Berlin Ladner (2024) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Berlin Ladner

Induction:
2024

Berlin Ladner (Men's Basketball, 1965-68)
Hailing from Necaise Crossing, Miss., the Hancock North Central High School product came to Southern Miss as a freshman for the 1964-65 season. After making his move to the varsity squad in 1965-66 – Reed Green Coliseum's inaugural season as home of the Golden Eagles – Ladner helped Coach Lee Floyd's squad win four more games than the prior season to finish 16-9 overall. The 1967-68 squad finished 19-6 to improve their win totals yet again.

Over the course of his three-year career, Ladner amassed 1,006 points, at the time becoming Southern Miss' ninth all-time leading scorer and 1,000-point club member. He joined the 1,000-point club in the final game of his career in Hattiesburg in a 109-90 victory over Samford on Feb. 21, 1968. Berlin Ladner's 45 points that night still stand as the program's most in a single game and were helped by the performance of his brother, fellow Golden Eagle great and M-Club Hall of Fame member, Wendell. Coach Floyd, Wendell and the entire Southern Miss team aimed to feed Berlin to help him reach 1,000 career points after sitting with 24 points and four fouls at the half.

Berlin Ladner also still holds spots on the program's charts. In addition to his all-time mark for points in a game, he still ranks second in field goals made in a game (17), field goals attempted in a game (34) and free throws attempted (18). His 193 free throws as a senior are still ranked ninth-most in a single season while his career field goal percentage of 52.3 percent still ranks seventh.