Damien Kinloch to be inducted into TTU Sports Hall of Fame Friday night
A two-time first-team all-OVC and all-region selection, Damien Kinloch had a huge impact on the Tennessee Tech basketball program during his two seasons on the roster. Kinloch is one of five persons who will be inducted Friday night into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.
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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A two-time first-team all-OVC and all-region
selection, Damien Kinloch had a huge impact on the Tennessee Tech
basketball program during his two seasons on the roster, including
helping the Golden Eagles capture the 2002 Ohio Valley Conference
regular season championship and a make a long run into the National
Invitation Tournament.
Kinloch is one of five people who will be inducted at the annual
Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday night in the Multipurpose
Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction dinner is part
of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner, or the Saturday
afternoon game against Jacksonville State, can be purchased through
the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931)
372-3940.
Kinloch is currently playing professional basketball in Europe and
will not be able to attend the dinner, so Golden Eagle head coach
Steve Payne will accept the induction on Kinloch's behalf.
A member of the Golden Eagle basketball team from 2001-03, Kinloch racked up numerous awards and accolades in his two shorts seasons as a Golden Eagle. He helped lead Tech to the 2001-02 Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season Championship as well as an appearance in the 2002 National Invitational Tournament Quarterfinals.
Kinloch started 65 of 66 career games, racking up over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in just two seasons. His 1,069 points ranked 22nd all-time at the close of his career, as he averaged 16.2 per contest. He finished 17th all-time in rebounds, pulling down 563 for an average of 8.5 per game. Skilled on the defensive side of the ball as well, he blocked 77 shots in his short career, ranking sixth in Tech history. His .587 field goal percentage was fourth best in school history.
A transfer from South Carolina, Kinloch immediately made his presence felt on the court for the Golden Eagles and in the OVC. He was named the 2002 OVC Newcomer of the Year after averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds as a junior. That same season he earned all-OVC first team honors as well as OVC all-Tournament honors and all-Region honors. Kinloch didn’t let up as a senior either. He scored 16.3 points per game and pulled in 8.6 boards per contest on his way to his second all-OVC first team appearance. He also gathered his second-straight honors for both OVC all-Tournament and all-Region.
Kinloch was vastly decorated on the Golden Eagle squad in his two years, earning Team MVP in both 2002 and 2003. He was also honored as the team’s Offensive Player of the Year twice as well as earning the both the Top Rebounder Award and Blocked Shots Award both seasons. A team captain his senior season, he led Tech in scoring, rebounding, and blocks in his each of his two years as a Golden Eagle.
Following his playing career, Kinloch signed with Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir, a professional basketball team located in Turkey. He has spent the past 10 years playing overseas for several different professional teams in several different countries.
Prior to his Golden Eagle career, Kinloch played basketball for three seasons at North Charleston High School in Charleston, S.C. where he led his team to a state championship his senior year. He also earned three letters as a wide receiver for the football team. He spent two seasons at South Carolina prior to his transfer to Tech, earning a starting role as a sophomore.
