OVC selections. He won three consecutive OVC Championships and led his team to an incredible 23-0 start in 2011.”
After being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Canaan struggled to find consistency on a roster. Through five years in the league, he has played for five different teams.
During his most recent stint, Canaan played 19 games for the Phoenix Suns before his season was abruptly ended after suffering a fractured left ankle. Through five seasons, Canaan averaged 8.4 points per game.
Ward continued his speech on Canaan’s career and what he meant to Murray State, but it was the final words Ward said that left Canaan in tears.
“From this day forward, no one will ever again wear number three for Murray State basketball,” he said. “Your name and number will forever hang from the rafters at the CFSB Center.”
Canaan was shocked to see his name hanging next to Racer greats like Bennie Purcell, Popeye Jones and Jeff Martin.
“I always dreamed of having my number hung up in the rafters one day,” Canaan said. “It was a great surprise because I had no idea about it. It’s real humbling and [I’m] blessed to be able to be up there in the rafters with the other greats.”
Canaan’s jersey is the first to be retired since Marcus Brown’s No. 5 in 2010.
Murray State’s current basketball team was on the floor to witness the moment as well, and it’s a moment that Head Coach Matt McMahon said is one of the greatest he’s ever seen.
“I was thankful we were aware that it was happening,” McMahon said. “I thought instead of sitting in the locker room talking about stats and drawing up plays, I wanted our team to get to come out there and see that.”
McMahon, who served as an assistant coach under Steve Prohm and coached Canaan for his junior and senior seasons, said there was no one more deserving.
“For the impact he made here not only as a player, but as a person,” he said. “He continues to impact this community in an unbelievable way, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone more deserving of that ceremony.”
Despite being immortalized as one of the greatest players in Murray State history, Canaan said the support he has gotten from Racer fans is a driving force in his NBA career and what makes it easy to come back to a place he calls home.
“Wherever I go, there’s somebody that went to school at Murray or drove or flew to come see me play, and that means a lot to me just knowing that I’ve got family always following me.”
