"We are excited to again showcase the talent and dedication in women's athletics in the Southeastern Conference," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. "Honoring these former standouts gives the conference the opportunity to thank those who helped establish the rich women's athletic tradition in our conference."
The 2008 class includes Carol Smith (Basketball), Alabama; Shelley Wallace (Basketball), Arkansas; Sharon Stewart (Basketball), Auburn; Carol Ross (Basketball Coach), Florida; Lisa O'Connor (Basketball), Georgia; Nancy Napolski Johnson (Rifle), Kentucky; D'Andre Hill (Track & Field), LSU; Clara Jackson (Basketball), Ole Miss; Jennifer Fambrough (Basketball), Mississippi State; Charlotte Hamilton Giese (Swimming), South Carolina; Shelia Collins (Basketball), Tennessee; and Karen Booker (Basketball), Vanderbilt.
Each Great will be introduced during half-time of their teams first game of the tournament, all 12 individuals will also be introduced as a group between games of the second session on Friday, March 7. The Greats will then participate in an autograph session located in the main entrance of the arena before game eight. Complimentary posters of the Greats will be available at the session.
This marks the eighth year of the Greats program. The previous honorees were: 2001 - Niesa Johnson, Alabama; Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, Auburn; Delisha Milton, Florida; Courtney Shealy, Georgia; Tiffany Waite, Kentucky; Esther Jones, LSU; Genevieve Chapman, Ole Miss; Angela Taylor, Mississippi State; Charmaine Howell, South Carolina; Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee; Jim Foster, Vanderbilt. 2002 - Lilli Leatherwood, Alabama; Wendi Willits, Arkansas; Reita Clanton, Auburn; Merlakia Jones, Florida; La'Keshia Frett, Georgia; Valerie Still, Kentucky; Madeline Doucet West, LSU; Keil Purdom, Ole Miss; Kunshinge Sorrell Howard, Mississippi State; Trinity Johnson, South Carolina; Daedra Charles, Tennessee; Sheri Sam, Vanderbilt. 2003 - Linda Burgess, Alabama; Amber Shirey, Arkansas; Marianne Merritt Melton, Auburn; Tammy Jackson, Florida; Cornelia Gayden, LSU; Sheila Sullivan-Hickman, Ole Miss; LaCharlotte Smith, Mississippi State; Dawn Ellerbe, South Carolina; Michelle Marciniak, Tennessee; Wendy Scholtens-Woods, Vanderbilt. 2004 - Yolanda Watkins, Alabama; Christi Smith Flowers, Arkansas; Vicki Orr Wiley, Auburn; Brandi McCain, Florida; Sherelle Warren, Georgia; Leslie Nichols, Kentucky; Dana "Pokey" Chatman, LSU; Glenda Springfield Scott, Ole Miss; Wanda Calhoun Carter, Mississippi State; Sheila Foster, South Carolina; Jill Rankin Schneider, Tennessee; Heidi Gillingham, Vanderbilt. 2005 - Pauline Davis Thompson, Alabama; Tracy Webb Rice, Arkansas; Mae Ola Bolton, Auburn; Talatha Bingham, Florida; Katrina McClain, Georgia; Lisa Collins, Kentucky; Julie Gross Stoudemire, LSU; Kimsey O'Neal Cooper, Ole Miss; Sharon Thompson, Mississippi State; Shannon Johnson, South Carolina; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee; Barbara Brackman Capobianco, Vanderbilt. 2006 - Penney Hauschild Buxton (Gymnastics), Alabama; Bettye Fiscus Dickey (Basketball), Arkansas; Carolyn Jones (Basketball), Auburn; Paula Welch (Basketball), Florida; Teresa Edwards (Basketball), Georgia; Patty Jo Hedges Ward (Basketball), Kentucky; Sue Gunter (Basketball), LSU; Jennifer Gillom (Basketball), Ole Miss; Polly Branch Pund (Basketball), Mississippi State; Kristy McPherson (Golf), South Carolina; Kara Lawson (Basketball), Tennessee; Jackie Cowan Ransom (Basketball), Vanderbilt; 2007 - Shelly Pyles Cunningham (Basketball), Alabama; Kimberly Wilson Jenkins (Basketball), Arkansas; Lauretta Freeman-Horn (Basketball), Auburn; Ann Marie Rogers (Assoc. Athletics Director), Florida; Bernadette Locke Mattox (Basketball), Georgia; Lea Wise Prewitt (Basketball), Kentucky; Marie Ferdinand Harris (Basketball), LSU; Alisa Scott (Basketball), Ole Miss; Laura Springer (Basketball), Mississippi State; Lisa Misipeka (Track & Field), South Carolina; Holly Warlick (Basketball), Tennessee; Ryan Tolbert Jackson (Track & Field), Vanderbilt.
Biographical sketches of the 2008 honorees follow:
Carol Smith, Alabama (Basketball, 1982--86) One of the most decorated post players to ever wear a Crimson Tide uniform, this three-time first-team All-SEC selection was the first Alabama women's basketball player to eclipse the 2000-point mark. She is the top rebounder in school history averaging 10.7 boards per game her senior year, which ranks first all-time and 10.1 her junior campaign, which ranks second all-time, as does her 808 made field goals. Smith guided Alabama to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and a 23-9 record in 1984. One of 11 children, her older brother was an All-SEC football player at Tennessee in 1984.
Shelley Wallace, Arkansas (Basketball, 1986-89) Arkansas' career rebounding leader, Shelly Wallace was also one of the most prolific scorers in the Southwest Conference. Her 44-point outing in 1988 still stands as the school record for most points in a game, and she has the most 30-point games in Lady'Back history. She is the only player to ever score in double-figures for an entire season ... 30 consecutive games during her senior campaign. Wallace was named All-Southwest Conference and honorable mention Kodak All-American and was a member of Arkansas' first NCAA berth in 1986, its NWIT title in 1987 and a second NCAA appearance in 1989.
Sharon Stewart, Auburn (Basketball, 1985-88) Stewart helped lead Auburn to two appearances in the NCAA title game and two SEC Championships. An All-SEC selection in 1988, she is in Auburn's top 20 in scoring with 1,184 points and rebounding with 757. She is fifth in Tiger record books in games played and in field goal percentage, connecting on 54.3 percent of her attempts. After leaving the Plains, Stewart played in professional leagues in Italy, Japan, Turkey and Sweden.
Carol Ross, Florida (Basketball Coach, 1990-2002) Carol Ross spent 12 seasons as head coach of the Florida Gators, retiring as the program's all time winningest coach with a 247-121 record. She was named the 1994 and 2001 SEC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2001 and 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year Award. While her ability to recruit and develop young talent was well documented, what she did with the Lady Gator program is just as impressive. In the 11 seasons before Ross arrived in Gainesville, UF won a total of 14 conference games. In her tenure, Florida collected 84 SEC wins, including a program - record 11 SEC victories in 2001. UF had never received a bid into the NCAA Tournament before Coach Ross. And in her final season, the Lady Gators appeared in their ninth Tournament in 10 years.
Lisa O'Connor, Georgia (Basketball, 1982-86) Lisa O'Connor was a four-year starter for Georgia teams which finished as NCAA runner-up in 1985, advanced to the 1983 Final Four and captured the 1983, 1984 and 1986 SEC Championships. She was named to all-SEC Tournament teams in both 1983 and 1986. And, more than two decades after her playing career has ended, she is still prominent in Georgia record books. Among the Lady Bulldogs' career leaders, O'Connor ranks No. 14 in scoring with 1,509 points and No. 11 in rebounding with 728 boards. She also is No. 4 in career starts and No. 5 in games played. During her career, Georgia collected 116 wins to just 17 losses.
Nancy Napolski Johnson, Kentucky (Rifle, 1993-96) Nancy Johnson arrived at Kentucky in 1993 without a scholarship but spent the next four years as a starter on the UK Air Rifle Team. She earned All-American honors in 1994, 95 and 96, and won an individual NCAA Championship in her sophomore season. Her efforts helped the Wildcats secure three consecutive third-place NCAA finishes. Johnson was named to the 1996 US Olympic Team and won the Gold medal in 2000, bringing national and international exposure to the Kentucky Air Rifle Program.
D'Andre Hill, LSU (Track & Field, 1994-96) This 15-time All-America sprinter helped LSU to three straight NCAA championships from 1994 to 1996. D'Andre Hill was a six-time NCAA individual champion in the 60, 100 and 200 meters, as well as both sprint relays. She was a two-time outdoor champion in the 100 meters and an indoor 55-meter champion. Hill was part of a 4x100-meter relay squad at LSU that captured three consecutive national titles. Following her senior season, Hill was named the 1996 Honda Award recipient, given to the NCAA Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year. As an Olympian, she reached the semifinals of the 100-meter dash at the 1996 Atlanta Games and competed in the 1995 World Track and Field Championships.
Clara Jackson, Ole Miss (Basketball, 1991-94) Clara Jackson, a four-year letter winner on the Lady Rebel basketball team from 1991-1994, helped lead Ole Miss to a 92-31 overall record, three NCAA Tournament appearances and served as co-captain in her final two seasons. Jackson began her career by earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors and spots on the All-SEC second team and all-SEC All-Freshman team. She followed that up by being named to the All-SEC first team in each of the next three seasons and helped lead the Rebels to an undefeated conference season and the SEC Championship in 1992. Jackson was also named to the SEC All-Tournament Team in 1993. Today, she is in the top five at Ole Miss in career scoring, career field goals, field goal attempts and field goal percentage.
Jennifer Fambrough, Mississippi State (Basketball, 1998-2002) A three-time All-SEC second team selection, Fambrough ranks third on the Mississippi State career scoring list with 1,677 points, and is sixth on the career rebounding list with 731 boards. She still holds the Lady Bulldogs' single game record for free throws with 18 made against Northwestern State back in 1998. She was named the team MVP in 1999, SEC Player of the Week during that same season and to the Women's Basketball Journal Freshman All-America Team.
Charlotte Hamilton Giese, South Carolina (Swimming, 1977-80) One of the first female athletic scholarship recipients at South Carolina, Hamilton Giese was also USC's first women's swimming and diving All-American, earning honors in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle in 1977. During her four-year career, she collected 16 All-American awards in the freestyle, freestyle relay and medley relay. As a senior in 1980, she captained the Gamecocks to an 8-0 record, the first undefeated swimming team in University of South Carolina history.
Shelia Collins, Tennessee (Basketball, 1981-85) In 1985, Shelia Collins led Tennessee to both the regular season and SEC Tournament championships while collecting tournament MVP, all-tournament team and All-SEC recognition. She was named Kodak All-America that season and to her second NCAA Mideast Regional Team. Three years earlier, in helping the Lady Vols to the NCAA Final Four, Collins was named Mideast Region Most Outstanding Player and to the regional team. She is a member of Tennessee's 1,000 Point Club with 1,423 career points and ranks 7th on the top ten list for freshman scoring; 8th in senior scoring and 4th in senior rebounding. She played on the USA National Team in 1983 and in the USA Olympic Festival South in 1982. In 1991, Collins was named to the Lady Vols 1980s Team of the Decade.
Karen Booker, Vanderbilt (Basketball, 1983-87) During the 1986-87 season, Booker led the Commodores with 19.0 points per game and rebounds with 11.8 en route to becoming the first female to win the Dr. Jim Robbins Award, honoring Vanderbilt's top student-athlete. She was named All-Southeastern Conference in 1987 and a Women's Basketball News Service All-American. Booker played professionally for the Utah Starzz and was a member of the 1991 Gold Medal team at the World University Games. She still ranks second all-time in steals with 293 and rebounds with 1,096. Her 334 made free throws is third all-time at Vandy, and her 127 blocks is good enough for sixth place all-time.