North Carolina State to Wear Special Jerseys Honoring Jimmy Valvano at Annual Jimmy V Classic [PHOTO]

Jim Valvano was the coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack from 1980-1990 and led his 1983 team to a NCAA Men's Division I Championship. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1992 and in 1993, while accepting an ESPY Award, Valvano announced the creation of The V Foundation for Cancer Research and delivered the now famous speech featuring the quote "Don't give up...don't ever give up". Just two months after that speech, Valvano lost his fight with cancer.

On Tuesday night the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York featuring two NCAA Basketball games, Texas vs. Georgetown and North Carolina State vs. Connecticut.

Surprisingly, this is only the second time North Carolina State has played in the annual game. To commemorate one of the greatest names in NCAA basketball history, NC State will be sporting a special jersey created by Adidas featuring part of Valvano's famous speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards. Earlier this afternoon, Pack Pride released pictures of the jersey's:

These annual game Many of college basketball’s top teams have competed in The Jimmy V Basketball Classic since its inception in 1995. The first seven Jimmy V Classics were played at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. In 2002 the event moved to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where it remains. The V Foundation, according to USA Today, has awarded more than $90 million to 100 cancer facilities nationwide.

[Via JimmyV.Org and Scout.com]

Watch Jim Valvano's Inspirational Speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards