Jameer Nelson Headlines Inductions Into Saint Joseph’s Athletics Hall of Fame

October 15, 2011 phillycollegesports Atlantic 10 Conference, College Basketball, Men's Basketball, Philadelphia Big Five, Saint Joseph's 0

RELEASE FROM SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

Nelson to be Inducted with Seven Former Hawk Standouts on November 5

PHILADELPHIA – Former basketball great Jameer Nelson headlines the Class of 2011 for the Saint Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame, with the 10th Hall of Fame Celebration set for Saturday, November 5 at McShain Hall. Joining Nelson as inductees will be: Steve Ave ’89 (men’s track), Vicki Boyer ’94 (cross country/track), Phil Greipp ’64 (men’s rowing), Mike Hauer ’70 (men’s basketball), Dan Kelly ’70 (men’s basketball), Kevin Kirkby’01 (baseball) and Terri Mohr ’86 (women’s basketball).

Nelson, arguably one of the greatest players in Hawk history, was the catalyst for Saint Joseph’s 30-2 season in 2003-04 which included a perfect regular season (27-0), the nation’s number-one ranking and a berth in the NCAA Elite Eight. The winner of the John R. Wooden Award, he was the consensus National Player of the Year and an All-America first team selection. The native of Chester, Pa., averaged 20.6 points that year and finished his career as SJU’s all-time leader in points (2,094), assists (713) and steals (256). He was chosen in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by Denver and then traded to Orlando, where he has enjoyed a successful professional career.
Ave set a number of school records on the track, four of which still stand today.  The New Hope, Pa., native was part of the Hawks’ fastest-ever indoor distance medley relay squad that qualified for the 1985 NCAA Championships. He qualified individually for the 1986 NCAA meet in two events and would finish 10th in the 1,500m to earn All-America honors. He also still holds the records for the 1,500m and 5,000m outdoors and the 1,000m indoors. Ave was inducted into the SJU Track Hall of Fame in 1998.

Boyer was one of the top distance runners in SJU history, earningAtlantic 10 All-Conference honors for three seasons. As a senior, she became the first Saint Joseph’s runner to win an individual title at the 1993 A-10 Cross Country Championship, while helping the Hawks to the team title. A standout in the classroom as well, Boyer was named an Academic All-America her final two years, earning first-team status as a senior. A native of Denver, Pa. she is just one of five SJU runners ever to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track Championships. She was inducted into to the Saint Joseph’s Cross Country and Track Hall of Fame in 2002.

Greipp was a leader on the men’s rowing teams of the early 1960s, which were among the most successful in the East. During his career he rowed as the stroke in the Hawks’ Freshman 8, the Junior Varsity 8 and the Varsity 8 boats. A native of Springfield, Pa., he was a member of Saint Joseph’s Varsity 8 that placed second at the Dad Vail Regatta in 1964.

Hauer and Kelly teamed up to be the Hawks’ most prolific scorers of that era of SJU basketball. Hauer, a 6-4 forward, scored 1,496 points and at the time of his graduation, was Saint Joseph’s third all-time leading scorer. He is one of the Hawks’ top all-time rebounders, ranking fifth on the career list with 976. The native of Sharon Hill, Pa., earned both All-Big 5 First Team and All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors for three consecutive years. He was the Hawks’ MVP three times, and shared Co-MVP honors with Kelly in 1969 and 1970.

Kelly a 5-10 guard from Glenside, Pa., tallied 1,524 points and was second on the all-time scoring list when he finished his career and now ranks 15th. He was selected to the All-Big 5 First Team in both 1968 and 1970 and was named to the All-Middle Atlantic Conference team for three consecutive years. He earned Academic All-America honors as a senior and was a two-time Saint Joseph’s MVP. Kelly and Hauer were both inducted into the Saint Joseph’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
Kirkby played in all but one game for the Hawk baseball squad from 1998 to 2001, setting a number of program records that he still holds today. He is SJU’s all-time leader in hits (263) and runs scored (163) and is tied for the most games played in a career (206). Kirkby holds single-season records for hits (84), runs scored (58), and doubles (24) and also ranks in the top three all-time in batting average, doubles, and at bats.  Originally from River Vale, N.J.,  he also stood out on the mound, setting school records for saves in a single season (7) and a career (12). He was inducted into the SJU Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Mohr made a major impact on the women’s basketball program, helping Saint Joseph’s to consecutive NCAA Tournament bids. After transferring to SJU from Auburn, she started all 30 games helping the Hawks to a 25-5 overall record, the Big 5 title and the program’s first NCAA bid in 1985. As a senior, she averaged a career-best 14.6 points per game as Saint Joseph’s went 22-7 and earned its second straight bid to the NCAA Tournament. A two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team selection and two-time All-Big 5 First Team honoree, Mohr was inducted to the Saint Joseph’s Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 and to the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1993.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and dinner followed by the induction ceremony. The event will be held in the Haub Executive Center, on the Fifth Floor of McShain Hall. For tickets, call610-660-1707 or email athletics@sju.edu.

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