CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers great Steve Smith and legendary Davidson basketball coach Bob McKillop are among 11 inductees to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday.
The 2024 class has 11 members who will be celebrated at the induction ceremony in Uptown Charlotte on May 10. This year's class brings the total number of inductees to 411.
North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame class of 2024: Randolph Childress, Sheila Ford Duncan, Caroline Lind, Bob McKillop, Jim Nantz, Shea Ralph, Don Skakle, Steve Smith Sr., Marilyn "Que" Tucker and Ron Wellman.
Steve Smith Sr.
Smith was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He wasted no time making an impact, scoring a touchdown on his first career play. From there, he went on to re-write the Panthers record book and still holds the record for all-time touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards. He spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens after leaving the Panthers.
Smith was named to five Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro during his illustrious career. He was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Honor in 2019. He's one of just 54 NFL players to have more than 10,000 receiving yards and is a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob McKillop
McKillop spent the majority of his 33-year career leading Davidson's program, guiding the Wildcats to 23 conference championships. His teams made the NCAA Tournament 10 times, including an amazing run to the Elite Eight with Steph Curry in 2008. The court at Belk Arena was named in McKillop's honor in 2014.
McKillop announced his retirement in June 2022, stepping aside for his son Matt to the lead the program.
The Wildcats won at least 20 games 17 times under McKillop, with seven seasons of at least 25 victories. Davidson had three undefeated seasons in conference play, including a 43-game SoCon winning streak from 2007-09. That streak was one win away from the longest in SoCon history and was the eighth-longest in NCAA history.
Jim Nantz
The Charlotte native has become synonymous with CBS Sports' coverage of the NFL, March Madness and the Masters golf tournament. Greeting fans with his signature line, "Hello, friends," Nantz has spent more than three decades calling sports. In 2011, he received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.
Nantz called his final March Madness games in 2023, ending a 32-year run as one of the tournament's announcers. Nantz has been with CBS since 1985 and told reporters he'd like to call the Masters until 2035 and possibly beyond. He's called seven Super Bowls with the network during his lengthy career and is the main anchor on the top CBS NFL crew with Tony Romo.
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