I visited the statue of Hank Gathers located outside of Gersten Pavilion. The statue of the late LMU basketball legend stands atop a pedestal that commemorates his profound impact on LMU when and since he took the court over thirty years ago. The statue was constructed by the art studio Rotblatt Amrany, the minds behind the famed Michael Jordan statue in Chicago and the assortment of iconic sports sculptures outside of Crypto.com Arena. The statue of Gathers is made of an oxidized goldish-bronze metal with a particular rustic charm characteristic of Rotblatt Amrany’s works. Gathers is depicted in the motion of one of his powerful dunks, rising high above the ground in signature Reebok sneakers while wearing his legendary LMU jersey donning the number ‘44’.

The statue’s impact since its unveiling in February 2020 is meaningful, both in its expression of LMU’s most promising athletic talent and its placement outside of Gersten Pavilion. Since Gathers’ passing, the arena has adopted the moniker of “Hank’s House”, and every game that takes place in the stadium begins by honoring Gathers’ memory. You cannot enter the backside of campus or Gersten Pavilion without bearing witness to Gathers’ ascent, and much like how his skills impacted all who were fortunate to watch him play, his statue signifies the manner in which newer generations of LMU students can interpret his larger-than-life role on the hardwood. The school’s decision to commission the statue is a no brainer for LMU sports fans who recognize Gathers’ position as the talisman of a high-flying and entertaining 1990 squad that made an unprecedented March Madness run in 1990 following Gathers’ passing.

I pass the statue regularly, yet I have never taken the time to observe its minute details or comprehend its grander meaning. I find it to be a fitting tribute that emphasizes the greatness of Gathers and his undeniable place in LMU’s history. The statue elects to highlight what makes him so recognizable and appreciated, showing him elevating high beyond the ground so that fans can literally and figuratively look up to his legend. Though the statue reminds me of the tragic circumstances of Gathers’ death, it more prominently gives me a better insight to how uplifting his presence was to the LMU community in his short time with the school, executed in the statue’s artistry, detail, and unique significance to the university.