UConn's Chris Smith, Laura Lishness to be honored among Big East Legends

The creation of the Big East Conference Basketball Legends Recognition Program was announced Tuesday.

Each of the league's 11 member schools was tasked with selecting a former prominent coach or player from both the men's and women's programs to be honored at the upcoming Big East tournaments, with UConn selecting Laura Lishness from the women's team and Chris Smith on the men's side.

Women's basketball legends will be recognized during the Big East tournament quarterfinals on March 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Men's legends will be honored during each team's first game of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden, with the first round scheduled for March 13 and the quarterfinals on March 14.

“We are excited to launch this annual celebration of former players and coaches who have had profound impacts on the history and success of our 22 basketball programs,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said.

“This first 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.”

In addition to Smith, the first class of men's basketball legends includes Butler's Shelvin Mack (2008-11), Creighton's Randy Eccker (1974-78), DePaul's Wilson Chandler (2005-07), Georgetown's Reggie Williams (1983-87), Marquette's Jerel McNeal (2005-09), Providence's Ernie DiGregorio (1969-73), St. John's Marcus Hatten (2001-03), Seton Hall's Terry Dehere (1989-93), Villanova's Randy Foye (2002-06) and Xavier's J.P. Macura (2014-18).

The premier class of women's legends, in addition to Lishness, are Butler's Julie VonDielingen Shelton (1989-93), Creighton's Marissa Janning Murphy (2012-17), DePaul's Khara Smith (200206), Georgetown's Kris Witfill (1989-93), Marquette's Allazia Blockton (2015-19), Providence's Kathy Finn Hill (1980-84), St. John's Debbie Beckford (1979-83), Seton Hall's Jodi Brooks (1990-94), Villanova's Harry Perretta (1978-2020) and Xavier's Ta'Shia Phillips (2007-11).

Still UConn's all-time scorer with 2,145 career points, Smith led the Huskies to their first Big East regular-season and tournament crowns in 1990 when the team posted a 31-6 record and reached the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. He earned All-Big East honors for three seasons.

Lishness, the 1988 Big East Freshman of the Year, scored over 1,300 career points. As co-captain her senior year, Lishness helped lead her team to the NCAA Final Four in 1991, the first for UConn women's basketball. She went on to earn Kodak District 1 All-America honors.