Penn's Jewel Clark, C'04, to be Inducted into Big 5 Hall of Fame

Penn's Jewel Clark '04

Courtesy Penn Athletic Communications

PHILADELPHIA - On January 21st at The Palestra, the 2003-04 Ivy League and Big 5 Women's Basketball Player of the Year, Jewel Clark, C'04, will be one of five inductees into the Big 5 Hall of Fame. In addition to Clark (Penn, 2001-04), Philadelphia Big 5 basketball standouts Rashid Bey (Saint Joseph's, 1994-98), Rick Brunson (Temple, 1991-95), Kerry Kittles (Villanova, 1992-96), and Stacey Smalls (Temple, 1999-2003) will be enshrined at a luncheon ceremony set for 11:30 a.m. at the famed gymnasium.

One of the most prolific scorers in program history, Clark – a three-time All-Ivy first-team selection -  ended her junior season fifth on Penn's all-time on the scoring list. During her team’s run to the 2003-04 Ivy League championship, Clark finished her senior season with 554 points, the sixth-most in program history and graduated as the second-most prolific scorer in Penn history – a place where she still stands today.

Clark's 19.8 points per game led the team, ranked her second in the Ancient Eight and earned her the 2003-04 Ivy League and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year awards. As a junior, Clark led the Quakers in scoring with 19.2 points per game en route to an All-Ivy first-team selection. In her career, Clark recorded 29 double-doubles, including 12 during her final season. Her rookie campaign in 2000-01 resulted in the first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Penn women’s basketball program as well as a selection the Ivy League All-Rookie Team. Clark was, at the time, only the fourth Quaker receive this honor.

Since 1973, the Big 5 has been selecting players, coaches, broadcasters, sportswriters and others who have made significant contributions to the Big 5 and its history to become members of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available to the public at $40 per person and can be purchased by visiting the Big 5 website, philadelphiabig5.org. For more information, contact the Philadelphia Big 5 at 215-898-4747 or via email at big5@philadelphiabig5.org.

Other Class of 2011 Big 5 Hall of Fame Inductees
Rashid Bey was the first player in Saint Joseph's history to earn the Big 5 MVP award in back-to-back seasons (1997, 1998). A two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection, Bey earned first-team honors as a junior when he helped the Hawks win the 1997 conference title as the Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 Tournament. He capped his career by averaging 16.9 points and 4.8 assists as a senior and finished with 1316 points and 509 assists. He remains just one of four Hawks to record over 1000 points and 500 assists in a career.

One of the top point guards in Temple men's basketball history, Rick Brunson was a three-time All-Big 5 selection and two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference honoree. He played in 124 games from 1991-95, helping the Owls to four straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 1993 West Regional Final. Brunson led TU in scoring (16.7), assists (123) and steals (74) as a senior and still ranks fifth on the school's all-time list in assists (470), sixth in steals (253) and 16th in points (1493). A veteran of nine seasons (1997-2006) as an NBA player, Brunson now is an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls.

From 1992-96, Kerry Kittles produced one of the most distinguished careers in Villanova basketball history. He is the only Villanova player ever to score 2000 points, collect 700 rebounds, dish out 400 assists, and record 200 steals. He finished with 2243 points, which still ranks as the highest in school history. As a junior, Kittles averaged 23 points en route to Big East Player of the Year and consensus All-America honors. He topped off his collegiate career as a consensus first team All-America pick for a second straight season. Kittles went on to play nine seasons in the NBA, twice appearing in the league finals as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

Stacey Smalls finished her four-year career at Temple as the program's sixth all-time leading scorer and with the record for most three-point baskets (154). She is the only Owl to score more than 1000 points and lead the team in assists in four straight seasons. Smalls scored a total of 1258 points , while dishing out 359 assists and amassing 187 steals. As a junior in the 2001-02 season, she led the Owls to their first Atlantic 10 title as the tournament's MVP. Smalls twice earned a spot on the A-10 All-Defensive Team, and also was named All-Big 5 three times.