A’ja Wilson Leads 2024 USC Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina legend and WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson will be honored this fall as one of six former Gamecock athletes inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame. The university announced Monday that Wilson headlines the 2024 class, which will be celebrated at a ceremony on October 23 hosted by the USC Association of Lettermen and recognized again during the Gamecocks’ home football game against Alabama on October 25.
Joining Wilson in this year’s prestigious class are:
- Natasha Hastings – Women’s Track & Field (2005–2007)
- Brandon Hulko – Men’s Diving (1999–2002)
- Paul Jubb – Men’s Tennis (2016–2020)
- Akram Mahmoud – Swimming (2014–2018)
- Mollie Patton – Women’s Soccer (2006–2010)
A’ja Wilson: One of USC’s Greatest Athletes
A true Gamecock icon, A’ja Wilson is the first four-time All-American in program history, with three of those selections being first-team nods (2016–2018). She led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Championship in 2017, was a three-time SEC Player of the Year (2016–2018), and earned SEC Female Athlete of the Year in 2018. Her accolades also include two SEC Defensive Player of the Year titles and the 2015 SEC Freshman of the Year honor.
Wilson holds USC’s all-time records in points (2,389), blocks (363), and blocks per game (2.6), and ranks fourth in rebounds (1,195). She was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Final Four and a two-time SEC Tournament MVP. Her No. 22 jersey was officially retired last season.
After being selected No. 1 overall by Las Vegas in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Wilson has gone on to become a three-time WNBA MVP and won Olympic gold with Team USA in both 2020 and 2024.
Natasha Hastings: Sprinting Star Turned Olympian
Natasha Hastings had an elite collegiate and international career, becoming a 10-time All-American and a three-time NCAA champion. In 2007, she swept both indoor and outdoor 400m national titles. She’s also a seven-time SEC champion and holds USC’s indoor 400m record (50.80). Hastings was named the 2007 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and went on to represent Team USA at three Olympic Games, winning gold in the 4x400m relay in 2008 and 2016.
Brandon Hulko: Diving Excellence
Brandon Hulko was a standout diver for USC, earning All-American status four times—three times in the 1-meter dive (2000–2002) and once in the 3-meter (2000). A finalist at both the NCAA and SEC Championships all four years, Hulko also brought home three SEC bronze medals and was named South Carolina’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2002.
Paul Jubb: Tennis History Maker
Paul Jubb made school history in 2019 by winning the NCAA Singles National Championship—USC’s first ever in the sport—by defeating the nation’s No. 1 player in the final. That same year, he went 38-4 overall, the fifth-best season record in program history. His 11 SEC wins at the No. 1 position and 23 victories over ranked opponents are both program records. He earned All-SEC honors in 2018 and 2019 and received the National Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership & Scholarship Award in 2020.
Akram Mahmoud: Record-Breaking Swimmer
A 10-time All-American, Akram Mahmoud dominated long-distance freestyle events. He earned All-American honors in the 500-yard and 1,650-yard freestyle and was a three-time SEC Champion in the 1,650. Mahmoud took silver in that event at the 2016 NCAA Championships and represented Egypt at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He still holds USC records in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.
Mollie Patton: Gamecock Goalkeeping Great
As a dominant force in net, Mollie Patton still holds the single-season school record for shutouts (15 in 2009). Her career numbers are equally impressive: third in total shutouts (31), second in goals against average (0.73), and fifth in saves (201). A two-time team MVP and CoSIDA Academic All-American, Patton also earned the prestigious President’s Award during her senior year in 2010.
These six former student-athletes represent the highest standard of excellence in South Carolina athletics and will now take their rightful place in the university’s Hall of Fame.
