George Washington University Athletics

GW Athletics to Honor 10 Former Student-Athlete Greats with Jersey Ceremonies
9/22/2025 2:20:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Track/Cross Country, Women's Volleyball
Throughout the 2025-26 academic year, GW Athletics will be proud to recognize ten of the greatest to ever wear the Buff and Blue by honoring or retiring their jerseys in its athletics venues. To date, only softball's Elana Meyers Taylor, the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, has had her jersey retired, while Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Red Auerbach was previously recognized with a banner in the Smith Center rafters.
"The entire university community looks forward to celebrating all year long some of the greatest athletes in the history of GW Athletics," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "I extend my special thanks to the Honored & Retired Jersey Election Committee composed of loyal alumni, dedicated coaches and staff, and Athletics Hall of Famers for their outstanding work in bestowing this highest honor on these deserving athletes."
Through this new tradition announced last winter, GW will honor those who have the most extraordinary athletic accomplishments during and after their GW Athletics careers. Following a public nomination process last spring and a formal committee meeting this summer, this inaugural groupÂof honorees was selected for being among a select few who brought national distinction to the university.
BASEBALL
Hank Bunnell, 1968-1971
Arguably GW's best baseball player ever, Bunnell was named the program's Player of the Century in 2000 and will have his #18 retired and taken out of circulation at GW. He ranks second all-time in career victories, despite having concluded his playing career more than fifty years ago. He still holds all-time records at George Washington for career complete games, shutouts, and strikeouts, and is in the top 10 in winning percentage. Drafted 48th overall in the 1971 MLB Draft by the Washington Senators, he played two seasons in the minor leagues before retiring.
Sam Perlozzo, 1970-72Â
GW baseball's MVP in 1972, Perlozzo was an Academic All-American that season and he ranks in the top 10 in program history in stolen bases more than 50 years after his graduation. Inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, Perlozzo accumulated more than 25 years of coaching experience in the Major Leagues. The only GW baseball alum to serve as Manager in the big leagues (Baltimore 2005-07), he spent time on big league staffs with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies as well. He also spent five seasons as a minor league manager, winning three titles and two Manager of the Year awards.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Mike Brown, 1981-85Â
An Honorable Mention All-American in 1984, dubbed the Washington Monument, he was named First Team or Second Team All-Atlantic 10 all four seasons at GW. Brown was the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year in 1982, and participated in the 1984 U.S. Olympic team men's basketball trials at Indiana University where he was one of 32 finalists. Recognized as an A-10 Legend during the 2015 conference championship records, he finished his decorated collegiate career as one of just three GW players with 1,000-plus points and rebounds in his career (Joe Holup, Gene Guarilia). Still ranking second all-time at GW in career rebounds (third in A-10) and fourth all-time at GW in career points, he later played 11 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, after being drafted in the third round by the Bulls in 1985.
Yinka Dare, 1992-1994
The 1993 A-10 Rookie and Newcomer of the Year, the late Dare was a two-time Second Team All-Atlantic 10 performer and Team MVP in both seasons at George Washington. He led GW to the 1993 Sweet Sixteen; the farthest GW has ever advanced in March Madness. Dare ranks first on the career leaderboard in blocks per game, fifth in total blocks, sixth in rebounds per game, and 18th in total rebounds, despite being drafted into the NBA after just two collegiate seasons. He was one of two first-round draft picks in the history of the program, selected 14th overall by the New Jersey Nets in 1994, as the second-highest draft pick in school history behind Joe Holup (5th overall, 1956).
Joe Holup, 1952-56Â
A First Team All-Southern Conference performer all four years, Holup was named Third Team All-American as a senior. He helped GW reach its first NCAA Tournament and a 12th place final national ranking records, as still to this day one of only two players ever in the NCAA with 2,000+ career points and 2,000+ career rebounds. Upon his graduation Holup held all-time career records in scoring average (21.4), field goals and free throws, and was the all-time points leader for almost 50 years. Still GW's leader in rebounds and rebounding average by more than five rebounds per game, he led the nation in field goal percentage two of his four seasons and in rebounding his senior year. Drafted in the first round by the NBA's Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers), he was later acquired by the Fort Wayne Pistons, who later moved to Detroit, and played five seasons in the NBA.Â
Shawnta Rogers, 1995-99Â
The A-10 Player of the Year and the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner as the nation's top senior men's basketball player under 6-foot tall in 1999, Rogers earned A-10 All-Conference accolades all four seasons, including All-Defensive Team awards from 1997-99. An A-10 All-Rookie Team member in 1996, he became a three-time all-conference player, culminating in 1999 with First Team honors and the A-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Year recipient; GW's lone player in history with that title. A three-time Team MVP, he led the A-10 with 20.7 points per game and 6.8 assists per game, and paced the nation with 103 steals in guiding GW to a 20-9 overall record and a NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. With four postseason appearances in his four seasons, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1996, 1998 and 1999, and an NIT bid in 1997, Rogers was the engine that drove GW with the program record in career assists (10th all-time in A-10). Also GW's all-time program leader in steals and ranking second all-time in three-pointers made, he later played professionally for 11 seasons.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tajama Abraham, 1993-97
An All-American in 1996-97 and Honorable Mention All-America in 1995-96, Abraham is one of the most decorated players in Atlantic 10 Conference history as the A-10 Player of the Year as a senior and Rookie of the Year as a freshman, while earning two All-Conference First Team accolades, being All A-10 all four seasons, and becoming the A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player in her junior year. GW's all-time leading scorer and the only player to eclipse 2,000 career points, she also ranks fourth all-time in school history in rebounds and second in blocks, games played and free throw. She led the program to the Elite Eight in 1996-97, and made a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1994-95. The Elite Eight team dominated the conference en route to a 16-0 record in A-10 play. Drafted with the 31st pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Sacramento Monarchs, she played two seasons in the WNBA (Sacramento in 1997 & Detroit in 1998), and has since amassed over 20 years of Division I coaching experience, including serving as Radford's head coach from 2008-13.
Jonquel Jones, 2013-16Â
A two-time All-America Honorable Mention and 2014-15 A-10 Player of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year, the First Team All-Conference honoree in 2014-15 was named the A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player in 2015. Twice named National Player of the Week, Jones ranks fourth in career scoring average and 5th all-time in rebounds and blocks as the program's record holder for rebounds in a single season. On top of her collegiate accolades, Jones used GW as a launching pad to professional stardom, as after being drafted sixth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the LA Sparks, she has gone on to accumulate a WNBA MVP Award, Finals MVP Award, five WNBA All-Star nods, a WNBA Most Improved Player Award in 2017, WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year in 2018, and two All-Defensive First Team recognitions. Jones served as GW's Commencement Speaker in 2025 shortly after being named a USA Today Woman of the Year nominee.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Megan Hogan, 2008-2011Â
A two-time NCAA All-American and three-time NCAA Championship participant, Hogan won back-to-back Atlantic 10 Individual Championships in 2009 and 2010. The lone GW cross country runner, female or male, in the Athletics Hall of Fame, she is the record holder in both the 5K and 6K, and sits 8th all-time in the A-10 for her championship performance in 2010, which at the time was a new conference record. Hogan moved on to a professional running career and secured a Boston Marathon finish in 2:42.00 to earn a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time with three minutes to spare.
VOLLEYBALL
Svetlana Vtyurina, 1992-96Â
Vtyurina will have her #5 forever retired and taken out of circulation after a career that saw her become the NCAA's all-time leader in career kills. An All-America Second Team honoree in 1994, three-time Academic All-District/All-American, two-time A-10 Player of the Year (1992, 1995), A-10 Scholar Athlete of the Year (1996), four-time All-Conference First Team and All-Championship Team member, and three-time A-10 Tournament MVP, Vtyurina is arguably GW's most-accomplished collegiate performer in any sport all-time. Teams on which she played had an overall record of 118-28 and participated in three NCAA Tournaments.
Bunnell and Vtyurina will have their numbers retired and never worn again by an athlete in their sport, as determined by the committee. Perlozzo, Brown, Dare, Holup, Rogers, Abraham, Jones and Hogan will all have their jerseys honored in the appropriate venue. In addition, the banner recognizing Red Auerbach will be rededicated during the 50th anniversary season of the Smith Center.
Fans looking to enjoy the jersey retirement/honoring ceremonies should stay tuned to GWsports.com and @GWsports for the dates to be announced shortly for each festivity. Fans can also submit any names to be considered for recognition in future years by completing the nomination form at GWsports.com.Â
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"The entire university community looks forward to celebrating all year long some of the greatest athletes in the history of GW Athletics," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "I extend my special thanks to the Honored & Retired Jersey Election Committee composed of loyal alumni, dedicated coaches and staff, and Athletics Hall of Famers for their outstanding work in bestowing this highest honor on these deserving athletes."
Through this new tradition announced last winter, GW will honor those who have the most extraordinary athletic accomplishments during and after their GW Athletics careers. Following a public nomination process last spring and a formal committee meeting this summer, this inaugural groupÂ
BASEBALL
Hank Bunnell, 1968-1971
Arguably GW's best baseball player ever, Bunnell was named the program's Player of the Century in 2000 and will have his #18 retired and taken out of circulation at GW. He ranks second all-time in career victories, despite having concluded his playing career more than fifty years ago. He still holds all-time records at George Washington for career complete games, shutouts, and strikeouts, and is in the top 10 in winning percentage. Drafted 48th overall in the 1971 MLB Draft by the Washington Senators, he played two seasons in the minor leagues before retiring.
Sam Perlozzo, 1970-72Â
GW baseball's MVP in 1972, Perlozzo was an Academic All-American that season and he ranks in the top 10 in program history in stolen bases more than 50 years after his graduation. Inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, Perlozzo accumulated more than 25 years of coaching experience in the Major Leagues. The only GW baseball alum to serve as Manager in the big leagues (Baltimore 2005-07), he spent time on big league staffs with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies as well. He also spent five seasons as a minor league manager, winning three titles and two Manager of the Year awards.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Mike Brown, 1981-85Â
An Honorable Mention All-American in 1984, dubbed the Washington Monument, he was named First Team or Second Team All-Atlantic 10 all four seasons at GW. Brown was the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year in 1982, and participated in the 1984 U.S. Olympic team men's basketball trials at Indiana University where he was one of 32 finalists. Recognized as an A-10 Legend during the 2015 conference championship records, he finished his decorated collegiate career as one of just three GW players with 1,000-plus points and rebounds in his career (Joe Holup, Gene Guarilia). Still ranking second all-time at GW in career rebounds (third in A-10) and fourth all-time at GW in career points, he later played 11 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, after being drafted in the third round by the Bulls in 1985.
Yinka Dare, 1992-1994
The 1993 A-10 Rookie and Newcomer of the Year, the late Dare was a two-time Second Team All-Atlantic 10 performer and Team MVP in both seasons at George Washington. He led GW to the 1993 Sweet Sixteen; the farthest GW has ever advanced in March Madness. Dare ranks first on the career leaderboard in blocks per game, fifth in total blocks, sixth in rebounds per game, and 18th in total rebounds, despite being drafted into the NBA after just two collegiate seasons. He was one of two first-round draft picks in the history of the program, selected 14th overall by the New Jersey Nets in 1994, as the second-highest draft pick in school history behind Joe Holup (5th overall, 1956).
Joe Holup, 1952-56Â
A First Team All-Southern Conference performer all four years, Holup was named Third Team All-American as a senior. He helped GW reach its first NCAA Tournament and a 12th place final national ranking records, as still to this day one of only two players ever in the NCAA with 2,000+ career points and 2,000+ career rebounds. Upon his graduation Holup held all-time career records in scoring average (21.4), field goals and free throws, and was the all-time points leader for almost 50 years. Still GW's leader in rebounds and rebounding average by more than five rebounds per game, he led the nation in field goal percentage two of his four seasons and in rebounding his senior year. Drafted in the first round by the NBA's Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers), he was later acquired by the Fort Wayne Pistons, who later moved to Detroit, and played five seasons in the NBA.Â
Shawnta Rogers, 1995-99Â
The A-10 Player of the Year and the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner as the nation's top senior men's basketball player under 6-foot tall in 1999, Rogers earned A-10 All-Conference accolades all four seasons, including All-Defensive Team awards from 1997-99. An A-10 All-Rookie Team member in 1996, he became a three-time all-conference player, culminating in 1999 with First Team honors and the A-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Year recipient; GW's lone player in history with that title. A three-time Team MVP, he led the A-10 with 20.7 points per game and 6.8 assists per game, and paced the nation with 103 steals in guiding GW to a 20-9 overall record and a NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. With four postseason appearances in his four seasons, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1996, 1998 and 1999, and an NIT bid in 1997, Rogers was the engine that drove GW with the program record in career assists (10th all-time in A-10). Also GW's all-time program leader in steals and ranking second all-time in three-pointers made, he later played professionally for 11 seasons.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tajama Abraham, 1993-97
An All-American in 1996-97 and Honorable Mention All-America in 1995-96, Abraham is one of the most decorated players in Atlantic 10 Conference history as the A-10 Player of the Year as a senior and Rookie of the Year as a freshman, while earning two All-Conference First Team accolades, being All A-10 all four seasons, and becoming the A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player in her junior year. GW's all-time leading scorer and the only player to eclipse 2,000 career points, she also ranks fourth all-time in school history in rebounds and second in blocks, games played and free throw. She led the program to the Elite Eight in 1996-97, and made a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1994-95. The Elite Eight team dominated the conference en route to a 16-0 record in A-10 play. Drafted with the 31st pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Sacramento Monarchs, she played two seasons in the WNBA (Sacramento in 1997 & Detroit in 1998), and has since amassed over 20 years of Division I coaching experience, including serving as Radford's head coach from 2008-13.
Jonquel Jones, 2013-16Â
A two-time All-America Honorable Mention and 2014-15 A-10 Player of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year, the First Team All-Conference honoree in 2014-15 was named the A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player in 2015. Twice named National Player of the Week, Jones ranks fourth in career scoring average and 5th all-time in rebounds and blocks as the program's record holder for rebounds in a single season. On top of her collegiate accolades, Jones used GW as a launching pad to professional stardom, as after being drafted sixth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the LA Sparks, she has gone on to accumulate a WNBA MVP Award, Finals MVP Award, five WNBA All-Star nods, a WNBA Most Improved Player Award in 2017, WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year in 2018, and two All-Defensive First Team recognitions. Jones served as GW's Commencement Speaker in 2025 shortly after being named a USA Today Woman of the Year nominee.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Megan Hogan, 2008-2011Â
A two-time NCAA All-American and three-time NCAA Championship participant, Hogan won back-to-back Atlantic 10 Individual Championships in 2009 and 2010. The lone GW cross country runner, female or male, in the Athletics Hall of Fame, she is the record holder in both the 5K and 6K, and sits 8th all-time in the A-10 for her championship performance in 2010, which at the time was a new conference record. Hogan moved on to a professional running career and secured a Boston Marathon finish in 2:42.00 to earn a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time with three minutes to spare.
VOLLEYBALL
Svetlana Vtyurina, 1992-96Â
Vtyurina will have her #5 forever retired and taken out of circulation after a career that saw her become the NCAA's all-time leader in career kills. An All-America Second Team honoree in 1994, three-time Academic All-District/All-American, two-time A-10 Player of the Year (1992, 1995), A-10 Scholar Athlete of the Year (1996), four-time All-Conference First Team and All-Championship Team member, and three-time A-10 Tournament MVP, Vtyurina is arguably GW's most-accomplished collegiate performer in any sport all-time. Teams on which she played had an overall record of 118-28 and participated in three NCAA Tournaments.
Bunnell and Vtyurina will have their numbers retired and never worn again by an athlete in their sport, as determined by the committee. Perlozzo, Brown, Dare, Holup, Rogers, Abraham, Jones and Hogan will all have their jerseys honored in the appropriate venue. In addition, the banner recognizing Red Auerbach will be rededicated during the 50th anniversary season of the Smith Center.
Fans looking to enjoy the jersey retirement/honoring ceremonies should stay tuned to GWsports.com and @GWsports for the dates to be announced shortly for each festivity. Fans can also submit any names to be considered for recognition in future years by completing the nomination form at GWsports.com.Â
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