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AUGUSTA, GA – The Augusta Sports Council has been named the title sponsor for the Augusta Athletics 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to the community and recognition of those who have contributed significantly to the university’s athletics legacy. The Greater Augusta Sports Council, known for its dedication to supporting local, national, and international sporting events, brings its mission to life by enhancing the quality of life and promoting economic development through sports.
“The Augusta Sports Council is proud to support the Augusta University Athletics Hall of Fame,” said John Whitwell, Board President of the Augusta Sports Council. “This event celebrates the incredible athletes, coaches, and leaders who have made a significant and lasting impact on the university and our community. By honoring their achievements, we are not only preserving a rich sports legacy but also inspiring future generations to strive for excellence both on and off the fields.”
“We are fortunate to have the Augusta Sports Council serving as our title sponsor for our athletics hall of fame induction ceremony,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Erlacher. “We are extremely grateful for their support, and we look forward to hosting a first-class event for all involved.”
The distinguished class will be formally inducted in a ceremony on May 29, 2026, at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. The five-member class represents some of the most accomplished student-athletes, coaches, and supporters in Jaguar history, spanning multiple eras of success.
2026 AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS
Lenny Carlson, Coach/Administrator
Broc Everett, Men’s Golf
Lawanna “Kita” Monday, Women’s Basketball
Keshun Sherrill, Men’s Basketball
Shannon Wilkerson, Baseball
“We are beyond excited for our five Hall of Fame inductees,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Erlacher. “This year’s class represents all-time leading scorers, AU record holders, national champions, and trailblazers. Their accomplishments are truly outstanding and have made a lasting impact on Augusta University and our athletics programs. We are incredibly proud of our five inductees and look forward to celebrating them at the induction ceremony in May.
The following is a look at each member of the 2026 Hall of Fame Class:
LENNY CARLSON, MEN’S BASKETBALL (Assistant Coach, 1968–1970; 1988–2023)
Coach/Supporter
Lenny Carlson’s influence on Augusta basketball spans more than six decades, beginning with his arrival in 1968 during one of the most pivotal transitions in school history.
Hired by head coach and athletic director Marvin Vanover, Carlson immediately recognized that Augusta College, like many schools in the South at the time, had not yet integrated its basketball program. Having grown up in Massachusetts and served as captain on racially diverse teams at the University of Connecticut, Carlson pushed for change. Working with Vanover and with support from the university president, he helped recruit Augusta College’s first black players, making Augusta the first predominantly white college in Georgia to field an integrated basketball team and sign a foreign player.
That first group of trailblazing student-athletes, which included standout talents such as Erwin “Chip” Johnson, Joe “Jumping Joe” McBride, and Steve Brown, along with international center George Schraepen, immediately elevated the program. Their arrival helped Augusta to a 24–4 record, a District 25 championship, and a trip to the 1970 NAIA National Tournament. Carlson’s efforts not only changed the trajectory of Jaguar basketball but also paved the way for generations of players who would follow.
Carlson returned to Augusta in 2006, where he spent 17 more years on the Jaguar bench. During that time, he was part of every major milestone in the modern era: Peach Belt Conference championships, NCAA Tournament runs, Elite Eight appearances, Final Fours, and the 2008 and 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship games. Working alongside head coach Dip Metress, he became a fixture of Augusta basketball, known for his steady presence, his ability to connect with players, and his long-term commitment to the program.
After concluding his coaching career following the 2022–23 season, Carlson transitioned into broadcasting, where he continues to share his basketball knowledge as a commentator for Augusta’s basketball broadcasts.
Lenny Carlson on Hall of Fame induction: “This really caught me off guard, I had no idea this was coming. I’m pleased to death. It’s really gratifying for me because this is the first Hall of Fame that I’ve been inducted into that didn’t involve me running around in shorts, bouncing an orange ball and throwing it in the basket. I find that particularly gratifying.”
BROC EVERETT, MEN’S GOLF (2015–2018)
Student-Athlete
Broc Everett made Augusta University golf history by winning the 2018 NCAA Division I National Championship as an individual, the only Jaguar ever to achieve that feat. He clinched the title in a playoff at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. That season, Everett was named a PING First-Team All-American and posted a 71.88 scoring average across 40 rounds, with 25 rounds of par or better, eight rounds in the 60s, and six top-five finishes.
Everett’s consistent excellence spanned his entire Augusta career. As a junior, he recorded a 70.97 scoring average, earned Division I PING All-Region honors, and ranked 27th nationally. He notched six top-10 finishes and finished as runner-up at the MEAC Championship. As a sophomore, he tied the school record with a round of 64 at the MEAC Championship and placed second overall. Over his career, Everett played in nearly every tournament, building a reputation for clutch play in high-pressure moments. Everett’s national championship remains one of the most celebrated athletic achievements in Augusta history.
After turning professional, Everett competed on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and Canadian Tour. He teed it up in notable events, including the John Deere Classic, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Wells Fargo Championship, and the Palmetto Championship, where he made the cut in 2021 and finished tied for 35th. His career also included memorable highlights such as a near hole-in-one on a par-4 during PGA Tour competition.
Broc Everett on Hall of Fame induction: “To be part of all that this school has had in terms of athletic success and everything with the university, this is pretty awesome. I wasn’t prepared for this.”
LAWANNA “KITA” MONDAY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1994–1998)
Student-Athlete
Lawanna “Kita” Monday is the all-time leading scorer in Augusta women’s basketball history with 2,143 career points. A four-year star under coach Lowell Barnhart, she averaged 19.3 points per game across her career — an incredible mark sustained over four seasons — including a season-high 21.9 as a sophomore. Her No. 44 jersey was retired on November 16, 2009.
She burst onto the scene in 1994 as Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, then went on to earn All-Conference honors three times. Monday is still the only Augusta women’s basketball player to surpass 2,000 career points, finishing her career with a .477 field goal percentage and nearly 700 rebounds.
Barnhart described her as a once-in-a-generation player: “She was like a Michael Jordan, a Kobe Bryant, a Larry Bird, and a Magic Johnson. When the game was on the line, she wanted the ball. Not everybody is like that.”
Now a podiatrist in Lithonia, Georgia, Monday has been practicing since 2007. She has shared that many of her fondest memories of Augusta come from the bonds she built with her teammates — relationships that have endured long after her playing career ended. “It’s mostly the people I remember, but you can remember the experiences from the games with them or maybe hitting a game- or buzzer-winner, but mostly it’s the players that played with you. A lot of them keep in contact; I’m godmother to some of their kids and they’re godmothers to my children.” Her career average of 19.3 points per game over four years remains one of the most remarkable sustained scoring performances in Peach Belt Conference history.
KESHUN SHERRILL, MEN’S BASKETBALL (2013–2017)
Student-Athlete
Keshun Sherrill cemented his place in Augusta history as one of the greatest basketball players ever to wear a Jaguar uniform. A four-year standout under head coach Dip Metress, Sherrill finished his career as the Peach Belt Conference’s all-time leading scorer with 2,333 points. His No. 10 jersey was retired in 2017.
As a sophomore, Sherrill was honored as an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), named to the All-District and All-Region teams, and earned his first first-team All-Conference selection. His breakout freshman campaign set the tone for a historic career, as he was recognized as the PBC Freshman of the Year, AU’s Male Freshman of the Year, and a Division II Bulletin All-American.
His junior season was equally strong, as Sherrill again earned first-team All-PBC and National NABC All-District honors, averaging 18.7 points per game to lead the Jaguars. He was also recognized as the Fred Barnabei Male Athlete of the Year.
As a senior, Sherrill was named PBC Player of the Year while averaging 22.6 points per game. He was selected to the NABC First Team All-District, honored as the NCAA Southeast Region Player of the Year, and chosen to participate in the prestigious Reese’s Division II College All-Star Game. He also earned All-American recognition from both the NABC and the D2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). That same year, he was named the Fred Barnabei Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Following graduation, Sherrill went on to a successful international professional career, competing in the Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, Turkey, and France. Off the court, he has continued to give back to Augusta, regularly returning to support the Dip Metress Basketball Academy.
Keshun Sherrill on Hall of Fame induction: “This is special, especially considering all the players who’ve come through here. It means a lot, I’m actually speechless right now. Dip Metress gave me a chance, he gave me a chance coming out of high school. I was 5’9”, 160 something pounds and he gave me a chance and I’m forever indebted to him for that.”
SHANNON WILKERSON, BASEBALL (2006–2009)
Student-Athlete
Shannon Wilkerson stands as one of the most decorated and productive players in the history of Augusta baseball. Over the course of two seasons, he developed into one of the most feared hitters in Division II, ultimately earning recognition as the 2009 ABCA Division II National Player of the Year.
His 2009 campaign remains one of the finest single seasons ever recorded by a Jaguar. Wilkerson played in 57 games and batted .441 with 101 hits, 82 runs scored, 24 home runs, 82 runs batted in, 17 doubles, and seven triples. He posted an .891 slugging percentage, drew 30 walks while striking out only 16 times, and stole 13 bases. His efforts earned him Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors, First Team All-PBC selection, and the prestigious ABCA/Rawlings Division II Gold Glove as an outfielder. He still holds Augusta single-season records for runs (82), hits (101), RBI (82), and total bases (204).
In 2008, Wilkerson hit .380 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI. Over his career, he played in 212 games and became known for his ability to impact every facet of the game with his bat, speed, and defense. He is one of only two Jaguars ever to hit for the cycle in a game.
Wilkerson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB Draft and quickly advanced through the minor league system. He spent parts of eight professional seasons in the Red Sox organization, reaching Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014, where he played in a career-high 130 games. Along the way, he recorded one of the most memorable highlights of his career during a 2011 spring training game, when he pinch-hit for Hall of Famer David Ortiz and faced Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Halladay, drawing a walk in the at-bat.
Shannon Wilkerson on Hall of Fame induction: “It’s very special, it’s something I will always remember. I didn’t expect it. It (my time at AU) was a great atmosphere in general, just the competition. I enjoyed every bit of it and the success I was having. Just the camaraderie with the teammates and the friendship that you develop over the years and you hold on to those for a lifetime.”
About the Augusta Sports Council
Founded in 1991, the Augusta Sports Council supports local, national, and international sporting events that enhance quality of life and drive economic development across the Augusta area. Since its inception, the Council has created, recruited, or supported more than 800 events, bringing over 450,000 athletes to the region and generating more than $200 million in economic impact. Signature events have included the 1996 Olympic Box-Offs, the NIKE Peach Jam Basketball Tournament, the ESPN Bassmaster Tournament, and IRONMAN® 70.3® Augusta, the largest race of its kind in North America.
The Council also created the prestigious Ray Guy Award, presented annually on ESPN’s College Football Awards Show to honor the nation’s top collegiate punter. Through these efforts and more, the Augusta Sports Council continues to strengthen the community, attract visitors, and celebrate the impact of sports in the region.
