USC Upstate Announces 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Upstate athletic department has announced that former student-athletes Gaither Bumgardner, Ryan Cornfield, Torrey Craig, Ty Greene, and Gilbert Kemboi will be inducted into the USC Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame.

"Although the induction ceremony will be virtual and therefore look a little different this year due to Covid-19, I am so excited to celebrate the athletic achievements of this year's class," said Director of Athletics Daniel Feig. "Gaither Bumgardner, Ryan Cornfield, Torrey Craig, Ty Greene and Gilbert Kemboi all left a lasting legacy at USC Upstate through their tremendous athletic achievements, and I am so proud of their success. They each helped lay a foundation for future generations of Spartan success, and I'm so honored to welcome each of them into our Hall of Fame!"

Torrey Craig (Great Falls, S.C.) – Headlines this year's USC Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame class. Craig played for USC Upstate from 2010-2014 and left as arguably the greatest player in program history. The Palmetto State native is one of just two Spartans to ever play in an NBA game, and he is the first Spartan to compete in an NBA Playoff series of any kind. As a member of the Denver Nuggets, Craig made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. This season, Craig has played with the Milwaukee Bucks and is currently a member of the Phoenix Suns. This past summer the Atlantic Sun Conference named him to the All-Decade Team for his performance on the court. Craig finished his career as a two-time All-American (2014 Lou Henson, 2012 AP Honorable Mention), a three-time First Team All-ASUN selection, the 2011-2012 ASUN Player of the Year Award, and the 2010-2011 ASUN Freshman of the Year Award. During the 2011-12 campaign, Craig led the ASUN in total points scored (559), scoring average (16.4) and field goals made (194). Craig also led the ASUN in scoring average during the 2012-13 season and topped the ASUN in field goals made for a final time during the 2013-14 campaign. The product of Great Falls, finished his career second All-Time in ASUN history in 3-pt field goals attempted (899), fifth All-Time in field goals attempted (1,808), sixth All-Time in points scored (2,128), sixth All-Time in total rebounds (944), seventh All-Time in 3pt-field goals made (297), ninth All-Time in made field goals (747), and ninth All-Time in double-doubles (25). Craig left USC Upstate as the All-Time leader in career rebounds and 3-pt field goals made. Craig finished second All-Time in Upstate history in points scored, third All-time in free throws made (338), fourth All-Time in field goals made, and fifth All-Time in blocked shots (101).

Gilbert Kemboi (Eldoret, Kenya) – Kemboi was a member of both the USC Upstate Cross Country and Track and Field programs from 2009-2013. This past summer Kemboi was named to the ASUN All-Decade team for both Cross Country and Track & Field. In Cross Country, Kemboi was a three-time ASUN Individual Champion and earned Runner of the Year honors from 2010-2012. The native of Kenya also took home Freshman of the Year honors in 2009 and was a member of two team championships in 2011 and 2012. Kemboi, was a two time All-Southeast Region selection and finished 42^nd at the 2012 NCAA Nationals, which is still the highest and fastest finish by an ASUN athlete. Kemboi holds the school records for fastest 8K (23: 22.28) and 10K (29.47.31).

On the Track, Kemboi continued his dominance as he captured 11 ASUN Championships in a four year span (6x 5000m, 3x 3000m, 2x 10,000m). In 2012 and 2013, Kemboi was named the ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year and the Most Outstanding Track Performer. In 2010, Kemboi took home ASUN Most Outstanding Freshman Performer. In back-to-back seasons, Kemboi finished inside the top-20 in the 10,000m event at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds. Kemboi currently holds the ASUN Record in the 8K (24:00.81) and his 2012 Championship in the 10,000m was the second fastest in ASUN meet history. Kemboi is the only runner in USC Upstate history to be both a four-time champion (5000m) and a three-time champion (3000m). In 2013 he finished runner-up in the Mile run and in 2011 he finished runner-up in the 3000m event. Kemboi holds the ASUN record for Indoor Track Athlete of the Week selections with 10 and he finished his career with a total of 16 in both Indoor and Outdoor. Kemboi is the USC Upstate record holder in the 3000m (8:20.05), Indoor 5000m (14:23.19), Outdoor 5000m (14:09.86) and the 10,000m (29:15.69). Kemboi is second All-Time in career points (126), third All-Time in the Mile run (4:17.94) and fourth All-Time in the 1500m (3:58.02).

Gaither Bumgardner (Great Falls, S.C.) – A two-way player for the Spartans baseball team from 2010-2013, Bumgardner was selected to the ASUN All-Decade team this past summer for his efforts on the field. A 23^rd Round Draft Pick by the New York Mets in 2013, Bumgardner took home ASUN Player of the Year honors in 2012, becoming the only player in the Division I era to earn such an honor. The Palmetto State native also earned First-Team accolades in 2012 and 2013. Holds three of the highest batting averages in a single season in school history (.376 -2012, .371-2011 and .354-2013). Bumgardner is the school record holder in hits with 266 base knocks. The Great Falls product ranks fifth all-time in at-bats (763), sixth all-time in triples (10), sixth all-time in runs scored (133), seventh all-time in games started (187), ninth all-time in RBI's (118), ninth all-time in pitching games started (28) and tenth all-time in games played (187). Bumgardner ranks top-five in the Division I era in batting average (.349), innings pitched (160.0), career strikeouts (122), stolen bases (21), shutouts, strikeout/per nine innings (6.86) and complete games (2). Bumgardner holds the record for most at-bats in a single season (243) and ranks second for most hits in a single season (86), most games played (58) and sacrifice hits (12).

Ryan Cornfield (Dudley, England) – Cornfield played on the USC Upstate golf team from 2012-2016, earned a spot on the ASUN All-Decade team earlier this year. The England native became the first Upstate golfer either male or female to qualify for the Division I NCAA Championships. Cornfield produced back-to-back top-25 finishes at the NCAA Regionals and produced a pair of top-10 finishes in the ASUN Championships. In the third round of the 2015 ASUN Championship, Cornfield carded the second lowest round in tournament history with a 66. Cornfield is one of just three Spartans to play in 120-plus career rounds and he ranks second all-time in school history with a 72.87 career stroke average. Cornfield holds the second highest winning percentage in school history at .813 and he holds the program record for lowest round at 64. The England native finished his career with two wins, 10 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes.

Ty Greene (Knoxville, Tenn.) – Greene a member of the ASUN All-Decade team played for USC Upstate from 2011-2015 and was drafted by the Delaware 87ers of the NBA D-League following his senior season. The Volunteer State native had a memorable career from start to finish at USC Upstate, beginning with his 2012 ASUN Freshman of the Year award and garnering Freshman All-America honors from CollegeInsider.com. Following his standout senior season, Greene earned ASUN Player of the Year honors, NABC All-District honors, All-America honors from both the AP and CollegeInsider.com, and took home the Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year award. In 2015, Greene finished 11^th nationally and led the ASUN conference in scoring average with 20.3 points per game. The Knoxville product finished top seven nationally and set the Division-I era school record in total points scored in a season during the 2015 campaign with 709. Greene left Upstate as the single season school record holder in three-pointers made (103) and field goals attempted (522). Greene tied the Division-I era record for points in a game with 39. Greene ranks second in program history in three-pointers made (285), three-pointers attempted (755), free throws made (419), free throws attempted (502), and games started (119). He ranks fourth all-time in points (1,884), field goals attempted (1447), and games played (128). Greene closed out his career ranking fifth all-time in field goals made (590), steals (128) and single season scoring average (20.3 ppg).

The Athletics Hall of Fame class will be honored this year within the program for Sparty's Ball and Auction on Saturday, May, 22, 2021.

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