NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Eleven All-Americans and 10 professional players are among the Atlantic 10 Conference's 28-member Legends Class of 2015, the league announced today.
The University of Dayton's representatives in the 2015 Class are Donna Burks (1981-85) and Don May (1964-68).
"The Atlantic 10 is pleased to honor the 2015 Legends class and congratulate them on their accomplishments," stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "Their contributions to the basketball legacy at their institutions helped lay the groundwork for establishing the Atlantic 10 as a premier basketball league. I congratulate each of them on their distinguished careers that have led to this great accolade."
The Women's Basketball Legends will be saluted with a breakfast on Friday, March 6 prior to the 2014 A-10 Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals. The event will take place at the Richmond Marriott beginning at 9 a.m.
Two-time All-American Donna Burks is the third all-time leading scorer in Dayton women's basketball history with 1,850 points, and she is second all-time in points per game with 17.3. Burks still holds the record for most points scored in a single game in UDWBB history with 43 against Michigan on Dec. 21, 1982. Burks scored in double figures in 54 consecutive games. She is Dayton's third all-time leading rebounder with 1,050 boards and second all-time in rebounds per game with 9.8. She led UD in rebounding three of her four years. She is UD's all-time leader for field goal percentage (57.9). She was inducted into the UD Hall of Fame in 1993. A member of the NCAA D-II All-Tournament Team in 1984, she led the Flyers to the NCAA national tournament semifinal.
The Men's Basketball Legends will be honored on March 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. prior to the 2015 Men's Basketball Championship semifinals. The celebration awards brunch will be in the 40/40 Club, beginning at 11 a.m. prior to the A-10 men's semifinal games.
A Dayton native who grew up a morning newspaper's throw from the University of Dayton campus (as a youngster, he delivered newspapers to UD's dorms), May is one of the most revered Flyer basketball players ever. Not because he was from Dayton, but because he was simply that good. A two-time USBWA All-American, May is the top three-year scorer at Dayton with 1,980 career points (and the second overall). As a junior, May averaged 23.4 points and 16.7 rebounds a game, and led the Flyers into the 1967 NCAA championship game when he made a record 13-straight field goals in the national semifinal win over North Carolina. As a senior, he averaged 22.7 points and 15.7 rebounds and led UD to the 1968 NIT championship, where he was named MVP. May had a seven-year NBA career, and was a member of the 1970 New York Knicks NBA championship team.
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 third class the Atlantic 10 has inducted. Each year, A-10 member institutions selected their two Legends. Previous honorees have included Basketball Hall of Fame members, national champions, Olympians, and professional players.
The 2015 Women's Legends, all former student-athletes, led their teams to conference championships, NCAA Tournament selections and WNIT appearances. The group includes two players that went on to play in the WNBA, three All-Americans, two Academic All-Americans and six players that are now in their institutional Hall of Fame.
The 2015 Men's Legends class boasts 12 former student-athletes and two coaches. Eight of the players went on to play professionally in either the NBA or ABA. The group also includes eight All-Americans, one National Newcomer of the Year and one Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member. In addition, eight of the men's legends are also in their respective 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 757-706-3041.
| 2015 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Legends | |
| School | Legend | Years Attended/Coached |
| Davidson | Jennifer O'Brien | 1996-2000 |
| Dayton | Donna Burks | 1981-85 |
| Duquesne | Korie Hlede | 1994-98 |
| Fordham | Mary Hayes-Haas | 1975-79 |
| George Mason | Jen Derevjanik | 2000-04 |
| George Washington | Kimberly Beck | 2004-08 |
| La Salle | Linda Hester | 1982-86 |
| Massachusetts | Jennifer Butler-Roome | 1999-03 |
| Rhode Island | Naomi Graves | 1978-82 |
| Richmond | Laurie Governor Curtis | 1984-88 |
| St. Bonaventure | Megan Van Tatenhove | 2008-12 |
| Saint Joseph's | Katie Curry Gardler | 1989-93 |
| Saint Louis | Arlene Lampe Torre | 1982-86 |
| VCU | Jacinda Alston | 1993-95 |
| 2015 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Legends | |
| School | Legend | Years Attended/Coached |
| Davidson | Fred Hetzel | 1962-65 |
| Dayton | Don May | 1964-68 |
| Duquesne | Willie Somerset | 1962-65 |
| Fordham | Charlie Yelverton | 1968-71 |
| George Mason | Rob Rose | 1982-86 |
| George Washington | Mike Brown | 1981-85 |
| La Salle | Larry Cannon | 1965-69 |
| Massachusetts | Lari Ketner* | 1996-99 |
| Rhode Island | Frank Keaney* | 1920-48 |
| Richmond | Dick Tarrant | 1981-93 |
| St. Bonaventure | Larry Weise | 1961-73 |
| Saint Joseph's | Rodney Blake | 1984-88 |
| Saint Louis | Erwin Claggett | 1991-95 |
| VCU | Calvin Duncan | 1981-85 |
*Posthumously awarded
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