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North Babylon’s Bria Hartley gets inducted into Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame

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One of North Babylon’s most-accomplished athletes just added another accolade to her growing trophy case.

High school phenom turned professional women’s basketball player, Bria Hartley, was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame last week.

Hartley, who currently plays for the New York Liberty as well as professionally overseas, was one of 12 honorees to be inducted in this year’s class.

“I am truly honored to be in this year’s class for the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame,” said Hartley, who was unable to attend last Thursday’s celebration at Watermill Caterers in Smithtown.  “I was just a kid that loved to play basketball and I never would have imagined all these accomplishments.”

The 2011 Big East Rookie of the Year’s award was accepted by her mother, Simone, and son, Bryson.

“I know Bria would’ve really liked to be here herself,” said Simone. “I know she really truly wants to thank everybody who has supported her, particularly the [Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame] board, and all the people of Long Island who support her.”

Before being selected No. 7 in the 2014 WNBA Draft, Hartley helped lead UConn to a 144-11 record over her four-year career. During that time, she became one of two Husky women players to have more than 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 200 steals.

In high school, she notched nearly 2,000 points at North Babylon.

Scroll down to see all of this year’s inductees, including Babylon’s New York Cuban Giants, which won a Historic Recognition Award.

the 2019 inductees

  • Gary Bettman: Current National Hockey League commissioner and Half Hollow Hills West graduate
  • Bob Costas: Legendary sports broadcaster from Commack
  • Jerry Figgiani: Sachem alumnus who is a world-renowned mixed martial artist
  • Bria Hartley: North Babylon native and professional women’s basketball player
  • Sam Kornhauser: Stony Brook University football coach who led the program from Divison III to Divison I over 22 years
  • Bill Kropp: New York State’s all-time winningest boy’s volleyball coach who coached at Sachem. He recently founded St. Joseph’s College first-ever men’s volleyball team
  • Guy Leggio: Bay Shore native who helped build one of the most successful wrestling programs in Long Island history at East Islip High School
  • Special Recognition Award: Scott J. Beigel (Half Hollow Hills West alumnus) and Aaron Feis (West Islip native) were two coaches who gave their lives protecting students during the school shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida in February 2018.
  • Special Recognition Award: The Ward Melville boys lacrosse team, a perennial powerhouse in high school lacrosse, is one of Long Island’s most accomplished programs ever
  • Historic Recognition Award: The New York Cuban Giants, the world’s first all-black professional baseball team, was founded in Babylon in 1885

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