Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Hebard Adding To Legacy In 24
11/09/17 | Women's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Eventually Oregon will retire the No. 24 worn so brilliantly by Bev Smith, but only after sophomore Ruthy Hebard adds to its prestige over the next three seasons.
As a player at Oregon, Bev Smith wore jersey No. 24. When she suited up for the Canadian National Team, the number on her back was 10.
This past summer, Smith saw current UO forward Ruthy Hebard in action for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championships. When Smith saw the number on Hebard's jersey, she did a double-take.
"I saw that and thought, this is too much of a coincidence," Smith recalled recently. "That's pretty cool."Like Smith, Hebard wore No. 10 with her national team. And like Smith, Herbard was issued No. 24 at Oregon – and will be the last to ever wear it.
When Smith wrapped up her career with the Ducks in 1982, she was a two-time all-American who held UO career records for points (2,063), rebounds (1,362), assists (443) and steals (349). In recognition of her achievements, then-coach Elwin Heiny and the athletic department announced that her number would be retired by the Oregon women's basketball program.
"There are legends, and then there are legends," UO head coach Kelly Graves said this fall when introducing Smith to the current team following a practice session. "When you talk in terms of University of Oregon basketball, there really is one name: Bev Smith."
Smith's achievements were noted in one of the display cases that lined the concourse in McArthur Court, where she went 40-1 as a player from 1978-82. The athletic department intends to formally honor Smith's career in No. 24 again – after, with Smith's blessing, Hebard wraps up a career that began with an all-Pac-12 campaign last season.
Hebard's sophomore campaign begins when the Ducks open the 2017-18 regular season in Matthew Knight Arena against Cal State-Northridge on Friday (5 p.m., Oregon Live Stream).
"You're honoring it, with how you play and what you do and who you are," Smith told Hebard while visiting practice this fall. "That's really special."
Hebard chose No. 24 in recognition of her favorite player, former NBA star Kobe Bryant. Smith was issued No. 24 as an Oregon freshman, and turned it into the stuff of program legend through her play.
Smith, who later served as UO head coach, helped the Ducks reach the postseason three times before playing professionally in Italy, and for Team Canada. She helped her national team finish fourth at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and 10th at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Hebard led the Ducks with 14.9 points and 8.5 points per game last season, when Oregon shocked the college basketball world by reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. She has three years left to make more history for jersey No. 24, before Smith's career is memorialized for good.
"They retired a number when it wasn't the in thing to do, for a female athlete at the time," Smith told Hebard. "And I think that would be an important thing for you to be a part of, because you're doing honor to the number. I don't have to tell you what to do; you just have to keep doing what you're doing."
This past summer, Smith saw current UO forward Ruthy Hebard in action for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championships. When Smith saw the number on Hebard's jersey, she did a double-take.
"I saw that and thought, this is too much of a coincidence," Smith recalled recently. "That's pretty cool."Like Smith, Hebard wore No. 10 with her national team. And like Smith, Herbard was issued No. 24 at Oregon – and will be the last to ever wear it.
When Smith wrapped up her career with the Ducks in 1982, she was a two-time all-American who held UO career records for points (2,063), rebounds (1,362), assists (443) and steals (349). In recognition of her achievements, then-coach Elwin Heiny and the athletic department announced that her number would be retired by the Oregon women's basketball program.
"There are legends, and then there are legends," UO head coach Kelly Graves said this fall when introducing Smith to the current team following a practice session. "When you talk in terms of University of Oregon basketball, there really is one name: Bev Smith."
Smith's achievements were noted in one of the display cases that lined the concourse in McArthur Court, where she went 40-1 as a player from 1978-82. The athletic department intends to formally honor Smith's career in No. 24 again – after, with Smith's blessing, Hebard wraps up a career that began with an all-Pac-12 campaign last season.
Hebard's sophomore campaign begins when the Ducks open the 2017-18 regular season in Matthew Knight Arena against Cal State-Northridge on Friday (5 p.m., Oregon Live Stream).
"You're honoring it, with how you play and what you do and who you are," Smith told Hebard while visiting practice this fall. "That's really special."
Hebard chose No. 24 in recognition of her favorite player, former NBA star Kobe Bryant. Smith was issued No. 24 as an Oregon freshman, and turned it into the stuff of program legend through her play.
Smith, who later served as UO head coach, helped the Ducks reach the postseason three times before playing professionally in Italy, and for Team Canada. She helped her national team finish fourth at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and 10th at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Hebard led the Ducks with 14.9 points and 8.5 points per game last season, when Oregon shocked the college basketball world by reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. She has three years left to make more history for jersey No. 24, before Smith's career is memorialized for good.
"They retired a number when it wasn't the in thing to do, for a female athlete at the time," Smith told Hebard. "And I think that would be an important thing for you to be a part of, because you're doing honor to the number. I don't have to tell you what to do; you just have to keep doing what you're doing."
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