Dec. 12, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Twenty-three Tiger student-athletes are set to graduate in one of two graduation ceremonies Saturday at FedExForum.

Sivan Aballi, Track - Is a three-year letterwinner for the Lady Tigers since 2005. She still has one more year left of eligibility. Aballi is a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier. Specializing in the throws Aballi has posted personal best marks of 15.33 meters in the weight throw and 15.84 in the shot put, while knocking down 14.69 meters in the outdoor shot and 47.55 meters in the discus. Aballi competed for her home country Israel at the World University Games in the summer of 2007. She graduates with a degree in communication...Holon,Israel/Kiriat-Sharet HS.

Maurice Avery, Football - Four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2002-05...Finished UM career tied for sixth in pass receptions with 97, and seventh in receiving yards with 1,373...Named second-team All-C-USA in 2003...Invited to the Hula Bowl following his senior season...Atlanta, Ga./McNair HS.

Isabel Briones, Soccer -- Was a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Tigers from 2004-07, starting 63 of 64 matches. She graduates the University of Memphis with the all-time leading goal keeping victories(39), minutes played(1.03) and shutouts(25). In her senior campaign she recorded three shutouts in the Conference USA Championship and led her team to their first C-USA title and a NCAA Championship appearance. She is completing her degree in international business...Gadsden, Ala./Gadsden HS.

Janon Busby, Track - Was a two-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2004-05, after transferring from Wallace State Junior College. In his first year he posted three top-seven showings in the indoor high jump, outdoor triple jump and high jump. Busby won the C-USA Indoor triple jump title in 2005 with a leap of 52-09.25, while also qualifying for the NCAA Regionals. He was runner-up in the triple jump in the outdoor season, finishing his Memphis career with a total of seven scoring performances at C-USA meets. He is completing his degree in interdisciplinary studies...Mobile, Ala./Davidson/Wallace State JC.

Dusty Davis, Baseball - Davis was a two-year letterwinner for Coach Daron Schoenrock and the baseball Tigers. A transfer from Meridian Community College, Davis proved to be a vital cog in the success of Tiger baseball over the past two seasons. With the game on the line, the southpaw from Summit, Miss., was Memphis' top middle relief option. He didn't disappoint in the tough situations, racking up a 4-1 record in 2006 (4-0 as a reliever) and following that with a staff-leading 7-3 campaign in 2007. Davis tied for the staff lead with 21 appearances as a junior and notched 21 more outings as a senior. In his first season of DI action, Davis fanned 46 and maintained 4.83 ERA in 54 innings of work. In 2007, he struck out 37 and posted a 4.13 ERA to help Memphis to its first NCAA appearance since 1994. For his career in the Blue and Gray, Davis compiled a 4.46 ERA, with an impressive 11-4 mark. He struck out 83 batters in 42 appearances. Davis will graduate with a degree in sport and leisure studies...Summitt, Miss./North Pike High School/Meridian CC.

LaKeitharun Ford, Football - Set to graduate with a degree in sport and leisure management...Co-recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year Award at the team's 2007 senior banquet...Has played in 23 career games on the defense with 17 starts after transferring from Mississippi Delta Community College...Logged 54 career tackles with 42 solo stops...Has five career pass breakups and three interceptions...Has started every game in his senior season at cornerback...Totals 38 tackles in 2007...Made a career high 10 tackles this season against SMU with seven solo stops and an interception...Made his second career interception to preserve a Memphis win against Southern Miss in the fourth quarter this season...Had six tackles against UCF and five against Rice this year...Recorded his first interception in a start against Tulane last season and totaled three tackles in the game...Used 2005 as a redshirt year...Rosedale, Miss./West Bolivar HS.

Jamarcus Gaither, Football -- Set to graduate with a degree in sport and leisure management...Played in 27 career games with one start...Rushed 43 career times for 136 yards and three touchdowns...Injured against Marshall this season and missed the remainder of the season...Played in all 12 games as a junior in 2006 as both a running back and a member of the special teams unit...Ran for two touchdowns on 10 carries for 49 yards against Chattanooga in 2006...All four of his career touchdowns have come against Chattanooga (two rush in 2006, one rush in 2005, one receiving in 2004)...Forced a fumble on a Tiger kickoff to Marshall last season...His only career start game against UCF in 2005...Played in six of the Tigers' 12 games as a sophomore...Caught a 37-yard touchdown against Chattanooga in 2004...Listed on the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll for 2003-04...Memphis, Tenn./Frayser HS.

Stephon Greenlee, Track - Was a two-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2005-07 after transferring from Abilene Christian. While at Abilene Christian he qualified for the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championships in the 400-meter hurdles, making it to the finals. He earned all-conference honors in both the 110 and 400-meter hurdles. In his senior year with the Tigers he finished fourth in the 110 hurdles at the C-USA Outdoor Championships and third in the 400-meter hurdles to help lead the men's team to their first conference title in school history. He is completing his degree in interdisciplinary studies...St. Louis, Mo./Ladue HS/Abilene Christian.

Norby Gulyas, Track - Was a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2003-07. While at the U of M, qualified for the NCAA Regionals three times in the discus...Placed third in the discus and sixth in the shot put at C-USA Outdoor Championships to help the men's team win the conference title for the first time in school history...Gulyas scored in both the shot put and discus at C-USA Outdoors every year he competed, posting a personal best mark of 172-07 feet in the discus...He is completing his degree in sports and leisure studies...Budapest, Hungary/Petofi Sandor HS.

Martin Hankins, Football -- Set to graduate with a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in business communications and sports studies...Named the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for four touchdowns and 396 yards against Southern Miss this season...Averaged 249.5 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game during his two year career at Memphis...Has completed 20 or more passes 12 times (six in 2007) and attempted at least 30 passes in 13 games (six in 2007)...Has passed 300 or more yards eight times (six in 2007)...Ranks second at Memphis in career completions (462), attempts (766), yardage (5,489) and touchdowns (40)...Threw four touchdowns against East Carolina and set a Memphis record with 416 yards passing...Tied the school record for attempts twice in 2007 with 60 against East Carolina and Ole Miss...Set a Memphis record with 41 completions against Ole Miss...Threw a career long touchdown pass of 82 yards last season against UAB...Has thrown touchdowns in 18 of his 22 games played and multiple touchdowns in 11...Transferred to Memphis from Southeastern Louisiana University after setting numerous records in just two seasons for the Lions....Hattiesburg, Miss./Hattiesburg HS.

Larry Harris, Track - Was a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2003-07, while qualifying for the NCAA Regionals twice. Finished seventh in the 110 hurdles at C-USA Outdoor Championships and second in the 400-meter hurdles in his senior year to help the men's team win the conference title. He posted a personal best 52.37 in the 400-meter hurdles and 14.33 in the 110 hurdles. He is completing his degree in interdisciplinary studies...Memphis, Tenn./Cordova HS.

Abraham Holloway, Football - Set to graduate in December with a degree in sport and leisure management...Has appeared in 42 career games with 28 starts...Closes out career with 24 straight starts at left tackle...Is part of an offensive line that led the league in fewest allowed sacks the past four years...Has played in 92 percent of the team's offensive plays as a senior...Played in all but two snaps as a junior in 2006...Was a starter at right tackle in three of the Tigers' 12 games in 2005...Also saw time with the Tiger special teams unit in 2005...Helped the Memphis offense rank fifth nationally in rushing offense in 2005 and helped pave the way for All-American tailback DeAngelo Williams to lead the nation in rushing average...Was presented one of the True Tiger Awards at the 2006 Blue-Gray Game...Listed on the UM Dean's List for fall 2003 semester...Earned Tiger 3.0 Club honors for two semesters...Named to C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2003-04...Prentiss, Miss./Prentiss HS.

Brandon Hunt, Football -- Set to graduate with a degree in sport and leisure management...Has played in 24 career games with Memphis after transferring from Northwest Mississippi Community College...Came to Memphis as a receiver and moved to defensive back in the spring of 2006...Has played primarily on the special teams unit...Played in all 12 games in 2005 and caught his only pass as a Tiger in a win over Chattanooga for a gain of 14 yards...Redshirted the 2006 season...Shared the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year award with Henry Harris at the postseason team banquet last year...Has played in every game this season as a senior and is credited with three tackles...Is the cousin of fellow senior Greg Hinds...Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS.

Josh Irvin, Baseball - Josh Irvin earned a pair of letters on the baseball diamond in his two-year career at Memphis. The Northwest Mississippi Community College transfer quickly made his presence felt as a platoon outfielder and pinch hitter for the Tigers in the 2006 season, hitting safely in each of his first eight games and posting a .524 average in his first 14 outings. As a junior, made 18 starts in his 37 games played. He shined in the clutch situations at the plate, finishing the year with a .409 batting average as a reserve. He moved into the starting rightfield position midway through the 2007 season and continued to excel. He finished the season ranked fourth on the team with a .325 batting average, while banging out 18 doubles and legging out one triple. Know for his home run potential, Irvin was held homerless as a junior, but crushed four round-trippers in his senior campaign. He did his part in helping the Tigers advance to the C-USA Championships semifinal round, as he hit .421 with nine RBI, four runs scored, four doubles and a homer, en route to being named to the 2007 C-USA All-Tournament team. A career .311 hitter, Irvin played in 92 games, making 62 starts. He finished his Tiger career with 60 RBI, 24 doubles, and four homers. A native of Coldwater, Miss., Irvin will graduate with a degree in sport and leisure studies...Coldwater, Miss./Magnolia Heights/Northwest Mississippi CC.

Christine Morrison, Softball - Graduating with a degree in sport management...Played one season for the Tigers after transferring from Southwest Community College...Tied for second on the team in 2007 with five game-winning runs scored...Played in 39 games and scored nine runs...Scored the game-winning run on a suicide squeeze in the opening game of the Conference USA Championship against Tulsa...Also scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning against UAB to help Memphis receive a spot in the league's postseason tournament...Played right field in the second game of a doubleheader with Alcorn State...Has spent the fall as one of the team's managers...Bartlett, Tenn./Bolton HS/Southwest Tennessee Community College..

Melissa Nance, Volleyball/Softball - Will be part of the Lady Tiger softball roster for one more spring in 2008...Earned hher first NFCA academic honors after a junior season where she finished with a .276 batting average, five home runs and 21 RBI in 39 games played..Also lettered four years on the volleyball team at Memphis has been named to the C-USA Academic Honor Roll four times and is a three-time Tiger Academic 30 honoree...Was named to the 2007 Blues City Classic Softball All-Tournament team hosted by Memphis...Was the volleyball team co-captain from 2004-06 and was the 19th player in Memphis history to post 1,000 career kills...Started in 129 matches over her four-year career, finishing with 1,032 kills and ranking fourth all-time with a .272 hitting percentage...Also ranked seventh all-time with 336 total blocks and sixth with 287 block assists...Is completing a degree in education integrative studies with a concentration in early and middle grades...Frankfort, Ind./Clinton Prairie HS.

Mario Pratcher, Football - Mario Pratcher is a three-year letterwinner who suffered several injury setbacks during his career. He suffered a knee injury in practice prior to the start of the 2005 season and missed the entire year. Pratcher played in 30 career games and made nine starts as a Tiger receiver. He finished his career with 39 receptions for 447 yards and one touchdown...Memphis, Tenn./Trezevant HS.

Jared Sandridge, Basketball -- A two-year letterwinner, Sandridge played for the Tigers during the best back-to-back seasons in the school's history. The 6-foot-2 guard transferred back home to Memphis from Angelina College in Texas prior to the 2005-06 campaign. As a Tiger, the former Christian Brothers High School standout played in 19 games and gained his lone career start on 2007 Senior Day. He averaged 0.7 points and shot 33.3 percent from the three-point line in his career. Sandridge was a member of Tiger squads that won consecutive Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Elite Eights. Memphis posted a 66-8 record in his two seasons, and the 66 victories were the second-most in the nation. The 2006-07 Tiger team that Sandridge played on became the first squad in C-USA history to post an undefeated regular season league mark (16-0) and then follow with the conference tournament championship. Sandridge is earning his bachelor's degree in business management...Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS/Angelina College.

Melissa Savage, Soccer -- Was a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Tigers from 2003-06. While at the U of M was named to the Conference USA third team in 2004 and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District IV All-Academic second team in 2005. In her senior year she scored two goals, bringing her career high to five goals, four assists and three game winners. She is completing her degree in business administration...Arlington, Texas/Arlington HS.

Stephen Schuh, Football - Another successful walk-on who earned a scholarship prior to the start of the 2005 season...Lettered as a true freshman after playing in six games...Played 55 offensive snaps in 2003...Was the backup center to Gene Frederic in 2004 and saw action in 54 plays that season...Joined the starting lineup in 2005...Played in nine games as a junior...Earned starting duties at center against Houston and started the final seven games of the season...Worked a season-high 80 plays in the win over Southern Miss and did not come out of the game in the final three games of the season...Was part of an offensive line that only gave up nine sacks in 2005, which led C-USA...Also helped pave the way for Heisman Trophy candidate DeAngelo Williams who led the nation in rushing average...Was highlighted on the Rimington Trophy Watch List in the spring of 2006 and during his senior season...Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS.

Phillis Vaughan, Women's Basketball - Was a two-year letterwinner for the Lady Tigers from 1985-87 after transferring from then-Shelby State Junior College. She helped her Shelby State team to the semifinal round of the junior college nationals and averaged 9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds over her two-year Lady Tiger career. She led both the 1985-86 and the 1986-87 teams in rebounding and her career rebounding average of 9.0 rpg still ranks fifth in Lady Tiger history. She is also in the Memphis record book tied for seventh in single game rebounds after grabbing 20 boards at Louisville in 1987. She is completing her degree in social work...Tunica, Miss./Rosa Fort High School/Shelby State.

Kevin Walsh, Soccer - Was a two-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2006-07, after transferring from Christian Brothers University. While at CBU, scored eight goals and five assists, starting 26 of 29 matches. During his first year at Memphis, Walsh earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, College Soccer News and Soccer America's National Team of the Week, being the first player to receive three honors in the same week. In his senior year, he had six goals and two assists, bring his Memphis career highs to 16 goals and 9 assists. He is completing his degree in interdisciplinary studies...Dhrule, Ireland/Christian Brothers.

Brandon Winbush, Track -- Was a three-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2004-07, after transferring from St. Augustine's College. Qualified for the NCAA Regionals every year as a Tiger and the NCAA Championships as a sophomore. In his senior campaign made it to regionals in both the long and triple jump after winning both events at C-USA Outdoors and helping the men's team win the title. Scored in the jumps every year he competed, having a career high 24-09.25 feet in the long and 49-04.25 in the triple. He is completing his degree in criminal justice...Memphis, Tenn./St. Augustine's College.