Basketball Hall of Fame names 12 finalists for Class of 2013

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will announce Class of 2013 inductees on April 8. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday announced 12 finalists for the 2013 election, including six first-time finalists: five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, three-time National Coach of the Year Sylvia Hatchell, two-time NBA Championship coach and former Boston Celtics player Tom Heinsohn, nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton, five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley and six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond.

Previous finalists who are again up for election include four-time NBA All-Star and coach Maurice Cheeks, four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood, four-time NBA All-Star Bernard King, five-time NCAA Final Four coach Guy Lewis, six-time NCAA Final Four and 1999 national championship coach Rick Pitino and four-time NCAA Final Four and 1990 national championship coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Finalists need 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee to be elected. The Class of 2013 will be announced on April 8 at the NCAA Final Four in April and enshrined in Springfield, Mass. on Sept. 8.

"We are proud to share an incredible group of finalists for the Class of 2013 – a distinct list of coaches and players who excelled at many levels of basketball,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Governors.  “It will be a difficult decision for the Honors Committee to select the final class members from this prestigious group of individuals, each of whom has given so much to the game.”