COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three former Benedict College student-athletes have been selected for induction into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame.
The newest inductees are Kris Bruton (Class of 1994), Joe-Ann Brown Ingram-Lys (Class of 1979) and Royton Williams (Class of 2002).
The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Bush River Road. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Kris Bruton, Basketball
Kris Bruton did not play organized basketball before enrolling at Benedict College, where he impressed men's head basketball coach
Willie Washington during pickup games and was offered a spot on the team. Bruton's basketball career skyrocketed, as he went on to earn NAIA First Team All-America honors and win the 1994 College Slam Dunk Contest as a college senior.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1994, but various injuries derailed his NBA career. He continued to play professionally in the CBA, as well as Europe and Japan. He returned home to play for Greenville in the NBA Developmental League, during which time one of his coaches, Milton Barnes (who was a former Globetrotters coach) recommended he give the Globetrotters a shot, and he signed a contract with the team in 2001.
Bruton played his first game with the Globetrotters in December 2001 where his unique jumping abilities made him an early crowd favorite. During a tour of the Bahamas, Bruton and several other Globetrotters attempted to break the world record for highest slam dunk. While eyewitnesses allege that he successfully completed a dunk at 12 feet, 1 inch, thus breaking the record, on-site judges declared it an illegal dunk.
Joe-Ann Brown Ingram-Lys, Softball and Volleyball
Joe-Ann Brown was a standout two-sport athlete for Benedict College, excelling in softball and volleyball. She was a four-year letterman in both sports and earned All-State honors in softball.
As a sophomore, her leadership skills earned her the softball sportsmanship award for her outstanding participation, contributions, spirit, honesty, and integrity she brought to the game. Joe-Ann was the starting center fielder and hit fourth in the line-up, earning the name “Slugger.” As a senior she was awarded the Most Valuable Player in softball and was Benedict's first player to be named to the South Carolina Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (SCAlAW) All-State Softball Team.
After graduating from Benedict College with a degree in Physical Education, she went on to earn her Masters of Science in Elementary Education from Nova Southeastern University and has been a successful Elementary Education teacher for over 20 years in Orlando, Florida.
During her tenure as a teacher in 1999, she was chosen as Teacher of the Year at Hidden Oaks Elementary School. In 2004, she was awarded the caring and sharing award for her work with at-risk ninth-grade students. And in April 2011, she was the top teacher recruiter of the month for Orange County Public School Teacher's Union.
She has dedicated her life to serving others in her community and church. She is a charter member of the New Covenant Baptist church of Orlando. While attending New Covenant she has served as a youth leader, summer camp teacher, Sunday school teacher, choir member, Bible study, and various volunteer opportunities at her church. Joe-Ann is very passionate about giving back to her community. She has made a lifetime commitment to serving others. This diamond-life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serves as the Second Vice President of her beloved sorority. You can find her working with voter registration, feeding the hungry, campaigning for the Red Cross blood drive, supporting UNCF, delivering care packages to the nursing home, and reading books at an underprivileged daycare center.
Royton Williams, Football and Track and Field
Royton Williams came to Benedict College on a track scholarship, and later became a standout on the football field after joining the team as a walkon. After initially seeing action only on kickoff and punt return teams, he eventually became the starting quarterback for the Tigers during the 1998 season, only the team's third year after Benedict had revived the program in 1995.
In his first game as a starter, he rushed for 45 yards, rushed for one touchdown and threw for another to lead the Tigers to a 30-27 win over Morris Brown. He followed that performance by leading the Tigers to a 26-13 victory over Lane by rushing for 83 yards and passing for a touchdown.
Benedict then took on eighth-ranked Fort Valley State team. In his third start, he rushed for 185 yards and threw for another touchdown as the Tigers narrowly fell in their upset bid, losing 38-37 when Fort Valley State scored the winning points in the final 29 seconds.
In the final game of the season, he led the Tigers on a winning scoring drive with a minute and a half left in the game. He engineered an 84-yard drive, culminating with a four-yard scoring toss to Bernard Keitt to tie the game with seven seconds left. Kevin Harris kicked the extra point to give Benedict the 34-33 victory.
Royton led the Tigers in rushing during his freshman season in 1998 with 530 yards and two touchdowns and completed 20 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns for 853 yards of total offense.
