Desoto’s Larry Goad Named to Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023

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Larry Goad coaching

SUGAR LAND, Texas – July 7, 2022 — The Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame will grow by eight with the addition of the Class of 2023. The class, which was announced today by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC), will be inducted during a banquet May 20, 2023, as part of the annual TABC Clinic.

The incoming class of legends includes players, coaches and influential contributors that left their mark on prep basketball in the Lone Star State. The new coach members include Chuck Darden, Larry Goad and Nancy Walling. Player inductees are Larry Davis, Keith Edmonson. Larry Spruiell and Trenia Tillis-Hoard. Rounding out the class is Jim Forbes for his efforts as a player, coach and contributor.

“One word can easily describe the eight men and women in the Class of 2023 – excellence,” said TABC Director Rick Shirley. “The class includes prolific players that excelled at scoring and coaches that won and were great mentors to their players. The class also recognizes efforts that have helped to grow the game of basketball not only within Texas, but throughout the United States.”

The Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame banquet and the TABC Clinic will take place in San Antonio. In addition to the Hall of Fame induction banquet, the clinic features presentations from the top college coaches from around the United States.
Additional information about the Hall of Fame and the TABC Clinic is available at www.tabchoops.org and 281-313-8222.

The Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Chuck Darden (Coach) – Darden coached for 44 years at Shallowater High School, with 41 as the head coach. He won 1,052 games during his career, which included 35 playoff appearances, 23 district championships, 18 regional tournaments, seven state tournaments, (1988, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2015 and 2020) and two state championships (2004 and 2020).

Larry Davis (Player) – Davis was a three-year starter at Lufkin High School where he played for Hall of Fame Coach Jessie Walker. As a sophomore, Davis helped the Panthers to the 4A state championship in 1979 by averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named to the all-state tournament team. A three-time all-state selection, Davis averaged more than 18 points and 11 rebounds per game during his career and was MVP of the South team in the THSCA All-Star Game.

Keith Edmonson (Player) – Edmonson played at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio where he scored 2,389 points and pulled down 1,197 rebounds from 1975 to1978. A three-year starter for Coach Dan Sponholtz, he averaged 17.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds per game as a junior and 27.6 points and 11 rebounds per game as a Senior. During his career, he was named all-state twice, district MVP twice, and an All-American his senior year.

Jim Forbes (Player/Coach/Contributor) – Forbes was an All-American basketball player at Bel Air High School in El Paso. He went on to play at UTEP and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1972. He was the head coach at El Paso Riverside and El Paso Andress high schools, winning more 700 games and leading both teams to state tournament appearances. As a TABC board member, he was a great ambassador for the coaches and players in the El Paso area and around the state. His high school jersey is retired at Bel Air. Both Andress’ and Riverside’s gyms are named in his honor.

Larry Goad (Coach) – Goad coached for 43 years, with head coaching stints for four years at Henrietta High School and 30 years at Desoto High School. His teams won 766 games, which included 19 playoff appearances, 11 district championships, and advanced to eight regional finals (where his teams were eliminated by seven eventual state champions). He made one state tournament finals appearance in 2007-2008. He was selected coach of the year numerous times.

Larry Spruiell (Player) – Spruiell played at Pottsboro High School, Megarel High School, (consolidated now with Olney), and Petrolia High School. As a freshman, he averaged 14.5 points per game, 24.5 as a sophomore and 27.3 as a senior. As a sophomore in 1971-72, he led Pottsboro to a 37-0 record enroute to a state championship, and during his senior year, he led Petrolia High School to the State Finals with a 34-1 record. He earned All-State and All-State Tournament honors both years.

Trenia Tillis-Hoard (Player) – Tillis-Hoard was a four-year starter at Grapeland High School for Hall of Fame Coach Don Tullos. She led the Sandiettes to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 1987-88 and 1988-89, winning the championship in 1989. Tillis-Hoard averaged 25 points and 16 rebounds per game as a freshman, 29 points and 18 rebounds as a sophomore, 35 points and 15 rebounds as a junior, and 27 points and 12 rebounds as a senior. She was a four-time All-State selection and was named Miss Texas Basketball in 1989.

Nancy Walling (Coach) – Walling spent 30 years in coaching, with 25 of those being a head coach at Belton High School and Pflugerville High School. She won 647 games during that span, which included 18 playoff appearances, 13 district championships, four regional tournaments, and four state tournament appearances. (1993, 2005, 2009 and 2013). She was also an outstanding player who led Canyon High School to consecutive state championships in 1977 and 1978.