-Photo courtesy Arizona Athletics Miles Simon, who won the hearts of many during his stint at the UA, played for the Wildcats from 1993 to 1998.

Most famous for leading the UA men's basketball team to its only National Championship in 1997, and subsequently dubbed a "Cool Cat" on the cover of Sports Illustrated, former Wildcat All-American Miles Simon heads a list of eight entries into the 2005 class of the UA Sports Hall of Fame.

Simon, who spent the better part of the past seven years playing pro basketball in the United States and overseas before ending his career last year due to injury, was slated to receive his degree from the UA this summer. The 1997 Final Four Most Outstanding Player came back to the UA in Spring 2004 to rehab after a knee injury, helping the Wildcats prepare for games during the season.

He continued to try to complete his coursework this year, with hopes of catching a spot on Hall of Fame head coach Lute Olson's bench as an assistant coach.

Simon was passed over for the assistant coaching job, vacated after Rodney Tention left Olson's staff to head the men's hoops program at Southern California's Loyola Marymount, in favor of former UA standout guard Reggie Geary, but that doesn't mean his chances of helping the UA squad are used up.

When Olson's staff stayed in place following the Wildcats' 2001 Final Four run, Olson had to find a place for former UA guard Josh Pastner, after Pastner spent the season as a graduate assistant. Pastner was kept on as video and recruiting coordinator before a full-time position opened up after assistant Jay John took over as head coach at Oregon State.

If Pastner leaves for a head coaching position after next season, Simon could be next in line to join the UA staff.

-Photo courtesy Arizona Athletics

Set to join Simon at the homecoming weekend – Nov. 4 to 6 – induction is three-time Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling, a member of the gold-medal winning South African 4x100 meter relay team at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. Neethling took home nine NCAA titles – second most in history – during his stay at the UA and was named NCAA Swimmer of the Year in 1999.

Neethling swam the 1500-meter distance race at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics in Atlanta and Sydney, Australia, respectively, but gave up competitive swimming after posting a fifth-place showing in the 2000 event. After a short stint selling real estate, Neethling soon returned to competitive swimming, this time as a sprinter, en route to anchoring the South African relay team to gold at last year's games.

Another notable inductee to the Hall of Fame is Gymnast Heidi Hornbeek. Hornbeek's colligate career highlights include a perfect 10 on both vault and floor exercises, and a 9.95 on both bar and beam.

Earning three Pac-10 Championships and one NCAA Championship along with 17 other awards and acclamations in her sophomore and junior years, Hornbreek made an early impact.

At the end of her six years at the U of A, Hornbreek had two degrees and 38 awards to her name, as well as becoming the most decorated gymnast in school history.

Golfers Jenna Daniels, now Ladies Professional Golf Association regular, and Ted Purdy, who won his first Professional Golf Association tournament earlier this season, join Simon and Neethling on the list of inductees, as well as tennis player Rand Evett, swimmer Trina Jackson and javelin thrower Esko Mikkola.

-From staff and wire reports