NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University athletics will induct four former student-athletes into the ODU Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Main in downtown Norfolk. Former men’s basketball player Gerald Lee, wrestler James Nicholson, women’s basketball player Shareese Grant, and men’s soccer player Carlos Mendes will be inducted into the hall of fame on Friday night.
For more information, go to odualumni.org\ahd2019 or call 757-683-3097.
A two-time first-team All-CAA and two-time first-team NABC All-District honoree, Gerald Lee (2006-10) scored 1,624 points and had 670 rebounds in his career. A two-time College Insider Mid-Major All-American, Lee helped propel the Monarchs to a 2010 CAA Championship, winning tournament MVP honors. That team defeated Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He was ODU’s Co-Male Athlete of the Year and Tom Scott Award Recipient in 2010. He played professionally in Israel’s Premier League. Lee graduated with a degree in physical education with a concentration in sport management.
James Nicholson (2006-11) became ODU wrestling’s first two-time All-American in 29 years (Buddy Lee), when he earned All-America honors as a freshman in 2008, and as a senior in 2011. He is tied for the most wins in ODU history with 138 and was twice named the CAA Wresler of the year. Nicholson became the first wrestler in CAA history with win four-straight conference championships at a single weight class and was also named the Tom Scott Award Recipient. A four-time NWCA National All-Academic Team honoree, he graduated with degrees in finance and marketing
Shareese Grant (2001-05) was a Kodak honorable mention All-American and was named the CAA Tournament MVP three-straight years, the first ever CAA player to achieve that feat. She finished her ODU career with 1,447 points and 376 assists. She averaged 15.1 points per game as a senior and was a two-time All-CAA performer. She helped lead the Monarchs to four-straight NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2002. Grant graduated with a degree in physical education.
One of current ODU head coach Alan Dawson’s first recruits, Carlos Mendes (1998-01) was a three-time CAA first-teamer and was the CAA Rookie of the Year. He led the Monarchs to a pair of CAA regular season titles, and was twice named first-team all-region. He ranks third on ODU’s career record book with 25 assists, and scored 11 goals as a defender. Mendes played professionally for 15 years, including eight years in the MLS, six of those for the New York Red Bulls.