Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University Athletics Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class
10.30.25 | Men's Golf, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Athletic Department
Drew Lavender, Melanie Balcomb and Andy Pope will be honored on Jan. 31.
CINCINNATIÂ - Xavier University Athletics is proud to announce the outstanding three-member 2026 induction class for the Xavier University Athletics Hall of Fame, which will bring the total number of members in the Hall of Fame to 166. This year's impressive class includes Drew Lavender ('08) from men's basketball, Melanie Balcomb from women's basketball and Andy Pope ('06) from men's golf.
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The trio will be honored at halftime of the 1 p.m. men's basketball game vs. DePaul on Saturday, Jan. 31 with the induction event to follow later that afternoon. More details on the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be announced at a later date. Balcomb will also be honored at the women's basketball game on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1 vs. Butler. That game also tips at 1 p.m.
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Drew Lavender, a two-time Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection and 2007 A-10 All-Championship team selection, was one of the most dynamic point guards in Xavier basketball history. The 2008 Xavier graduate led Xavier to the 2007 NCAA Second Round before losing to No. 1 seed Ohio State in overtime in the second round. He returned the next year to lead XU to a school record 30 wins and a spot in the 2008 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight with wins over Georgia, Purdue and West Virginia. Lavender led Xavier both seasons in steals and assists after transferring from Oklahoma, helping Xavier post a 55-16 record (.775) and win two Atlantic 10 regular season titles. He holds two of the top dozen season assists totals in Xavier history (10th with 164 in 2006-07 and tied for 11th with 162 in 2007-08). His senior free throw percentage of .868 ranks ninth in Xavier history.
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Former women's basketball head coach Melanie Balcomb took Xavier to the 1998 WNIT before leading XU to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including the school's first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2001. Xavier is celebrating the 25th anniversary of that historic team this year. Balcomb led XU to a school-record 31 wins in the 2000-01 season, winning the Atlantic 10 regular season championship and a second-straight A-10 Tournament Championship before going on the Elite Eight run. Xavier defeated Louisville, Clemson and Tennessee on its way to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. She was the 2000-01 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith and ESPN National Coach of the Year. Balcomb served seven years from 1995-2002 as the Xavier women's basketball head coach, compiling a 135-78 mark, earning the second-most wins in school history. Balcomb joins five of her former players in the Hall of Fame: Nikki Kremer, Nicole Levandusky, Jennifer Phillips, Reetta Piipari and Taru Tuukkanen.
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Andy Pope, a 2006 Xavier graduate, competed in four NCAA Golf Tournaments, while leading his team to two Atlantic 10 Conference team championships, 2003 and 2005. Pope, a three-time all-conference performer, won individual A-10 medalist honors in 2004. Pope played for the Musketeers from 2002-06, finishing with a career scoring average of 73.83 through 132.5 rounds, ranking 11th on Xavier's all-time career scoring average list. He has two of the top 25 single-season averages as well, including 18th at 72.92 in his senior season of 2005-06 and 21st at 73.09 as a junior in 2004-05. Pope had two career rounds of 66, one at the 2005 Marshall Invitational and one at the 2004 Xavier Invitational. Pope also enjoyed success as a professional golfer, including qualifying for a spot in the U.S. Open five times.
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The trio will be honored at halftime of the 1 p.m. men's basketball game vs. DePaul on Saturday, Jan. 31 with the induction event to follow later that afternoon. More details on the Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be announced at a later date. Balcomb will also be honored at the women's basketball game on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1 vs. Butler. That game also tips at 1 p.m.
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Drew Lavender, a two-time Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection and 2007 A-10 All-Championship team selection, was one of the most dynamic point guards in Xavier basketball history. The 2008 Xavier graduate led Xavier to the 2007 NCAA Second Round before losing to No. 1 seed Ohio State in overtime in the second round. He returned the next year to lead XU to a school record 30 wins and a spot in the 2008 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight with wins over Georgia, Purdue and West Virginia. Lavender led Xavier both seasons in steals and assists after transferring from Oklahoma, helping Xavier post a 55-16 record (.775) and win two Atlantic 10 regular season titles. He holds two of the top dozen season assists totals in Xavier history (10th with 164 in 2006-07 and tied for 11th with 162 in 2007-08). His senior free throw percentage of .868 ranks ninth in Xavier history.
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Former women's basketball head coach Melanie Balcomb took Xavier to the 1998 WNIT before leading XU to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including the school's first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2001. Xavier is celebrating the 25th anniversary of that historic team this year. Balcomb led XU to a school-record 31 wins in the 2000-01 season, winning the Atlantic 10 regular season championship and a second-straight A-10 Tournament Championship before going on the Elite Eight run. Xavier defeated Louisville, Clemson and Tennessee on its way to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. She was the 2000-01 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith and ESPN National Coach of the Year. Balcomb served seven years from 1995-2002 as the Xavier women's basketball head coach, compiling a 135-78 mark, earning the second-most wins in school history. Balcomb joins five of her former players in the Hall of Fame: Nikki Kremer, Nicole Levandusky, Jennifer Phillips, Reetta Piipari and Taru Tuukkanen.
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Andy Pope, a 2006 Xavier graduate, competed in four NCAA Golf Tournaments, while leading his team to two Atlantic 10 Conference team championships, 2003 and 2005. Pope, a three-time all-conference performer, won individual A-10 medalist honors in 2004. Pope played for the Musketeers from 2002-06, finishing with a career scoring average of 73.83 through 132.5 rounds, ranking 11th on Xavier's all-time career scoring average list. He has two of the top 25 single-season averages as well, including 18th at 72.92 in his senior season of 2005-06 and 21st at 73.09 as a junior in 2004-05. Pope had two career rounds of 66, one at the 2005 Marshall Invitational and one at the 2004 Xavier Invitational. Pope also enjoyed success as a professional golfer, including qualifying for a spot in the U.S. Open five times.
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