PRINCETON, N.J. – The Ivy League is pleased to announce the fourth annual 16-member class of Legends of Ivy League Basketball. These Legends embody the unrivaled experience afforded Ivy League student-athletes and have left a lasting impact on their respective basketball programs, universities and chosen professions.
This year's class includes five Ivy League Rookies of the Year, four Ivy League Players or Defensive Players of the Year and nine 1,000-point scorers. It also features an Olympian, the sitting governor of the state of Massachusetts and the current president of Colby-Sawyer College. On the court and in the classroom, this year's class combined for 30 All-Ivy (16 First Team, 14 Second Team) and four Academic All-Ivy nods.
Each Ivy League institution is represented by one male and one female honoree, as selected by their university athletic department.
"The members of the 2020 Legends of Ivy League Basketball class exemplify the unrivaled experience that our student-athletes receive," said Executive Director Robin Harris. "These distinguished individuals have accomplished much—on the court, in the classroom and in life—and we look forward to celebrating them at Ivy Madness in March."
Each legend will be formally honored at the 2020 Ivy League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments on Saturday, March 14, at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass. A variety of ticket offerings are on sale now via IvyMadness.com.
LEGENDS OF IVY LEAGUE BASKETBALL
Brown
- Martina Jerant, Student-Athlete (1991-95)
- Mike Waitkus, Student-Athlete (1982-86)
Columbia
- Helen Doyle Yeager, Student-Athlete (1981-85)
- TBA
Cornell
Karen Force, Student-Athlete (2000-04)
Force ended her career as one of the top point guards in Ivy League history, becoming the first Ivy women's basketball player to record totals of more than 1,250 points and 400 assists in a career.
After earning Ivy All-Rookie team and honorable mention honors in 2000-01, she was once again an All-Ivy honorable mention selection as a sophomore. Following the 2002-03 campaign, she became the first junior in program history to be named to the All-Ivy first team. She was a second-team pick as a senior.
Force became the 10th player in program history to score more than 1,000 points in a career, and her total of 1,257 points ranked fourth on the Big Red's all-time scoring list at her time of graduation. Her 459 career assists were the most ever recorded by any Cornell basketball player and was the fifth most in Ivy women's history upon graduation.
Force still holds a number of Cornell women's basketball records, including free throws made in a contest (15 at Yale, Dec. 1, 2003) and a season (139, 2002-03). She also sits atop the Big Red record books for steals in a game (8 vs. Coppin State, Dec. 8, 2001) and a season (70, 2001-02).
Force was given the Ronald P. Lynch Senior Spirit Award, given to student-athletes whose leadership on and off the field contributes positively to Big Red athletics. She truly was a leader on and off the court, becoming one of only two Big Red women's basketball student-athletes to be elected a three-time team captain (Samantha Widmann '20). Force was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
Jeff Foote, Student-Athlete (2007-10)
Foote, a two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and NABC All-District selection, helped lead Cornell to three conference titles and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2010. A three-time All-Ivy pick, he was a first-team selection as a senior after capturing a spot on the second team as a sophomore and junior. He was a five-time Ancient Eight player of the week.
Over three varsity seasons, Foote averaged 11.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game while shooting at a .573 clip. He is the school's career leader in field goal percentage and ranks third in blocked shots and 12th in rebounding. Foote posted 15 career double-doubles in school history
As a senior captain, Foote led the conference in field goal percentage (.625) and rebounding (8.1) also ranked second in blocked shots (1.9). The 7-0 center averaged 12.3 points and 2.3 assists on the offensive end. He was named the tournament MVP at the MSG Holiday Festival and was invited to compete in the NABC All-America game at Final Four weekend. His junior year, Foote was a repeat selection on the All-Ivy second team and captured the first Defensive Player of the Year honor in conference history. The Ivy League's leading rebounder (7.2) and shot-blocker (2.1 bpg.), Foote was among the team leaders in scoring (third, 11.8 ppg.) and assists (fourth, 2.3 apg.). As a sophomore, he emerged quietly as a force to be reckoned with en route to second-team All-Ivy honors. Foote ended the campaign averaging 7.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game while playing in 22 contests off the bench.
After his Cornell career came to a close, Foote played in Europe, the NBA G League and for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA.
Dartmouth
- Susan Stuebner, Student-Athlete (1989-93)
- Walter Palmer, Student-Athlete (1986-90)
Harvard
- Catherine Crisera Kelley, Student-Athlete (1990-94)
- Charlie Baker, Student-Athlete (1975-79)
Penn
- Jewel Clark, Student-Athlete (2000-04)
- Bruce Lefkowitz, Student-Athlete (1983-87)
Princeton
- Ellen DeVoe, Student-Athlete (1982-86)
- Brian Taylor, Student-Athlete (1969-72)
Yale
- Mary Kalich, Student-Athlete (1991-95)
- Steve Leondis, Student-Athlete (1979-83)
