CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former North Carolina Central University women's basketball student-athlete Amba Kongolo and men's basketball coach Greg Jackson have been selected as members of the 2022 John B. McLendon Hall of Fame Class, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announced on Tuesday.
 
Kongolo starred at NCCU from 1999-2002, as a two-time CIAA Player of the Year (2001, 2002) honoree, a three-time All-CIAA selection (1999, 2001, and 2002), a three-time CIAA All-Tournament Team member (2000-2002), and a 1999 CIAA All-Rookie Team pick. As a junior and senior, Kongolo was selected to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Championship All-Tournament Team and received All-America recognition from several outlets, including being named to the first team by Division II Bulletin in 2002.
 
Kongolo amassed 1,536 points (17.1 ppg), 833 rebounds (9.3 rpg), 225 blocked shots, 109 steals, and 87 assists, while registering 41 career double-doubles. She currently ranks among the top 25 on the CIAA all-time women's scoring list.
 
In 2002, Kongolo became the first CIAA player ever to be drafted by the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) after being selected in the fourth round (56th overall pick) by the Phoenix Mercury. She was inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
 
Jackson, who is being inducted as both a student-athlete and coach, was a four-year starter on the men's basketball team at Saint Paul's College and was an All-CIAA selection in 1980 and 1981. As a junior, Jackson was named CIAA Co-Player of the Year and earned All-America honors in 1980 after leading the nation in scoring at 30.5 points per game. He finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in SPC history with 2,249 points, which currently ranks 14th on the CIAA all-time scoring list. His jersey (#23) was the first to be retired in the school's history.
 
After his playing days, Jackson began his coaching career in 1983-84 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, St. Paul's College, under his college coach, Moses Golatt. In his career as a head coach, with stints at both North Carolina Central University and Delaware State University, Jackson amassed 363 wins, including a 176-57 overall record at NCCU. At NCCU, Jackson was a two-time CIAA Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993, led the Eagles to four 20-win seasons, and served as an assistant under Mike Bernard for seven seasons, including the 1988-89 campaign when the Eagles captured the NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
Jackson was also honored as the South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a 26-4 record and advancing to the Elite Eight. NCCU captured five CIAA division titles in nine seasons and made three NCAA playoff appearances with Jackson at the helm.
 
The CIAA recognizes inductees for their excellence in the conference, significant contributions in the community, leadership within CIAA athletics, and commitment to the conference mission. This year's class features six inductees, whose accolades and contributions within the conference span across six decades, to include Andre' Altice (Shaw University), Dr. Beverly Downing (Livingstone College/Saint Augustine's University), Gregory Goings (Bowie State University), Greg Jackson (Saint Paul's College/North Carolina Central University), Amba Kongolo (North Carolina Central University) and Jamie Waller (Virginia Union University).
 
The 2022 John B. McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at the CIAA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 25. The event will be a part of the week-long schedule of events encompassing the 2022 CIAA Basketball Tournament, being held Feb. 22-26 in Baltimore, Maryland. Ticket packages and information about the induction ceremony are available on the John B. McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame page at www.theciaa.com or https://theciaatournament.org.
 
Since its inception in 1967, the CIAA Hall of Fame has enshrined 299 honorees. It was renamed after legendary coach and administrator John B. McLendon in 2000. A 1978 Hall of Fame inductee, McLendon is also credited as one of the founding fathers of the CIAA Basketball Tournament, which began in 1946. For more information about the CIAA and the John B. McLendon Hall of Fame, visit www.theciaa.com.