The B/C Basketball Camps had more girls to attend who went on to become some of the most recognized legends of the game; more than any other camp in the history of sports. An amazing 17 members of the prestigious 1984-85 Parade Magazine’s All-American Team were B/C Campers. These players set the stage of what was to come in women’s basketball, the game was changing quickly. The skill level was elevated to a point that had never been seen before. Players were quicker, faster and stronger. History was made when 6’7” Georgeann Wells, University of West Virginia was the first female to dunk a basketball during a game on a fast break. When Georgeann attended our B/C Camp she demonstrated her jumping ability and dunked the ball as the campers cheered in amazement. Many of the legends that attended our camps are listed here – Nancy Lieberman, Old Dominion; Jennifer Azzi, Stanford; Carol Blazejowski, Montclare State; Janet Harris, University of Georgia; Tonya Edwards, University of Tennessee; Andrea Lloyd, University of Texas; Traci Waites, Long Beach State; Lisa Ingram, Northeast Louisiana; Kathrina McClain, University of Georgia; Georgeann Wells, University of West Virginia; Janet Karvonen, Louisiana Tech; Teresa Edwards, University of Georgia; Holly Warlick, University of Tennessee; Franthea Price, University of Iowa; Tina Hutchinson, San Diego State; Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina; Michelle Edwards, University of Iowa; Daedra Charles, University of Tennessee; Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech; Jackie Joyner, UCLA; Anucha Browne, Northwestern; Nora Lewis, Louisiana Tech; Pam Gantt, Louisiana Tech; Clamette Haskins, Western Kentucky; Linda Page, North Carolina State; Belitta Croley, University of Kentucky; Brantley Southers, University of South Carolina; Joni Davis, University of Missouri; Eugenia Conner, University of Mississippi; Kahadeejah Herbert, Penn State; Barbara Bolden, Linda Godby, Auburn; Emily Wagner, Brigette Combs, Western Kentucky; Lisa Harvey, Jodie Whitaker; Wanda Burns, Florida State University – to name a few.

Looking back over the years Bill Bolton said, “I’m proud to be a part of history and have lived to experience the level of competition and fan support we see in women’s basketball today; all of this was made possible by the young players and coaches who are now considered pioneers of the game. They had the desire to achieve greatness despite the hardships they faced during that era.”

The majority of those coaches, now considered pioneers of the game, went on to establish winning records and national championships with many players they recruited at the B/C Camps. Michelle Edwards, one of the greatest players at the University of Iowa, admits that she had a “very good childhood”. Growing up she had never ventured away from until she left for the highly touted B/C All-Star Camp, she said, “It was an experience that turned my life around athletically.” A relatively unknown prep star Edwards was named Most Valuable Player at B/C Camp and that led to a wide range of interest from coaches across the country. Edwards said, “No one knew who I was when I went to B/C Camp, but afterwards, I ended up getting letters from every college you could think of.” The coaches who were the pioneers of women’s basketball and recruited heavily from the talent at B/C were Vivian Stringer, University of Iowa; Leon Barmore, Louisiana Tech; Linda Sharp, Southern Cal; Pat Head-Summit, University of Tennessee; Marianne Stanley, Old Dominion; Joann Rutherford, University of Missouri; Rene Portland, Penn State; Andy Landers, University of Georgia; Jody Conradt, University of Texas; Van Chancellor, University of Mississippi; Joan Bonvicini, Long Beach State; Chris Weller, University of Maryland; Joe Champi, Auburn and Kay Yow, North Carolina State – to name a few.

Bill Bolton said, “I saw the attendance of the women’s game reach capacity crowds at schools across the nation like the University of Tennessee. Today, these young athletes have an opportunity in the U. S. to go on to the pros and earn good salaries and benefits without going overseas to play. Carol Blazejowski became the highest paid player in the women’s pro league earning $150,000. Contracts today far exceed that amount in the WNBA formed in 1997. I think of all the women athletes with skills to be great pro players, but never had the opportunity to play in a league with the fan support and benefits we see in the WNBA today.”

In looking back on those moments of memories Bolton thinks of all the athletes and coaches who paved the way for everyone involved in the game today. When the Hall of Famers of that era get together and reflect on their careers it has to be a wonderful feeling for the former B/C All-Star campers and coaches to know they made a difference for everyone who followed. Those special moments are like the end of the movie, A League of Their Own, when all the great players of that league gathered at the hall of fame many years later. It was an emotional experience to remember the greatest days of their lives as they all went down glory road together!

		Dawn Staley University of South Carolina Three time Olympian and elected to carry the U. S. flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics, and gave her Olympic Gold Medal to her mother. She accepted the University of South Carolina Women’s Head Coaching position in 2008. Appeared in an episode of the TV series Martin with other members of the 1996 U. S. Olympic Team. Cheryl Swoops and former B/C Camper Teresa Edwards. Dawn was voted as the National High School Player of the Year, selected as the ACC Female Athlete of the Year, finished her college career with over 2,135 points and holds the NCAA record for career steals with 454. Dawn played in the WNBA and led her team to the championship game. She was named USA Female Athlete of the Year and is one of the nation’s most successful coaches
		Nancy Lieberman Nancy is widely considered one of the most influential figures in basketball history. Lieberman’s distinguished career is one of monumental strength and motivation in pursuit of becoming one of the greatest women basketball players. Her quest for excellence is brilliantly diversified as a Hall of Famer, two time Olympian, three time All-American, WNBA former player, coach and General Manager, acclaimed broadcaster for ESPN, ABC, NBC TV, motivational speaker and author. Nancy represents the epitome of triumph and serves a true pioneer for women’s sports.
		Jennifer Azzi Stanford University Led her team to an NCAA National Championship. Jennifer has become one of the nations most sought after motivational speakers. She presents mentor building, self-leadership and excellence in teams and individuals. Registered 500 assists of her WNBA career at Sacramento. Ranked in the top ten in four of the leagues statistical categories, member of the 1996 US Olympic Team and captured a gold medal and went on to win two more. Recipient of the Wade Trophy Award and Naismith All-American Team. She was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1990 NCAA Final Four Championship game.
		Carol Blazejowski Montclare State One of the greatest scorers in the history of women’s basketball, the 5’10” forward was a three time All-American from 1976-78. Won the first Wade Trophy Award as the nations finest collegiate player in 1977. Blazejowski scored 40 or more points in each of her last three games and set a Madison Square Garden scoring record for either sex with 52 points. She finished her college career with a record of 3,199 points and was the leading scorer on the team that won the 1979 Championship. Carol was first to become the highest paid player in the women’s basketball league.
		Michelle Edwards University of Iowa Three time Big Ten Player of the Week, Hawkeye Classic Most Valuable Player, Street & Smith Preseason All-American, Iowa’s leading scorer with 19.7 points per game and a 58% field goal accuracy, holds the record for career assists (388) and steals (306). Played 9 seasons in Italy and was a perennial selection to the All-Star Italian League. Edwards was the MVP of the league. She led the Hawkeyes to their first #1 ranking in the schools history while winning two Big Ten Championships and averaged 20 points a game and honored as the National Player of the Year. Named as Kodak, Naismith and USBWA All-American. She was winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball Award as one of the top 50 athletes of the century, voted as Big Ten Athlete of the Decade.
		Jackie Joyner UCLA Jackie was voted as the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century. She won three Olympic gold medals, starred in basketball, track and field while at UCLA. She averaged 20 points per game and voted as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA Women’s Basketball. First woman to score over 7,000 points in Heptathlon during the 1986 Goodwill Games, and holds the world’s record along with six all-time best results in the Heptathlon. Formed the Jackie Joyner-Kersey Foundation that provides youth, adults and families with resources to improve their quality of life along with Andre Agassi, Mohammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn and Cal Ripken, She works with many charities that help and improve communities.
		Holly Warlick University of Tennessee For over three decades Warlick has been considered the finest point guard to ever play for the University of Tennessee. She was voted into five different Hall of Fames. Voted Lady Vol Player of the 1980 Decade and shaped UT into a national power with tenure as a player and a coach, a three-time All-American while playing for Pat Summit. She set records for most assists and steals in a season. Holly was a member of the 1980 US Olympic Basketball Team and earned the distinct honor of carrying the Olympic Torch through Knoxville as it made it’s way to the Olympic site in Atlanta GA. Holly was a WPBL All-Star as she led Nebraska Wranglers to the championship in the women’s pro basketball league in 1981.
		Teresa Weatherspoon Louisiana Tech Teresa led her team to a NCAA National Championship in 1988 and played for one of the pioneers and legendary coaches of the game, Leon Barmore. She won a gold medal in the Olympics and was the WNBA’s All-Time 3 Point Scorer while leading her team to the WNBA finals four times. She was featured on the HBO series Real Sports with Bryan Gumbel. One of five players to play every game in the six-year history of the WNBA, the winner of the WNBA’s Defensive Award and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
		Teresa Edwards University of Georgia Teresa Edwards was one of the building blocks behind establishing the Lady Bulldogs as one of the nation’s best programs. As a freshman she led her team to the elite NCAA Final Four and to the National Championship game as a junior. This five-time Olympian graduated as Georgia’s leader in career assists at 342. A two-time Kodak All-American who was a part of three SEC Championship Teams, and holds the Lady Bulldog’s career assists record and ranks in the top five in most points scored. Sports Illustrated voted Teresa Edwards among the Greatest 100 Female Athletes of the 20th Century.
		Tonya Edwards University of Tennessee Tonya led her Northwestern High School team in Flint, Michigan to two State Championships and led the UT Lady Vols to two NCAA National Championships in 1987 and 1989. She was voted MVP in 1987 NCAA Tournament, played in the American Basketball League (ABL) and led her team to two championship titles. Edwards started her coaching career at her high school where she led her team to a perfect 28-0 season and won the state championship.
		Andrea Lloyd University of Texas Andrea earned a gold medal at 1988 Olympics and was a four-year starter and a three-time First Team All-American at the University of Texas. During her four years as a Longhorn, 1983-87, Texas compiled a record of 125-8 and held the #1 ranking in the final women’s basketball poll each year while winning the NCAA National Championship in 1986. She was coached by Jody Conradt, one of the pioneers of the game and a coaching legend. Lloyd is a basketball Hall of Famer and began a broadcasting career as a color analyst covering the University of Minnesota Women’s Basketball and the WNBA Minnesota Lynxes
		Traci Waites University of Georgia & Long Beach State University Traci was selected Miss Georgia Basketball and played two years for the University of Georgia and her final two years at Long Beach State. She was a two-time All-Big West Conference Guard and led the 49ers to a 58-11 mark and holds the distinction of being the only player to appear in the Final Four for two different teams, Georgia and Long Beach. She led Long Beach State as the #1 team in the nation. She was selected in 1988 as the Olympic captain for the USA basketball team, and was a three year Parade All-American.
		Lisa Ingram Northeast Louisiana State University At 6’2” Lisa Ingram was a dominant rebounder who excelled at all five positions. Best remembered for scoring 54 points while winning the Florida H. S. State Championship. She played along side Cheryl Miller and Ann Donovan on the 1984 Olympic Team and won a gold medal. She led Northeast Louisiana to the NCAA Final Four in 1985, and played 18 years as a professional overseas. Bob Davies, an NBA All-Star, recommended Lisa Ingram as an outstanding player to attend the B/C All-Star Invitation Only Basketball Camp.
		Katrina McClain University of Georgia At Georgia Katrina was a two-time All-American in 1986 and 1987 and selected as the National Player of the Year in 1987. She is listed as one of the all-time career leading scorers at Georgia totaling 2,195 points and 1,193 rebounds. Her #32 jersey was retired making her one of only three Lady Bulldogs to receive that honor. Katrina played on 11 national teams while winning three Olympic gold medals for winning three World Championships. She won two more gold medals in the Goodwill Games and two in the Pan American Games and holds the USA Olympic Record for most rebounds, 66, in a single competition in the USA Goodwill Games. She has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and selected twice as USA Female Athlete of the Year.
		Georgeann Wells University of West Virginia Georgeann averaged 18.3 points a game and was a 6’7” All-American at West Virginia. She made history when she became the first female basketball player to dunk on a fast break during a game. She still holds a single game rebound record with 17 blocked shots and also holds the school’s record for blocked shots at 140. After college she traveled with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and was part of Converse’s “Rocking the Neighborhood” campaign, played pro ball and coached in Japan, Spain and Italy. Wells demonstrated her dunking ability to the amazement of the campers that attended B/C All-Stars Invitational Only Basketball Camp.
		Janet Karvonen Louisiana Tech Old Dominion Janet is considered Minnesota’s sports pioneer in women’s basketball and is listed among the top 14 in the state’s top 100 sports figures of the century in the state of Minnesota. She led her hometown of New York Mills MN to three consecutive state championships. Janet was a First Team Parade All-American and her collegiate career highlights include Final Four appearances with Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech. She was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame and Coaches Hall of Fame
		Franthea Price University of Iowa Franthea was a four-year starter at Iowa scoring and averaged 21.3 points per game and led her team in rebounds. Her scoring average is the highest in the Big Ten Conference and she was voted All-American by Street & Smith. Price was MVP in the Hawkeye Classic and holds the record of all-time steals (311); she is listed among the top three all-time leading scorers. She is listed as one of the top three rebounders (703) at Iowa. She was inspired and played for Hall of Fame coach, Beverly Stringer, a true pioneer of the game with a career that approaches an 800 win percentage. Beverly has compiled a record 105-18 in the Big Ten. Franthea led her team to 17-1 in conference play and contributed 48 points and 22 rebounds to earn the USA a third consecutive Jones Cup Gold Medal. She played pro ball in Spain for seven years.
		Linda Page North Carolina State University Linda holds the Pennsylvania H. S. state title for averaging 48.3 points a game and was nicknamed “The Hawkeye”. She was the first female athlete to score 100 points in a high school game, a rare accomplishment and tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record who is the only player in the NBA to score 100 points in a single game. Linda Page is considered the number one shooting instructor in the U. S. She led her pro team to a championship in Spain and an All-American at NC State and played for the legendary coach, Kay Yow. She led the ACC in scoring and the NCAA in free throw shooting percentage and received the honor of having her jersey retired and voted as one of the ACC All-Time Legends.
		Anucha Browne Northwestern University If there had been a WNBA when Anucha played she would have been one of the highest paid players. She opened her senior year at Northwestern by becoming the first woman in NCAA history to tally six 30+-point performances. She registered a school’s single-game scoring record of 45 points in a 74-69 victory at St. John’s, the most points scored by any woman in the nation at that time. She established 24 Wildcat records and a list of accomplishments unsurpassed by any other Northwestern player. Browne was the school’s first All-American leading the nation in scoring 30.5 per game for a career total of 2,307 points. Named as Women’s Basketball Player of the Decade in 1992 and worked as a front office executive for the New York Knicks.