Nov. 16, 2015 PITTSBURGH – Men's basketball player Aaron Jackson A'09, women's basketball player Kristi Little-Kaack A'09, football player Niel Loebig E'05, GLPA'10, golfer Paul Sciullo A'95 and swimmer Ed Wicker B'07 comprise the 2015-16 Merle E. Gilliand Duquesne University Sports Hall of Fame class announced today.
The fivesome will be formally inducted on Friday, February 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Power Center Ballroom on the Duquesne campus. The Hall of Fame class of 2015-16 will also be honored at the Duquesne vs. Davidson men's basketball game on Saturday, February 6th at A.J. Palumbo Center.
Jackson (2006-09), a first team All-Atlantic 10 pick in 2009, finished his career with 1,428 points in a school record-tying 120 consecutive games played (did not miss a game in his career). The top shooting guard in school history (.521), Jackson helped Duquesne increase its win total from 3-24 as a freshman to 10-19 as a sophomore, 17-13 as a junior and 21-13 as a senior. The 21-13 2009 team earned a spot in the NIT, marking DU's first post-season appearance since 1994. Jackson earned a spot on the 2009 All-Atlantic 10 Championship team after leading the Dukes to three wins in three nights and an appearance in the title game for the first time since 1981. Jackson is currently playing professionally for CSKA Moscow.
Little-Kaack (2006-09) played a key role in the resurgence of the women's basketball program. The lone senior on Duquesne's first WNIT and 20-win team in 2009, Little was just the second player in Atlantic 10 history to be named conference Defensive Player of the Year twice (2008 & 2009). A first team All-A-10 pick in 2009, Little finished her career with 1,266 points, 458 assists and 276 steals. The two-year captain started 82 times, including the final 59 games of her career.
Loebig (2001-04), the only four-time first team all-conference pick in school history (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), was just the fifth Division I-AA quarterback to throw for over 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. The only player in school history to throw for 2,000 yards and 20 TDs in each of four seasons, Loebig led the Dukes to a 34-9-0 record and four-straight MAAC Championships while never losing a conference game (23-0). Loebig, who threw for over 300 yards in a game 15 times, finished his career as the holder of 13 of 15 school passing records.
Sciullo (1992-95), a product of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, played varsity golf for the Dukes. An accomplished hockey player, Sciullo also played for the club team at Duquesne, before and injury led him to devote his time full-time to golf. As a junior in the fall of 1993, Sciullo was the medalist at St. Bonaventure's Leo Keenan Invitational, shooting a 72. Sciullo who went on to become a City of Pittsburgh Police officer, was killed in the line-of-duty on April 4, 2009, while responding to a distress call in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Duquesne's McAnulty College of Liberal Arts currently honors Sciullo - who was a Dean's List student - with the annual Paul Sciullo Award. The Sciullo Award is presented annually to a graduating senior (or seniors) recognizes and celebrates exceptional community service - service that clearly exceeds the requirements of the service learning courses that are included in a student's curriculum.
Wicker (2003-07), a six-time Atlantic 10 Champion, finished his career as the school record holder in the 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay and 800 free relay. Wicker was the first Duke to win an A-10 title when he took first in the 100 free as a freshman in 2002-03.
Tickets to the Feb. 5 banquet and induction ceremony, will soon be available by contacting Department of Athletics Assistant Director/Administration Natalie Hozak at 412-396-6566 (hozakn@duq.edu). Seating is limited.
