Hattiesburg, Miss.- the William Carey Athletic Department has announced five new members to be inducted into the William Carey Sports Hall of Fame. Eric Adkins, Daron Bell, Luis Trude, Craig Fletcher, and DJ Pulley will all be inducted on October 18^th to round out the 2025 class.
 
Daron Bell, a native of Waveland, MS, was a standout basketball player for the Crusaders from 2012-2014. Over his Crusader career, he averaged 17.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. He picked up 150 career steals which led him to be named as the Southern States Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2013-2014. He was also named the SSAC Player of the Year in 2013-2014. He was an SSAC 1^st team All-Conference member in both of his seasons as a Crusader. In 2021-2013, Bell was named to the NAIA Honorable Mention team and followed that up as an NAIA 1^st Team All-American his senior season.
 
Luis Trude, a native of Sau Paulo, Brazil, played soccer for Carey from 2011-2013. He was named the SSAC Freshman of the Year and to the SSAC 2^nd Team in 2011. In 2012, Trude's efforts landed him as an SSAC 1^st Team performer, as well as, being named to the NAIA 2^nd Team All-American list. Trude followed that up by being named the SSAC Player of the Year in 2013 along with being an NAIA 1^st Team All-American.
 
Eric Adkins, a native of Purvis, MS, played baseball for the Crusaders from 2003-2004. A transfer from Pearl River Community College, Adkins was a 1^st Team All-GCAC member and GCAC Player of the Year for both seasons. In 2003, he slugged .352 blasting 15 home runs and driving in 51 runs helping Carey win the GCAC Championship. He followed up his monstrous junior season with an even bigger senior year. In 2004, Adkins set a William Carey record with 21 home runs, a record that still stands today. He also drove in 64 runs in leading the Crusaders to another GCAC Championship.
 
Craig Fletcher, a native of Hattiesburg, MS, joins the Hall of Fame for two different sports. Fletcher played baseball for the Crusaders from 1984-1987. During his playing days, Fletcher hit .306 for his career and drove in over 100 runs. He also set a William Carey record for most walks in a career, a record that lasted until 2024. He was a member of two GCAC Championship teams. Fletcher also served as an assistant baseball coach in the early nineties. He returned to Carey in 2006 as an assistant softball coach and helped lead the Crusaders into national prominence. In 2014, Fletcher took over as the Head Softball Coach, a role he served in until this summer. During his time as the head coach, the Crusaders won 416 games, 3 SSAC Regular Season Championships, and 3 SSAC Tournament Championships. His teams reached the NAIA Opening Round 9 times. His 416 wins are most among William Carey Softball head coaches.
 
DJ Pulley, a native of Sumrall, MS, joins the Hall of Fame in several different categories. Pulley played golf at William Carey for the 2001 & 2002 seasons. He was All-GCAC both seasons and was named as the GCAC Player of the Year in 2002. Pulley took over as the Head Golf Coach in 2004, along with handling the Sports Information Director responsibilities for the athletic department. On top of that, Pulley was also an assistant coach for the Women's Basketball team. In 2011, Pulley was named the SSAC Coach of the Year for Golf after winning the SSAC Championship. After a brief hiatus from William Carey, Pulley returned to the athletic department in 2016 as the Athletic Director. He served as the AD until 2022. He was named the SSAC Athletic Director of the Year in 2017-2018 and 2021. During his time at the helm, the Crusader Athletic Department won the SSAC Commissioners Cup each year.
 
Tickets to the event can be purchased online at https://gowcu.info/homecoming25, by calling the William Carey Athletics Department at 601-318-6657, or at the door. Cost per ticket is $35.