NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Albertus Magnus College will induct eight former student-athletes into its Classes of 2020 & 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 29, prior to the women's and men's basketball doubleheader against Johnson & Wales (RI) University.
The newest members of the Hall of Fame include Lianna Carrero '14 (women's basketball), Michael Choiniere '15 (men's lacrosse), Nick Hamasian '13 (men's soccer), Jamal Howard '13 (men's soccer), Tabitha Wazorko Manafort '94 (softball and women's basketball), Walden St. Juste '11 (men's basketball), Jaqhawn Walters '18 (posthumously) (men's basketball), and Darius Watson '14 (men's basketball).
The event will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the newly renovated Behan Community Room in the Hubert Campus Center. Following the ceremony, the inductees will join President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D. in "The Nest" in the Athletic Center for a reception during the women's basketball game at 1:00 pm followed by the men's basketball game at 3:00 pm. Prior to the men's game, the Hall of Fame Classes of 2020 & 2022 will be recognized at mid-court.
The Albertus Magnus College Athletics Hall of Fame, which held its first induction ceremony in 2008, has 23 members, including 16 student-athletes, five head coaches, two teams, and a pair of special honorees.
Following are biographies on the 2020 & 2022 Albertus Magnus Athletics Hall of Fame inductees:
Lianna Carrero, Women's Basketball
Three-time Academic All-District • Two-Time Academic All-America • All-Region • Three-time All-Conference • GNAC Player of the Year • ECAC New England • Set the single-season record for points scored, free-throw percentage, points per game, and field goal attempts • Second all-time in scoring with 1,905
Michael Choiniere, Men's Lacrosse
Academic All-American • All-District • GNAC All-Academic Team • Two-time GNAC All-Conference • Leads program in points per game and goals per game • Leads the single-season records in points, points per game, goal, goals per game, assists, assists per game, and man-up goals
Nick Hamasian, Men's Soccer
Two-time All-New England • Four-time All-Conference • Two-Time GNAC Defender of the Year •GNAC All-Tournament Team • GNAC Champion (2012)
Jamal Howard, Men's Soccer
All-American • Two-time All-New England • Three-Time All-Conference • GNAC Player of the Year • GNAC All-Tournament Team • ECAC DIII New England All-Star • Leads the program in points and goals • Leads the single-season record for goals and points
Tabitha Wazorko Manafort, Softball and Women's Basketball
Tabitha Manafort was a four-sport athlete at Albertus, participating in cross-country, women's tennis, women's basketball, and softball. She was also instrumental in helping both the College and athletic department in transitioning to NCAA Athletics. On the softball team, she served as the team's starting catcher and was part of the 1992 softball team, where the Falcons were ranked 13th in scoring and 15th in slugging percentage. On the basketball court, Manafort was an elite defender and helped her team set national DIII records for field goal percentage and for the fewest points allowed. Manafort is currently serving on the College's Board of Trustees and is a proud supporter of Falcon athletics.
Walden St. Juste, Men's Basketball
Two-Time All-Conference • GNAC Tournament MVP (09-10) • GNAC Champion (09-10) • Program's first NCAA Tournament Appearance • Program's First NCAA Tournament Win • Seventh all-time in scoring with 1,433 points • 5th all-time in three-point field goals made • Second all-time in steals.
Jaqhawn Walters, Men's Basketball
Two-time All-American • Two-time All-Region • Three-time All-Conference • Two-Time GNAC Player of the Year • GNAC Tournament MVP • NABC DIII National All-Star Game • Bevo Francis Top 50 & 25 Watch List • Fourth all-time in scoring with 1,821 points • Led nation in rebounding and field goals made (17-18) • 2nd in NCAA in double-doubles • 6th in NCAA in scoring at 26.5 PPG • Top 6 in NCAA in 10 different statistical categories • Led GNAC in scoring and rebounding • Four-year record of 92-20 • Two-time GNAC Champion • Two NCAA Tournament berths
Darius Watson, Men's Basketball
Two-time All-American • Two-time NABC All-District • All-New England • All-Region • Three-time All-Conference • GNAC Rookie of the Year • GNAC Player of the Year • Three consecutive GNAC Championships • GNAC All-Tournament Team • NABC DIII National All-Star Game • Third all-time in scoring with 2,158 points • Four-year record of 88-21 • National record for 36 consecutive conference wins
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About Albertus Magnus College
Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925, is a Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. It is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students across its traditional undergraduate program, accelerated adult degree program, and 12 graduate programs. Recently, the College launched new Bachelor degree programs in Interdisciplinary Studies, Supply Chain Management, and Game and Computer Arts, and among its graduate programs is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program. Also recently, the College received two significant federal grants in support of student success and well-being: a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice and a $1.9 million Title III grant from the Department of Education. Just four years out from its historic 100th Anniversary Year, Albertus is implementing its new strategic plan, Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century, which identifies and outlines a bold vision for the future in which the College will be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success.
