Bill Cartwright, a three-time All-America selection at USF who went on to win five NBA Championships as a player and a coach with the Chicago Bulls, was formally inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on Monday night at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco.
 
Cartwright joined jockey Russell Baze (horse racing), former San Francisco 49er executive Carmen Policy (football/distinguished achievement), Olympian Kerri Jennings Walsh (volleyball) and five-time All-Star Matt Williams (baseball) in BASHOF's 2017 induction class.
 
Dan Belluomini, who coached Cartwright for his final two seasons at USF, presented the Dons all-time leading scorer in a moving tribute.
 
"As great of a player Bill was, he is even a better person," said Belluomini.
 
"It's always very flattering to be recognized for achievements but this honor is made more special because it comes in my own backyard," said Cartwright. "I'm deeply honored and humbled to be included in such an outstanding class. It's also a testament to my parents, family and all of my teammates who supported me over the years."
 
Cartwright joins K.C. Jones (1986), Ollie Matson (1983), Steve Negoesco (2010), Pete Newell (1984), Bill Russell (1980), Bob St. Clair (1991) and Phil Woolpert (2001) as former USF standouts who have been selected to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that began in 1979 with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's Sports Committee and Lou Spadia, former president of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 38th year and adhering to its goal of honoring local athletic legends in the name of benefiting youth sports, BASHOF has donated close to $4 million to youth sports programs in the Bay Area to over 600 youth organizations in the Bay Area.