Atlantic 10 announces impressive Basketball Legends Class

Courtesy of Atlantic10.com

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.—  The 2016 Atlantic 10 Legends class, which features seven All-Americans, 11 professional players and 21 institutional Hall of Fame members, was announced Wednesday.

The Legends program was established in 2013 to recognize men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes and coaches who have made a lasting impact on their respective basketball programs and institutions. This year marks the fourth class the Atlantic 10 has inducted. Each year, A-10 member institutions select their two Legends. Previous honorees have included Basketball Hall of Fame members, national champions, Olympians, and professional players.

“It is an honor for the Atlantic 10 to recognize the accomplishments of the 2016 Legends Class,” stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “Their significant contributions to their institution, teams and to college basketball have made a lasting impression. A well-deserved congratulation is in order for this outstanding group of individuals.”

 

The Women’s Basketball Legends will be saluted with a breakfast on Friday, March 4 prior to the 2016 A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals.  The event will take place at the Richmond Marriott beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The Men’s Basketball Legends will be honored on Saturday, March 12 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., prior to the 2016 Men’s Basketball Championship semifinals.  The celebration awards brunch will be in the 40/40 Club, beginning at11:00 a.m.

The 2016 Men’s Legends class features 13 former student-athletes and one coach. Of the honorees, 10 went on to play professionally in either the NBA or overseas. The group also includes four All-Americans, two former NBA Executives, one NBA All-Star, and one Wooden Award Winner and Naismith National Player of the Year.  In addition, 12 of the men’s legends are in their respective institutional athletics Halls of Fame.

 

The 2016 Women’s Legends, all former student-athletes, including one who also served her institution as a head coach, led their teams to conference championships, NCAA Tournament selections and WNIT appearances.  The group includes all-conference honorees, an academic All-American and nine individuals who have been inducted into their institutional athletics Hall of Fame.

A limited number of brunch tickets are available to the general public. For more information, please contact the Atlantic 10 Conference at 757-706-3052.

2016 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Legends School Legend Years Attended/Coached Davidson Dick Snyder 1964-66 Dayton Jim Paxson 1975-79 Duquesne Bruce Atkins 1979-82 Fordham Kenny Charles 1969-73 George Mason Jai Lewis 2002-06 George Washington Christopher Monroe 1999-03 La Salle Bill “Speedy” Morris 1984-01 Massachusetts Marcus Camby 1993-96 Rhode Island Cuttino Mobley 1994-98 Richmond Kenny Wood 1990-93 St. Bonaventure Sam Stith 1957-60 Saint Joseph’s Marvin O’Connor 1999-02 Saint Louis Bob Ferry 1956-59 VCU Domonic Jones 2000-04   2016 Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Legends School Legend Years Attended/Coached Davidson Carolyn Kirsch Rumpel 1993-97 Dayton Sandy Johnson 1973-77 Duquesne Darcie Vincent 1988-92 Fordham Sharon Nast Curley 1982-86 George Mason Deborah Taneyhill 1988-92/1997-08 George Washington Sarah Jo Lawrence 2004-08 La Salle Maureen Kramer 1977-81 Massachusetts Melissa Gurile Black 1992-96 Rhode Island Safi Mojidi 2004-08 Richmond Julie Jones Venick 1988-92 St. Bonaventure Susan Shay Danielewicz 1988-92 Saint Joseph’s Renie Shields 1978-82 Saint Louis Julie Hacker-Buehne 1985-90 VCU Anya Pavlikhina-Fitzgerald 1991-95