Georgia greats Alec Kessler, Willie McClendon and Hope Spivey entering Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Three former University of Georgia Bulldogs are entering the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Willie McClendon, Hope Spivey and the late Alec Kessler are among eight members in the Hall’s Class of 2015.

Kessler is the most decorated and accomplished player in the history of Georgia basketball. In his last collegiate game, he became Georgia’s all-time leading scorer with 1,788 points. He still ranks #2 behind Litterial Green. He ranks third in career rebounding and is one of only three Georgia players ranking in the top 10 in both categories. No other player ranks in the top five in both categories. He is the career leader in free throws made.

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Kessler is one of only seven Georgia players twice picked first team All-SEC. He is one of only seven Georgia basketball All-Americans.

After graduation, the Roswell GA native was the 12th pick overall in the 1990 NBA Draft, taken by the Houston Rockets, who then traded him to the Miami Heat.

It is arguable that Kessler is the most decorated and accomplished Georgia basketball player. There is no question he is the finest example of student-athlete ever at University of Georgia.

In addition to his basketball achievements, Kessler, was a CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in 1989 and 1990, an award that covers every student-athlete in every NCAA-sponsored sport. Kessler graduated summa cum laude from UGA in 1990 with a 3.9 grade point average in Microbiology. After four seasons playing for the Miami Heat, he retired and embarked upon a career in medicine.

McClendon set a school record with 1,312 yards rushing while leading the Bulldog football team within a point of the 1978 SEC Championship.

The same year, McClendon was Georgia’s Outstanding Offensive Player, First Team All-SEC and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with 2,228 rushing yards and averaged 119.3 yards per game in 1978. He was a third round draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1979 where he played for four seasons. The Brunswick, Ga., native completed his professional career playing three seasons with the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL.

Spivey, a native of Suffolk, Va., helped lead the Gym Dogs to a national title in 1993, also claiming individual national titles on vault, floor exercise and the all-around in 1991 and the floor exercise again in 1994. During her career, Spivey totaled 13 All-America honors, three individual SEC championships and 24 perfect scores (17 floor, 7 vault). She earned a bronze medal on the vault at the 1993 World University Games, leading the U.S. team to a second-place finish. As a freshman, Spivey earned the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top gymnast.

The Macon City Auditorium will host the 2015 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the

Along with Kessler, McClendon and Spivey, the 2015 class includes William Fulcher, Bobby Hendley, Reg Murphy, John Schuerholz and Charlie Ward. The induction process began with a starting pool of 189 nominees narrowed through a three-tiered screening process and culminating with the Honors Court meeting.