JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State will induct the newest class of the JSU Sports Hall of Fame on campus on Friday night. The class includes five different sports and 15 different individuals including:
 
Michael Brooks – Baseball
"Moohah," as he is affectionally known, came to Jackson State in 1974 and led the team to its first Area II National Association of Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association title. In 1975, he was named First Team All-SWAC winning 18 games and had over 200 strikeouts in two seasons. Brooks was drafted in the 11th round by the Montreal Expos where he spent nearly four seasons with the organization.
 
Richard Bradley Jr. – Basketball
A star basketball player who led Jackson State to a conference championship, Bradley was named First Team All-Conference and earned two degrees from Jackson State University. He has given back to the community since graduation including serving as an assistant coach at Murrah High School and as an assistant women's basketball coach at Jackson State where the team won the conference championship three times. He currently serves as a board member of the Mississippi Urban League, Inc.. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Jackson, 100 Black Men of Jackson, JSU National Alumni Associate (Life Member), and Greater Pearlie Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
 
Ryan Lorthridge – Basketball
A former professional basketball player who made his mark in the NBA, as well as various leagues across Europe and the Americas. In the 1994-95 season, Lorthridge played 37 games with the Golden State Warriors. His professional career also saw him play in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and the International Basketball League (IBL). Lorthridge showcased his skills in different leagues, including the Israeli Super League, Venezuelan Professional League, Argentine National League, and Puerto Rican Super League. During his time at Jackson State University, Lorthridge left a lasting impact on the basketball program. He achieved the remarkable feat of joining the prestigious 1,000-point club, demonstrating his exceptional scoring abilities. Lorthridge's talent and dedication earned him recognition as a Pre-season All-American. He was also honored as a First Team All-SWAC player in 1994 and showcased his skills by being selected as a First Team All-SWAC tournament player in 1993-1994.
 
Rose Washington – Volleyball (coach)
She recorded 344 wins during her time as the head coach of the Jackson State volleyball team, winning 276 matches against Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foes. In 2011, she guided the team to an undefeated regular season in conference play, winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. She went back-to-back with an undefeated conference regular season and tournament championship before being an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament in 2013. Washington also led the team to conference championships in 2015 and 2023, while also guiding the team to an undefeated conference record in the Spring of 2021 with another conference championship and NCAA Tournament bid. A five-time SWAC Coach of the Year, Washington also served in multiple administration roles at the university.
 
Tim Barnett – Football
A star at Jackson State, Barnett went on to play for Kansas City. During his time at Jackson State, Barnett scored nine touchdowns in 1989 before adding another eight in 1990. After his playing career, he became a manager for K.C.A.T.A. before retiring in 2018. An active member of the Masonic Lodge Amos Johnson #148, Barnett is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors.
 
Cephus Jackson – Football
he attended Jackson State and played football from 1964 to 1968, where he was the defensive captain, his senior year earning All SWAC honors. In 1968, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, a year when the team set a record with 11 players chosen in the NFL Draft. Jackson spent one year on the Rams' taxi squad playing for the Orange County Ramblers and another year in the New Orleans Saints organization playing for the Richmond Road Runners.
 
Sylvester Morris – Football
Became the school's all-time leading receiver and set several school records in the process including most touchdowns in a game, most touchdowns receiving in year, and most yards receiving in a year. In 1998, Morris was voted SWAC offensive player of the year, First Team All-SWAC, and the SWAC Player of the Year.  During his senior year, he was voted First Team All-American for 1AA by Burger King. In 2000, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Morris as their first-round draft pick and the 21st overall pick selected in the draft.  Sylvester went on the start 13 of 15 games, with 48 receptions for 678 yards.  
 
Larry Jones – Football
A native of Jackson, he is a former walk-on at Jackson State who earned a scholarship after trying out in 1970. Playing at center, he helped the team win three SWAC championships from 1971 to 1973. He served as team captain in 1972 and 1973, earning First Team All-SWAC honors in 1972. He was also a member of the track and field team where he was named First Team All-SWAC in the discus in 1971.
 
Derek Perkins – Football
A native of Mendenhill (Miss.), Perkins was an All-SWAC performer in 1979. After he attended Jackson State, he started one of the first Christian group homes in Mississippi before later moving to Pasadena (Calif.) where he started Harambee Ministry and did youth and famiky outreach for over 30 years. He then moved back to Mississippi to watch his son, Jon Michael, play for the Tigers. He continues in ministry and has a novel out called "Rabbit Road."
 
Leon Sherrod – Football
Arriving at Jackson State as a quarterback in 1972, Sherrod moved to wide receiver where he led the conference in receiving in 1976 and was named all-conference. He was also named to the Pittsburg Courier All-American and Black Mutual Network All-American teams that year. After his collegiate career, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills and he was named to the JSU All-Century team in 2011.
 
Eddie James – Supporter
James has served in a variety of roles at the university including Alumni Affairs. Sports Information, Development Foundation, Campus Wide Telephone Operator, Inside Press Box Announcer (Media - VIP), NYSP Volleyball Coach, Basketball Half Time Show Convener, Blue and White Flash Writer, Junior Recruiter, and Centennial Class President. He has also announced Jackson State and SWAC events including the sports of Cross Country, Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor), Volleyball, Soccer, and Baseball while also announcing nine different relay meets and serving time at five different radio stations.
 
Tommie Dennis – Track and Field
Tied the U.S. Indoor record in the 60-meters with a time of 5.9 seconds before holding the 100-meter record at 10.00 seconds. He holds the 200-meter record at Jackson State with a time of 20.60 seconds ran over 40 years prior to today. He, along with three of his teammates, holds the 4x100-meter record at 39.50 seconds. After college he pursued a career opportunity at the Miami Herald Publishing Company where he advanced in rank to a managerial position as well as Community Relations Representative, which yearly honored Florida State Track Champions. After a rewarding 35-year tenure, he retired. He also coached track and field for 25 years and football for 8 years, at his alma mater Miami Jackson High, and three years, at two other schools.
 
Jerry L. Kennedy – Track and Field
A member of championship track teams at Jackson State from 1976 to 1979, he graduated from Jackson State in August 1980. Kennedy is one of the first Black auditors in the Mississippi Department of Revenue where he was employed for 17 years. After leaving accounting, Kennedy became a Hospital Administrator for Jefferson County Hospital. He is the father of four who all attended Jackson State University.
 
Raina Sanders-Nelson – Track and Field
Sanders-Nelson won conference championships in 200-meter and 400-meter runs in both the indoor and outdoor seasons for the Tigers from 2009 to 2012. She set a new indoor conference record in the 400-meters with a time of 56.14 seconds. She was named Freshman of the Year in 2009 and won conference championships in each event she was entered. Nelson received All-Academic honors from the United States Track & Field Association and in 2011 she finished 21st in the nation at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
LaToya Clark – Volleyball
A four-year letterwinner at Jackson State in volleyball and current associate head coach at Alabama State, Clark finished a stellar career being named the SWAC Woman of the Year in 2012. She was named First Team All-SWAC in 2011, while earning all-tournament honors and Conference All-Academic honors. In 2010, she was named all-tournament honors at the SWAC championships and earned Conference All-Academic honors. She was named Preseason All-SWAC three different times during her career, and is the all-time assist leader at the school with 5,035.

Follow Jackson State Athletics
For complete coverage of Jackson State athletics, follow the Tigers on social media at @GoJSUTigers (Instagram and X, formerly Twitter), Jackson State Tigers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Jackson State athletics at GoJSUTigers.com.