Former Sports Star Named To Ohio Basketball Hall Of Fame

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(Columbus) – A former Vinton County HS and Shawnee State University basketball standout is among 18 outstanding athletes, coaches and contributors who will enter the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, along with three high school state championship teams. The 2023 Class will be enshrined on June 10th in Columbus.

Erica Hayes Zinn, then known as Erica Hayes at Vinton County High School, was named All-Ohio in two seasons for the Lady Vikings. She set a school mark by scoring 38 points in a game, later broken by her sister Heather. She was the all-time leading scorer until the 2020-21 season, and was the all-time leading rebounder until her record was broken during the 2021-22 season — by her daughter Cameron. She later played at Shawnee State University. 

As an SSU Bear, Hayes broke 11 school records and left the program as its best-ever player. In her four seasons with the Bears, she amassed 2,178 points and 1,193 rebounds for respective career averages of 17.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg. During the latter half of the 1990s, Hayes continued to elevate her game and the outlook for her team. 

It all reached a pinnacle during the 1998-99 season when Hayes was named a first-team All-American and the NAIA National Player of the year while Shawnee State captured the NAIA Division II national championship. In that epic 31-2 season, the Bears won the American Mideast regular-season championship, were upset in the league postseason tournament title game by Urbana, then took down all five opponents in the NAIA Tournament to claim that national championship. That ’99 team was enshrined in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. 

The Bears were blessed with great synergy and depth, but Hayes was the clear headliner. As a senior, she averaged 24.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest while shooting 67.7 percent from the field. Her impact was felt on the defensive end as well as she used her quickness and tenacity to hound foes and log 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. She set single-season school marks for points (814) and rebounds (343). 

Hayes Zinn was inducted into the Vinton County High School Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Shawnee State University Athletics HOF in 2005.

For more on the remaining 2023 Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Class, CLICK THIS LINK TO THE OHIO BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME WEBSITE…