Kenny Charles and Sharon Nast Curley Named Atlantic 10 Legends

Atlantic 10 Release
 
The 2016 Atlantic 10 Legends class, which features, seven All-Americans, 11 professional players and 21 institutional Hall of Fame members was announced Wednesday. Included in the group are former Fordham Rams Kenny Charles and Sharon Nast Curley.
 
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(s), teams and to college basketball have made a lasting impression. A well-deserved "congratulation" is in order for this outstanding group of individuals."
 
Charles was a three-year varsity letterman with Fordham, playing on the Digger Phelps squad that went 26-3 and finished ranked seventh nationally. He averaged 21.2 points per game as a junior, tying the school record with 46 points in a game and earning All-America honors. His 24.3 points per game as a senior set school single season records for most points (679) and most field goals (275). He graduated as the third all-time leading scorer at Fordham with 1,697 points and is second in the scoring average (20.0) and career field goals made (271). An NBA draft pick, Charles played for the Buffalo Braves and Atlanta Hawks. "K.C." led all NBA guards in blocks in the 1975-76. A native of Brooklyn, Charles was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980 and the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Nast-Curley was a four-year member of the women's basketball team at Fordham. One of the most prolific scores in Fordham women's basketball history, she is the third all-time leading scorer with 1,824 career points and also the third all-time rebounder with 793. Nast-Curley scored 543 points as a senior in 1985-1986, the ninth best single season in school history, and also ranks in the top five for career field goals, field goal percentage, free throws and rebounding average. Nast-Curley was a two-time All-MAAC and MAAC All-Academic Team selection and was named honorable mention Academic All-American. As a senior she was team captain, and won the Claire G. Hobbs award as the Fordham Female Athlete of the Year.
 
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 at 11:00 a.m.

The 2016 Men's Legends class features 13 former students-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 Hall 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 757-706-3041.

About the Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.