Jan. 6, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Former Vanderbilt star and current Commodore assistant coach Ashley Earley has been selected as part of the SEC’s 2016 Class of Women’s Legends. Each year, a new class is selected as a way of showcasing former student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all 14 SEC member institutions.
Earley — who starred at VU from 2001-05 — and the other members of this year’s class will be honored at the 2016 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, March 2-6 in Jacksonville, Fla. Each legend will be honored during half-time of their teams first game of the tournament. All 14 individuals will also be honored as a group.
Earley joined head coach Melanie Balcomb’s staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2013, and works primarily with the VU post players while also contributing significantly to recruiting.
During her playing career, she helped lead her teams to the Elite Eight in 2002, the Sweet 16 in 2004 and 2005 and SEC Tournament Championships in 2002 and 2004.
As a senior, she was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection, Kodak All-Region, Associated Press honorable mention All-American and Full Court Press second-team All-American. She led the SEC in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds and was a candidate for both the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award. She capped her career with 1,382 points, which ranks 20th in program history.
After being drafted by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, Earley played professionally for the Maccabi Tel Kabir in the Safsal Israeli League.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Earley was an outstanding prep player who was the 2001 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year.
Below is the list of the 2016 SEC Women’s Legends:
ALABAMA – Sarah Patterson, Gymnastics (Coach), 1979-2014
ARKANSAS – Veronica Campbell Brown, Track & Field, 2004
AUBURN – Kim Evans, Women’s Golf (Coach), 1994-2015
FLORIDA – Dana Smith DesJarlais, Basketball, 1994-1998
GEORGIA – Andy Landers, Basketball (Coach), 1979-2015
KENTUCKY – Tina Johnson Ybarra, Swimming & Diving, 1994-1996
LSU – Sylvia Fowles, Basketball, 2004-2008
OLE MISS – Paloma Collantes- Hansen, Tennis, 1991-1994
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Chelsea Bramlett-Malone, Softball, 2007-2010
MISSOURI – Lorraine Ferret, Basketball, 1979-1983
SOUTH CAROLINA – Denise Nanney- White, Basketball, 1975-1977
TENNESSEE – Shyra Ely-Gash, Basketball, 2001-2005
TEXAS A&M – Toccara Williams, Basketball, 2000-2004
VANDERBILT – Ashley Earley, Basketball, 2001-2005