Bob Hammel, a sportswriter who covered 23 NCAA Final Fours and 29 Indiana high school basketball championships, has died at 88.

Bob Hammel spent more than four decades chronicling IU athletics — he covered more than 1,000 Indiana football and basketball games — and earned national recognition throughout his time on press row.

IndyStar IU insider Zach Osterman first reached out to Bob Hammel for a class assignment. That encounter was much like memories shared of Hammel's decorated career.