SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Moses Malone was 19 when he made a decision that changed the basketball world.

In 1974, the quick, relentless rebounder became the first modern player to skip college when he was drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA.

On Friday night, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with two of the games best college coaches -- John Chaney of Temple and Mike Krzyzewski of Duke.

"I never thought I was a superstar," Malone said Friday. "I just worked hard and wanted to play. It was a tough decision."

But the ultimate blue-collar player, who ruled his position in a 21-year career, said it was the best decision for him. He accepts his place in basketball history with modesty.

"I don't like to get a big head about too much, but this is a great honor," Malone said.

Malone was presented with a Hall of Fame blazer by former teammate and University of Massachusetts superstar Julius Erving on Friday morning.

"He's totally loyal. He does what he says he's going to do," Erving said.

Malone credits older players -- Roger Brown, Gerald Govan and Wali Jones -- for taking him under their wing.

"They took care of me like I was their son," Malone said.

The record books show how well he learned.

The 6-foot-10 Malone became the third-leading rebounder in NBA history -- behind Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell -- with 16,212, and the NBA's fifth-leading scorer with 27,404 points. He also ranks third in games played with 1,329, second in free-throw attempts with 11,090, and first in free throws made with 8,531.

A 12-time NBA All-Star, he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship and was selected the MVP of the NBA Finals.

He also played for Houston, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Washington and San Antonio.

"He was so smart on the court, knew what his teammates could do, knew the opponents, knew how to get an advantage," Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham said, calling Malone's entry into the hall in his first year of eligibility "a given."

The emotional Chaney and button-down Krzyzewski share an uncommon record of success on the court and in preparing young men for life.

"Coach K deserves to get into the Hall of Fame just for all the times he has beaten me," Chaney said. "But he is perhaps the most special person in coaching today. He is a throwback. Someone who takes a human interest in his players.

"He's a leader in what we should really be concerned about -- the students."

It's a description that applies to Chaney as well.

Chaney, 69, never knew his real father, grew up poor in the projects of Philadelphia and was shuttled into vocational courses in high school by a guidance counselor who told him that it was best for a black kid.

His high school coach, Sam Browne, gave him another idea: college.

He had became so hapless in shop "that finally they gave up and put me in college prep courses," Chaney said. "Sam Browne saved my life."

Still, it took Chaney 17 years after graduating from Bethune-Cookman College to land his first college coaching job at Cheyney State in 1972. Six years later, he led the Wolves to the NCAA Division II championship.

He was 50 when he was hired by Temple in 1982 and coached his first Division I game. Since then, his often-unheralded recruits and smothering matchup zone have compiled a 431-179 record. Five times the Owls have played in NCAA Regional finals. Twice, Duke and Krzyzewski dashed the Owls' Final Four hopes.

Krzyzewski, 53, who won his third NCAA championship at Duke this spring, has amassed a 606-223 career record in 21 seasons at Duke and five at Army and is one of the youngest coaches to be installed in the Hall of Fame.

Still, he remembers times growing up in Chicago when his immigrant mother had only two dresses, but they were always ironed and sparkling.

His opportunity, he said, was an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and her enduring faith.

"I never knew why I wasn't afraid to fail until she passed away," he said. "With one person, I couldn't fail."