AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken athletic department announced the addition of four new members into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, July 2, 2010.
The foursome features four student-athletes from three different varsity sports at USC Aiken. Set to join the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame are Richard Abney (baseball), Ashley Farr (baseball), Mike Green (men’s soccer) and Kendrick Smith (men’s basketball).
The USC Aiken Hall of Fame committee selected the foursome on Monday, June 28, 2010.
“Once again we have another four outstanding student-athletes who are set to be inducted into the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame,” noted USC Aiken Athletic Director Randy Warrick. “I had the honor of watching all four and I feel that they are all well deserving of this honor.”
The four new members join the 17 current members of the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame.
The initial class included (Nov. 30, 2007): Lew Perkins (former Athletic Director and men's basketball coach), Johanna Gibbs (former volleyball and women's basketball coach), Roberto Hernandez (baseball), Bill Weeks (men's basketball), Faye Ryans Norris (women's basketball), Charlie Colclough (baseball), Greg Gibson (men's basketball), Tisha England (women's basketball), Kim Merrill Brooks (volleyball), Roxanna Rivera Tirado (volleyball), Brian Kassel (golf), Brooks Blackburn (golf) and Jamie Stanley (golf).
Inducted into the second USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame class (Feb. 19, 2010) were Dr. James Barham (former team doctor), Jami Cornwell (softball and women's basketball), Derek Moore (men's basketball) and Dru McPherson Nix (women's basketball and volleyball).
The USC Aiken Hall of Fame committee votes on new membership each year, but an induction ceremony is held every two years, which means that the four new members will be a part of the next induction ceremony to be held in February of 2012.
Abney was a member of the USC Aiken baseball team from 1976-80. He was a four-year starter for the Pacers at second base.
The Pacer co-captain in both 1979 and 1980, Abney was tabbed as USC Aiken’s most valuable player in baseball in both 1978 and 1979. A public servant during his time as a Pacer, Abney was chosen as the Aiken County Fireman of the Year in 1978.
Currently a Public Safety Captain in Aiken, Abney has coached baseball in the Aiken community for over 34 years. He is a recipient of the prestigious “Neighbor Diamonds” award that is the South Carolina Municipal Achievement Award as a youth program organizer.
Farr was a member of the USC Aiken baseball team from 2001-04. He left the program holding or sharing 15 school records.
In a prestigious career that featured academic and athletic accolades, Farr was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-America first team in 2002 and 2003. He was also a Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America choice in 2003 and 2004.
In 2003, Farr was tabbed as the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Player of the Year. The same year he was also selected to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America first team.
After his playing days concluded with the Pacers, Farr signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
The first Pacer soccer player to earn a spot in the USC Aiken Athletic Hall of Fame, Green is considered a “program starter” in program annals due to the fact he helped commence the soccer program at USC Aiken.
Green, who played soccer at USC Aiken from 1985-88, was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-District 6 First Team member in both 1987 and 1988. He was an Honorable Mention NAIA All-District 6 Honorable Mention performer in 1986.
Also strong in the classroom, Green was an NAIA District 6 All-Academic team member in 1986, 1987 and 1988. He was selected as an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America choice in 1986.
Smith concluded his illustrious career as USC Aiken’s all-time leading scorer with 1,521 career points. He also finished with exactly 500 rebounds to still be one of just two Pacers to be a part of the prestigious 1,000-point, 500-rebound club.
A member of the USC Aiken men’s basketball team from 1994-98, Smith is also still in the top six in school history in assists, steals and blocks in addition to points and rebounds.
Smith, who helped lead USC Aiken to its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 1998, was named All-Peach Belt Conference the same year. He was also selected an all-region performer in 1998.
