GREENVILLE, S.C. – A pioneer men's basketball player, three-time SoCon Golfer of the Year, three-sport All-American in cross country and track, and one of the most decorated women's tennis players in Furman history comprise the Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which was announced today.
Men's basketball player Joe Brunson, men's golf standout Keller Harper, two-time All-American tennis player Katarina Kozarov, and All-American cross country and track star Gabbi Jennings will be inducted into the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame on a date to be announced.
"We are proud to announce another exceptional Furman University Hall of Fame class that reflects the rich tradition, history, and excellence of Paladin Athletics," said Jason Donnelly, Furman's Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics. "This year's class includes a Furman basketball legend, a three-time Southern Conference Golfer of the Year, a remarkable three-sport All-American in cross country and track & field, and one of the most accomplished tennis players in program history. Each of these individuals made a lasting impact on Furman Athletics through their achievements, leadership, and commitment to excellence, and we are thrilled to celebrate their legacy as members of the Furman University Athletics Hall of Fame."
Brunson, the first black basketball player in Furman history, was a standout forward for the Paladins in a two-year career that saw him average 13.0 points and 15.9 rebounds per game. His 16.1 rebounding average his senior season remains a school record, as does his 15.9 career clip. He twice earned Southern Conference All-Tournament honors and was an All-SoCon selection in 1970. A longtime Panama City, Fla., resident who passed away in 2000, he registered eight of Furman's top 20 single game rebounding performances, including six of 25 or more. Brunson holds the unique honor of being drafted professionally in two sports, going in the 12th round to the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970 NBA Draft and 17th round as a defensive tackle to the Chicago Bears in the 1970 NFL Draft.
Harper, Furman's only three-time SoCon Men's Golfer of the Year, became the Paladins' first all-region selection when he was named to the 2021 Division I PING East All-Region Team. He joined Hall of Famer Brad Faxon as one of only two players in program history to compete as an individual in multiple NCAA Regionals, where he tied for 14th at the 2021 NCAA Tallahassee Regional and 25th at the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional. Harper won the 2018 River Run Collegiate, marking the Paladins' first individual win in four years, and went on to notch four career victories, the second-most in program history. He ranks third at Furman in both season stroke average (70.7) and career stroke average (72.0).
Jennings garnered All-America citations in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during her Paladin career. A three-time All-American in the 3,000m Steeplechase, she was voted the 2020-21 SoCon Female Athlete of the Year after earning first-team All-America honors by virtue of her seventh-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She received an All-America scroll for her 20th-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships and qualified for 2020 NCAA indoor championship in the mile, where she also earned an All-America citation. Jennings, who led Furman to SoCon cross country titles each year she competed, runs professionally with Adidas/Team Boss and finished fourth in the Steeplechase at the 2024 Olympic Trials, where she recorded a time of 9:12.08 in the finals, the seventh-best women's Steeplechase time in U.S. history.
Kozarov is the only two-time ITA All-American in Furman women's tennis history. She became just the second Paladin women's tennis All-American in 2020, then repeated the feat after ranking as high as seventh nationally in singles and 16th in doubles in 2021. A three-time SoCon Player of the Year selection and the 2020 NCAA Most Improved Senior, she posted a 91-17 career singles record and 29-0 singles worksheet in SoCon play. Furman's career singles victories (91) and combined singles and doubles victories (168) leader, she holds an .823 combined career singles and doubles winning percentage. The recipient of seven All-SoCon citations, she led Furman to a No. 23 ITA national ranking, the highest in program history at the time, a perfect 29-0 SoCon record, four SoCon regular season titles, four SoCon tournament titles, and four NCAA team tournament appearances.
