2026 SALUQI HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Congratulations to the Honorees!
Friday, November 6, 2026
Saluqi Hall of Fame Brunch
11:00 am (10:30 am doors open)
Union Avenue Campus
Jess H. Parrish Library
The Department of Athletics is pleased to announce 2026 Saluqi Hall of Fame Brunch, a distinguished celebration honoring the achievements and lasting contributions of the Saluqis’ Hall of Fame Class of 2026. These exceptional individuals have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments, exemplary leadership, and positive impact on our community. Congratulations to all our honorees!
1997-98 Shelby State Community College Men’s Basketball Team
The 1997-98 Shelby State Community College men's basketball team, now recognized as part of the proud tradition of Southwest Tennessee Community College, authored one of the most successful seasons in program history.
Led by Head Coach Verties Sails Jr. the Saluqis compiled an outstanding 27-8 overall record, captured the NJCAA Region VII Championship, and advanced to the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship Game in Ottumwa, Iowa. Their remarkable postseason run culminated in a national runner-up finish, the highest achievement in program history and one of the greatest accomplishments ever recorded by a Tennessee community college basketball program.
Throughout the season, the Saluqis displayed elite talent, relentless defense, and exceptional team chemistry while competing against the nation's top junior college programs. Their journey to the national championship game elevated Shelby State onto the national stage and established a standard of excellence that continues to inspire Saluqi student-athletes today. The team ultimately finished second in the nation after falling to undefeated Indian Hills Community College in the national championship game.
The squad was anchored by one of the greatest players in school history, Lorico Duncan, who earned NJCAA First-Team All-American honors after averaging 24.1 points per game and setting school single-season records with 845 points and 165 steals. Duncan was also named TCCAA Player of the Year, TCCAA West Division Player of the Year, All-Region VII, All-TCCAA, and All-TCCAA West Division. He concluded his Saluqi career with 1,240 points, which ranks among the top scoring totals in program history.
The championship team featured several standout performers, including Arthur Faulkner and Gerald Burris, who joined Duncan as All-TCCAA West Division selections during the 1997-98 season. Duncan was also recognized nationally as a member of the 1997-98 NJCAA First-Team All-American Team, placing him among the elite junior college players in the country.
More than just wins and accolades, the 1997-98 Saluqis represented a defining moment in the history of Shelby State athletics. Their Region VII Championship, national tournament run, and runner-up finish brought national recognition to the institution and cemented their legacy as one of the greatest teams ever to wear the Saluqi uniform. Nearly three decades later, the accomplishments of the 1997-98 men's basketball team remain a benchmark for competitive excellence and a source of pride for Southwest Tennessee Community College Athletics.
Team Honors & Accomplishments
- NJCAA Division I National Runner-Up
- NJCAA Region VII Champions
- 27-8 Overall Record
- Advanced to the NJCAA National Championship Game
- Featured NJCAA First-Team All-American Lorico Duncan
- Produced the TCCAA Player of the Year and TCCAA West Division Player of the Year in Lorico Duncan
1984-85 Shelby State Community College Women’s Basketball Team
The 1984-85 Shelby State Community College women's basketball team established itself as one of the premier junior college teams in the nation, producing one of the most successful seasons in program history. Competing under the leadership of Head Coach Herbert Wright Jr., the Lady Saluqis compiled an outstanding 27-3 overall record and finished the season ranked third in the nation, a remarkable achievement that remains one of the highest national finishes ever attained by the program.
The 1984-85 squad combined talent, discipline, and competitive excellence to elevate Shelby State onto the national stage. Their 27 victories established a program standard for success and remain tied for the most wins by a Lady Saluqi team in a single season. The team's accomplishments helped build the foundation for decades of women's basketball excellence and solidified Shelby State's reputation as one of the nation's top junior college programs.
Guiding the Lady Saluqis was Herbert Wright Jr., one of the most influential figures in the history of Shelby State athletics. From 1984 to 1996, Wright led the women's basketball program to more than 160 victories, and his 1984-85 team became the benchmark by which future Lady Saluqi teams would be measured. His leadership, vision, and commitment to student-athlete success helped transform the program into a perennial contender.
The success of the 1984-85 team also featured several players whose careers would leave a lasting mark on the program's record books. Members of that era, including standout performers such as Phillis Vaughn and Gale Wright, would go on to become among the all-time leaders in rebounding and steals in Lady Saluqi history. Their contributions helped establish a winning culture that continued throughout the 1980s and beyond.
As Shelby State Community College evolved into Southwest Tennessee Community College, the legacy of the 1984-85 Lady Saluqis remained a cornerstone of the institution's athletic tradition. Nearly four decades later, their 27-3 record, national prominence, and commitment to excellence continue to serve as a source of pride and inspiration for generations of Saluqi student-athletes.
Team Honors & Accomplishments:
- 27-3 Overall Record
- 3rd Place National Finish
- Tied School Record for Wins in a Season (27)
- Coached by Herbert Wright Jr., who led the Lady Saluqis to more than 160 victories during his tenure.
- Established one of the defining seasons in the history of Lady Saluqi Basketball.
The 1984-85 Lady Saluqis are remembered not only for their victories but for setting a standard of championship-level performance that helped shape the history and tradition of women's athletics at Southwest Tennessee Community College.
- Featured NJCAA First-Team All-American Lorico Duncan
- Produced the TCCAA Player of the Year and TCCAA West Division Player of the Year in Lorico Duncan
Daniel Adams, Baseball Player, 2004 Season
A 2002 graduate of Bartlett High School, Daniel Adams distinguished himself as one of the premier pitchers in Southwest Tennessee Community College baseball history.
Following his freshman season at the University of Memphis, where he redshirted, Adams transferred to Southwest Tennessee Community College and quickly became the cornerstone of a championship-caliber pitching staff.
During the 2004 season, Adams emerged as the ace of the Saluqis' Region Championship team. He started 14 games, logged 94 innings, and recorded 97 strikeouts while compiling a 7-3 record. His dominance on the mound and unwavering competitiveness were instrumental in leading Southwest Tennessee to regional success.
Adams' performance during the 2004 Regional Tournament remains one of the most memorable pitching displays in program history. In the opening round, he delivered an outstanding eight-inning victory over Columbia State. Four days later, with a championship on the line, Adams once again rose to the occasion, throwing eight innings in a championship-game victory over Walters State. For his exceptional efforts throughout the tournament, he was named the 2004 Region Tournament Most Valuable Player.
After his successful career at Southwest Tennessee, Adams continued both his academic and athletic journey at Union University, where he completed his education and collegiate baseball career.
Today, Daniel resides in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with his wife, Sarah, and their three children, Isaac, Abigail, and Chloe. He is employed by Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance and continues to represent the values of hard work, perseverance, and excellence that defined his time as a Saluqi student-athlete.
Southwest Tennessee Community College Athletics is proud to recognize Daniel Adams as a member of the 2026 Saluqis Hall of Fame Class for his outstanding contributions to Saluqi Baseball and his lasting impact on the institution's athletic legacy.
Haylee McNatt, Softball Player, 2012-2013 Seasons
Few players in Southwest softball history have impacted the program the way Haylee Power McNatt did during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
After overcoming a serious knee injury that sidelined her for two years while attending Austin Peay State University, Haylee transferred to Southwest and quickly became one of the most dominant two-way players in school history.
Coach Keith Gentry has often described Haylee as a candidate for the Lady Saluqis' "Mount Rushmore," calling her perhaps the best combination pitcher and hitter the program has ever had. Her freshman season in 2012 was one for the record books. Despite Southwest starting the year 1-9, Haylee helped lead the team to a remarkable turnaround and a historic run to the TCCAA/Region VII Tournament Final Four, still the program's best postseason finish.
At the plate, Haylee led the team with a .394 batting average, 9 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .606 slugging percentage. In the circle, she posted a school-record 26 wins, a 3.76 ERA, and 159 strikeouts while pitching an incredible 301.2 innings. She earned Second Team All-TCCAA honors.
As a sophomore in 2013, Haylee continued to excel, earning First Team All-TCCAA recognition after leading Southwest with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, a 3.03 ERA, and 9 pitching victories.
Today, Haylee is a wife, mother of five, small business owner, and softball instructor. She remains connected to the game through private lessons and previously returned to Southwest as a pitching coach, continuing her legacy of service to the Lady Saluqi softball program.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Saluqi Hall of Fame Brunch
11:00 am (10:30 am doors open)
Union Avenue Campus
Jess H. Parrish Library