ARLINGTON – Two iconic careers will now forever be commemorated as the UT Arlington Department of Athletics is set to retire the basketball jersey numbers of MarQuez Haynes and Rebekah VanDijk next month.
VanDijk (2014-18) will become the first women's basketball player in school history to have her number retired when her #44 is raised to the College Park Center rafters in a ceremony at the Lady Mavericks game versus Texas State on Thursday, Jan. 20.
One week later on Jan. 27 when the Mavs face Texas State, Haynes (2008-10) will have his #0 placed alongside program all-time leading scorer Willie Brand's #22 as just the second UTA men's basketball player to have his number retired.
"Both Rebekah and MarQuez had incredibly distinguished careers at UTA, and they are absolutely deserving of these tremendous honors," said UTA Director of Athletics
Jim Baker. "We're excited to recognize their great accomplishments, and we're thrilled that so many of their friends and family members will have the opportunity to be by their sides when their jerseys are raised inside the College Park Center."
Department officials surprised both Haynes and VanDijk – who remain local to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex – with the announcement of their jersey retirements at separate events earlier this fall.
Videos of those surprises along with much more information about both Haynes and VanDijk is included below.
#0 MARQUEZ HAYNES
- Most points ever by a two-year UTA player with 1,174 – one of only two players with at least 1,000 career points in only two seasons (Eddie Stallings: 1,007 from 1967-69).
- Scoring average of 22.6 in 2009-10 is the best in single-season program history; 678 points that year are also the most in a single year in program history.
- Holds the program single-season record for free throws made with 185 in 2009-10.
- Eight games of 30 or more points are the 3rd-most in program history (record: 10); he accumulated eight in only two years.
Awards
- 2010 Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention
- 2010 Southland Conference Player of the Year
- 2010 Southland Conference First Team
- 2009 Southland Conference Second Team
#44 REBEKAH VANDIJK
- Only player in program history with 1,000+ career points and 1,000+ career rebounds.
- Led the team in each of her four seasons in scoring average, rebound average, block average, field goals made, field goal percentage and free throws made.
- 34 points against Seton Hall in 2016 are tied for the 4th-most in single-game program history and most ever versus a power conference opponent.
- Led all freshmen in the country in 2014-15 with 15 double-doubles.
Awards
- 2015 FullCourt.com Mid-Major Freshman All-American First Team
- 2015 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
- 2016-17 Sun Belt Conference First Team
- 2017-18 Sun Belt Conference First Team
- 2015-16 Sun Belt Conference Second Team
- 2014-15 Sun Belt Conference Second Team
All-Time Program Career Ranks
- 1st: Rebounds – 1,117
- 2nd: Field Goals Made – 661
- 2nd: Field Goal Percentage – .548
- 1st: Blocked Shots – 203
- 3rd: Points – 1,676
- 3rd: Free Throws Made – 354
- 3rd: Rebound Average – 9.2
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