George Mason basketball alumni Erik Herring and Vernessa Neamo have been selected to represent the Patriots in the Atlantic 10 Conference Basketball Legends class of 2017. The Atlantic 10 Conference announced Thursday its annual Basketball Legends. The 2017 class includes 28 former men's and women's basketball student-athletes and coaches who made an immeasurable impact on each A-10 institution and their respective basketball programs.
Herring was a sharp-shooting guard, playing for the Patriots around the turn of the century (1997-2001) in the Colonial Athletic Conference. He is among the top 5 in Mason history in 3-point field goal percentage (.394) and among the top 20 in scoring (1,315 points). He averaged 12.3 points per game in 107 games, but a career-high 16.0 his senior season.
The Chicago, native left Mason with many accolades, including CAA All-Conference Player honors in 2000 (second) and 2001 and helped lead the Patriots to two CAA Championships and NCAA tournament berths (1999 and 2001) during his tenure. The 6-5 guard was named MVP in the 2001 CAA tournament.
Following college, he played semi-professional ball in the United State Basketball League (USBL), American Basketball Association (ABA) as well as professionally overseas. He works as a senior IT specialist at Drew Charter Senior Academy in Atlanta, and is in his fourth season as the head varsity basketball coach.
Vernessa Neamo left her mark on the women's basketball program from 2000-04. She still reigns as the program's all-time steals leader with 256 steals. She also ranks in the top 10 in blocked shots (seventh, 69), scoring (ninth, 1,371 points) and rebounds (ninth, 658). The 5-foot-10 forward also dished out 241 assists for 13th most all-time. She led the team in rebounding and steals for three straight seasons.
The Lanham, Md., native earned All-Colonial Athletic Association, CAA All-Tournament and All-VaSID honors as a senior. In addition, she was named to the CAA All-Defensive and All-Academic Teams. She was named an Academic All-American by Black Issues in Higher Education magazine. Neamo graduated from George Mason in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
She played in the National Women's Basketball League for the Birmingham Power in 2005 and was selected to the NWBL All-Star Game. She currently resides in Lanham, Md., works for the Department of Defense and enjoys training and educating young athletes in her spare time.
The Women's Basketball Legends will be saluted with a breakfast on Friday, March 3 prior to the 2017 A-10 Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals. The event will take place at the Richmond Marriott beginning at 8:00 a.m.
The Men's Basketball Legends will be honored on Saturday, March 11 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., prior to the 2017 Men's Basketball Championship semifinals. The celebration awards brunch will be in the Lexus Club, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
A limited number of brunch tickets are available to the general public. For more information, please contact the Atlantic 10 Conference at 757-706-3052.
