Brooks, Dehere Honored As Part Of BIG EAST Legends Recognition Program - Seton Hall University Athletics
The BIG EAST Conference on Tuesday announced the creation of the BIG EAST Basketball Legends Recognition Program. Each of the Conference's 11 member schools ...
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference on Tuesday announced the creation of the BIG EAST Basketball Legends Recognition Program. Each of the Conference's 11 member schools were tasked with selecting a former prominent coach or player from both their men's and women's programs to be honored at the upcoming BIG EAST Tournaments. The program will be conducted annually.
Women's basketball Legends will be recognized during the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals on March 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Men's basketball Legends will be honored during each team's first game of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with the First Round on March 13 and Quarterfinals on March 14.
"We are excited to launch this annual celebration of former players and coaches who have had profound impacts on the history and success of our 22 basketball programs," said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. "This first group of BIG EAST Legends includes trailblazers as well as more recent stars, all of whom have contributed significantly to their schools and many of whom are part of BIG EAST basketball lore. We look forward to giving them another big round of applause during our upcoming tournament festivities."
Jodi Brooks, whose number 12 was retired shortly after graduation, helped elevate the women's basketball program to a new level. In 1994, she led the Pirates to their best season ever with a 27-5 record, an NCAA Tournament berth and run to the Sweet Sixteen, and a finish as the No. 14 team in the national rankings. As a senior, she averaged 18.6 points, was named New Jersey and Metropolitan Player of the Year, received an honorable mention All-America selection and was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team. Brooks was a two-time All-BIG EAST and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, and, at the time of her induction, was the only Seton Hall player to record over 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals.
Dehere is still Seton Hall's all-time scorer with 2,494 points and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST is career scoring in league games with 1,320 points. As a senior in 1992-93, the sharpshooting guard was BIG EAST Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player in the BIG EAST Tournament leading the Pirates to the tourney title and a top-10 national ranking. The Hall also won the BIG EAST tourney title in his sophomore season. The Los Angeles Clippers chose Dehere in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft.
