Richard Stockton College held its 2012 Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame dinner in the Campus Center Event Room on October 5. Kelli Bakanowsky '03 (women's basketball), George Briscoe '88 (men's basketball), Donald Ellison '87 (men's basketball), Shannon Keelan '00 (women's soccer) and the 1986-87 Stockton Men's Basketball Team comprised Stockton's third Hall of Fame class. For the 1986-87 team, the banquet also served as a 25th anniversary celebration.

The program began with the inductions of Briscoe and Ellison, a pair of two-time NJAC First Team selections who were key players on Stockton's 1987 Final Four Team. Briscoe invited several people who have been influential in his life to the stage including his mother, wife brother, daughter and Stockton Provost & Executive Vice-President Dr. Harvey Kesselman who was director of Stockton's Educational Opportunity Fund program when Briscoe attended Stockton.
Ellison, a four-time NJAC all-conference selection and 1987 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team honoree, succeeded Briscoe on the dais. Ellison said of the honor, “I have been truly blessed since way, way back.” After the inductions of the former Stockton basketball teammates, there was a break in the ceremonies for a buffet dinner and dessert.

The inductions resumed after the meal with women's basketball player Kelli Bakanowsky whose lengthy list of accomplishments includes 2003 Kodak/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, 2000 NJAC Rookie of the Year and four NJAC all-conference selections.  Among others, she thanked Stockton head coach Joe Fussner “for challenging me on a daily basis” and said that her 6-foot-10 brother Will had the biggest impact on her development as a player.
Shannon Keelan, a 1998 Third Team All-American in women's soccer, was the next inductee to take the stage.  In addition to her stellar play on the pitch, Keelan's time at Stockton also included recovery from a torn ACL and nearly three seasons of women's basketball during which she averaged 11.7 points per game.  “My father told me 'don't ever think that you are the best because then you have no room for improvement', and I reminded myself that every day,” Keelan said.

The induction of the 1986-87 men's basketball team began with remarks from Stockton Provost & Executive Vice-President Dr. Harvey Kesselman, a long-time Stockton administrator and alumnus. “The players on the 86-87 team were tight, bonded, and very proud to represent Stockton. They had a swagger and confidence, which permeated the entire campus.  They helped put the Stockton athletics program on the map,” Kesselman said before introducing head coach Gerry Matthews.

Matthews commented that the only thing that he would like to change from the entire 1986-87 season was a knee injury suffered by Briscoe in the NCAA quarterfinals that left the Ospreys without their star point guard in the Final Four. He also spoke about the success of Stockton athletics over the past 25 years and said, “This team did it first.” His 1986-87 team was the College's first NJAC champion and first NCAA Final Four team in any sport.

Pat Mullahey was the primary speaker on behalf of the men's basketball players, but teammates Ray Magee and Dave Smith also made remarks.  Mullahey reflected on the season in a lighthearted way and Magee called Matthews a father figure to him and remarked that Matthews would always tell him, “It's not about you Ray, it's about the team.” After that, the players and coaches received their Hall of Fame trophies to cap the third annual Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame ceremonies.