NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference on Tuesday announced its second annual BIG EAST Basketball Legends Recognition Program. Each of the Conference's 11 member schools selected a former prominent coach or player from both their men's and women's programs to be honored at the upcoming BIG EAST Tournaments.  
 
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 12 and Quarterfinals on March 13.
 
"We are excited to continue 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. "Our second 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 the big round of applause they deserve during our upcoming tournament festivities."
 
Commissioner Val Ackerman. "Our second 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 the big round of applause they deserve during our upcoming tournament festivities."
 
The second class of BIG EAST Men's Basketball Legends includes: Butler's Gordon Hayward (2008-10), UConn's Rudy Gay (2004-06), Creighton's Anthony Tolliver (2003-07), DePaul's Quentin Richardson (1998-00), Georgetown's John Duren (1976-80), Marquette's Tony Smith (1986-90), Providence's Otis Thorpe (1980-84), St. John's Metta (Ron) Sandiford-Artest (1997-99), Seton Hall's Jerry Walker (2001-03), Villanova's Ed Pinckney (1981-85) and Xavier's Darnell Williams (1995-00).
 
The second class of BIG EAST Women's Basketball Legends are: Butler's Lade Akande (2005-09), UConn's Kerry Bascom (1987-91), Creighton's Sarah Nelson Vandeberg (2010-14), DePaul's Anna Martin (2009-13), Georgetown's Ebiho T. Ahonkhai (1993-97), Marquette's Krystal Ellis (2005-09), Providence's Britt King (1982-86), St. John's Kathy Meehan (1974-78), Seton Hall's Robin Cunningham (1974-78), Villanova's Lisa Angelotti-Gedaka (1984-88) and Xavier's Amber Harris (2007-11).
 
For more on each BIG EAST Legend, click HERE.
 
Gordon Hayward, Butler (2008-10)
Hayward is most remembered for leading the Bulldogs to the 2010 NCAA Championship game. His half-court shot, which would have given Butler the national title, just missed. He was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team. Hayward was the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2009-10 as a sophomore and led the Bulldogs to the conference's regular-season and tournament titles.  Hayward was the ninth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
 
Rudy Gay, Connecticut (2004-06)
Gay was the BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Year in 2005 (with Georgetown's Jeff Green) and an All-BIG EAST Frist Team selection in 2005-06. He helped the Huskies to a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title in both seasons. As a high school standout, he was a Mc Donald's and Parade All-America pick. Gay was the eighth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and spent 17 years in the NBA.
 
Anthony Tolliver, Creighton (2003-07)
A member of the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame, Tolliver earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a junior and senior and was a second team Academic All-American as a senior. He also was named Creighton's top scholar-athlete as a senior. Tolliver finished his Bluejay career with 1,003 points, 603 rebounds and 136 blocked shots. He enjoyed a13-year NBA career.
 
Quentin Richardton, DePaul (1998-00)
Richardson averaged 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds in a two-season career at DePaul before leaving for the NBA for what would be 13-year career, which included winning the NBA 3-point contest in 2005.  At DePaul, he became the first player in school history to amass 1000+ points, 500 rebounds and 100+ 3-point baskets. As a freshman, Richardson was named Conference USA Player and Freshman of the Year.
 
John Duren, Georgetown (1976-80)
Duren's senior year was 1979-80, the first year of the BIG EAST Conference. The point guard was the first BIG EAST Player of the Year. He helped the Hoyas to a tie of the regular-season title and the first BIG EAST Tournament championship. Duren scored 1,587 points and dealt 583 assists in his career. He became the first Georgetown player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when he was chosen by the Utah Jazz.
 
Tony Smith, Marquette (1986-90)
A 1990 Honorable Mention All-America pick by several media outlets, including the Associated Press, Smith still ranks 10th all-time at Marquette in scoring with 1,688 points, seventh in free throws made (406), seventh in assists (469) and sixth in steals (190). After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft, he had an eight-year NBA career with five teams.
 
Otis Thorpe, Providence (1980-84)
Thorpe was a frontcourt force for the Friars in the early years of the BIG EAST. He was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection, including first team honors as a senior. Thorpe finished his career seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,625 points and ninth in rebounds with 902 boards. He was a first-round draft choice of the Kansas City Kings and played in the NBA.
 
Metta (Ron) Sandiford-Artest, St. John's (1997-99)
In just two seasons at St. John's, when he was known as Ron Artest, the versatile forward was a key contributor to two successful years. In 1998-99, Artest led the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight when they fell two points short of a Final Four berth. He made the All-BIG EAST First Team in '88-89 after making the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team in 1997-98.
 
Jerry Walker, Seton Hall (2001-03)
Walker led Seton Hall to three NCAA Tournament appearances in all three of his seasons, including a run to the West Regional Final in 1992. He was a part of two BIG EAST Tournament and regular season championships. Known for his defensive intensity, he scored over 1,000 points and pulled down 630 rebounds. He was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection. In 1997, he founded "Team Walker," an organization in Jersey City dedicated to academic and recreational activities with a focus on inner-city children.
 
Ed Pinckney, Villanova (1981-85)
Pinckney was the Final Four MVP in 1985 when Villanova stunned No. 1-ranked Georgetown 66-64 in the NCAA National Championship Game. The Wildcats entered the tournament as a No. 8 seed. Pinckney played in the NCAA Tournament all four years. In his Wildcat career, he was a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and made the All-Freshman Tean.  He amassed 1,865 points, 1,107 rebounds and 253 blocked shots. Pinckney played in the NBA for 12 years.
 
Darnell Williams, Xavier (1995-00)
Williams enjoyed a tremendous four-year career and still ranks 17th on Xavier's all-time scoring list with 1,572 career points. He helped win 66 games over his final three seasons, and sparked XU to NCAA berths in 1997 and 1998, and an NIT invitation in 2000 as a redshirt senior. In his rookie season, he set the freshman scoring record in a game with 35 points.  He contributed to two conference regular season title and one tournament title.