Eight to be Inducted into BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Eight of the finest athletes in Boston College history have been selected for induction into the Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame for the fall of 2019.

The athletes being honored are: Ted Basset '74 (tennis); Brian Gionta '04 (hockey); Mathias Kiwanuka '05 (football), Lou Papadellis '81 (Men's Soccer), Craig Smith '06 (Men's Basketball), Chris Snee '04 (football), Kelli Stack '11 (Women's Ice Hockey) and veteran's inductee Owen Murphy '26 (deceased – baseball, football, track & basketball).

The honorees will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, October 18 at Lyons Hall on the campus of Boston College. They will also be recognized at halftime of the Eagles' football game against NC State on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Here are short biographies of the new Hall of Famers:

Craig Smith '06 (Men's Basketball) – From the time Craig Smith arrived at the Heights, he over-powered defenders. A 6-foot-6 power forward, Smith is the second leading scorer in program history with 2,349 points and is the program's all-time rebounding leader with 1,114 boards. In his first season in 2002-03, Smith set a BC freshman scoring record with 617 points. As a junior, Smith led BC to a win over UNC in the ACC Tournament semifinal game with 23 points and 15 rebounds on March 11, 2005. In the NCAA Tournament that season, Smith earned All-Region honors as he averaged 20.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in three games. He was named to the NABC All-America third team and was an honorable mention Associated Press All-America selection that season. As a senior, the Los Angeles native was a All-ACC first team honoree, earning second team NABC and third team AP All-America accolades. A member of Team USA that captured the gold medal in the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, Smith was selected 36th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played for Minnesota from 2006-09 as well as the Clippers (2009-11), Trail Blazers (2011-12) & overseas from 2012-15. Smith currently resides in California.

Mathias Kiwanuka '05 (Football) – A first-team All-America selection in 2004 and 2005, Kiwanuka was an All-ACC first-team selection and recipient of the William J. Flynn Award, given to the team's most valuable player as voted by his teammates. He was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 in addition to capturing All Big East first-team honors in 2003 and 2004. He was a Ted Hendricks Award finalist in 2004, an award given annually to the nation's top defensive end. In 2005, he was on the Bronko Nagurski Award, Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi Award Watch Lists. He was also the ACC's Preseason Player of the Year in 2005. A native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Kiwanuka finished his college football career with 245 career tackles (157 solos), a school-record 37.5 quarterback sacks, 65.5 tackles for loss, 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 49 games over four seasons. Kiwanuka was drafted as the 32nd overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He won two Super Bowl rings while playing nine seasons with the Giants.

Ted Bassett '74 (Men's Tennis) – Prior to his arrival at the Heights, the men's tennis team won just five matches in three years. When Bassett arrived, BC went 37-9 in three seasons. The No. 1 player, Bassett was the team MVP in 1973 & 1974. He went undefeated in 1973 with a 16-0 record. He then broke the program record when he recorded 17 wins in 1974. He finished the season at 17-1, playing opponents No. 1 or 2 players. A two-time team captain, Bassett is credited with changing the program by his former coach Michael MacDonald. He said, "Several years after Ted graduated, the Big East created the first championship event. The BC team not only won the inaugural tournament but 10 of the next 11. This would never be achieved without the skinny kid from Weston, walking on and never giving up.''

Chris Snee '04 (Football) - Snee made his mark as at guard as a three-year starter for BC. He was named an All-Big East first-team honoree in 2003 and earned All-American second-team honors. A native of Montrose, Pa., Snee helped teammate Derrick Knight finish fourth in the nation in rushing yards in 2003. In his three years, BC went 25-13 with bowl wins over Georgia, Toledo and Colorado State. He made an immediate impact as Snee was named to the Big East All-Freshman team in 2001. Snee was selected in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, 34^th pick overall by the New York Giants. He played 10 seasons and was a Pro Bowl selection four times and All-Pro three times. He was a member of the 2007 and 2011 New York Giants Super Bowl teams. Snee was honored in 2014 as a BC Football Legend by the ACC.

Kelli Stack '11  (Women's Ice Hockey) – Kelli Stack, along with former teammate and 2018 Hall of Famer Molly Schaus '11, ignited the transformation of women's hockey at Boston College. Stack arrived in the 2006 and helped BC to a 24-10-2 record to finish second in the conference, claim the Beanpot Championship and advance to the Frozen Four. Stack finished her rookie season with 17 goals and 37 assists for 54 points and was named Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Stack would go on to graduate as the program's all-time leader in points (209), goals (98) and assists (111) and still ranks fourth in goals, third in points and fifth in assists in the record books. The Brooklyn Heights, Ohio native earned a number of honors during her time as an Eagle. Stack was named the 2009 Beanpot Most Valuable Player, the 2011 New England Player of the Year, a two-time All-American, two-time Hockey East scoring champion, a three-time Hockey East Player of the Year, and was a 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award Top-3 Finalist. While Stack was at Boston College, the Eagles won three Beanpot titles, one conference tournament and advanced to the Frozen Four twice. As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Stack earned a silver medal in 2010 and the 2014 Olympics and was a member of five gold-medal winning World Championship squads.

Brian Gionta '01  (Men's Ice Hockey) – One of the greatest goal scorers in Boston College history, Gionta was a three-time Hobey Baker finalist (1999, 2000 & '01). A native of Rochester, New York, Gionta graduated as the program's all-time leader in goals (123) and hat tricks (nine). He ranks second all-time in points (232) behind David Emma and sits eighth in assists (109). The forward led the team in points in the '98-99 season (60) and in 2000-01 with 54 points. Gionta paced the team in goals scored in '99-00 & '00-01 with 33 each season. He was the team captain of the national championship team in 2000-01 and the assistant captain in 99-00. Gionta was a three-time First Team All-American ('99, '00 & '01). He was the Hockey East Player of the Year in 2001 and the Rookie of the Year in 1998. A Walter Brown Award winner in 2001, Gionta was named BC's Eagle of the Year in 2001 as a senior. Selected in the third round of the 1998 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Gionta won the 2003 Stanley Cup with the Devils. He played from 2001-18 and became only the 43rd American to skate in 1,000 career NHL games. He also was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 2006 and 2018, serving as team captain in PyeongChang, South Korea. Gionta is currently working in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres.

Lou Papadellis '81  (Men's Soccer) – From day one, Papadellis was a standout on the BC men's soccer team as he took over the central midfield position. When Papadellis arrived the team was a .500 program, by his senior season the Eagles posted an impressive 16-3-3 record and won the ECAC Championship. A native of Framingham, Mass., Papadellis was a three-time Greater Boston League All-Star, three-time All New England selection and played in the College All-Star game in 1979 and 1980. When Papadellis graduated he held eight program records – most assists in one game (8), most assists in one season (14), most points in one season (19), most career points (46), most career assists (26), most career starts, game started and most games played (75). Papadellis was the head coach of the boys' soccer team at Natick High School for 20 years. He currently works as a group sales representative at Shining Rock Golf Course in Northbridge.

Owen Murphy '26  (Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track & Field) – The BC Varsity Club Veteran's selection, Owen Murphy excelled in four sports while a student-athlete at the Heights. A native of Bellows Falls, Vermont, Murphy shined on the gridiron as a punter and running back. He played for legendary coach Frank "The Iron Major" Cavanaugh from 1923-25. In his three seasons, BC went 19-6-1. On the hardwood, Murphy was a defensive guard, while competing in the shot put, discus, broad jump and sprints on the track. He was a pitcher, catcher and infielder and hit over .400 over two seasons on the diamond. Murphy earned three letters in football, two in baseball one in basketball and one on the track. Upon graduation, Murphy played professional baseball, semi-pro football and raised a family of four daughters in Claremont, New Hampshire. He also became a member of the New Hampshire State Legislature and House of Representatives.

Eight to be Inducted into BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame

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