KINGSTON, R.I. – The Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame will include eight new members in the Spring of 2025, the largest class of inductees in 21 years.

Following a vote by this year's Hall of Fame Committee, the following eight individuals were selected: Geoff Cameron (Men's Soccer, 2006-07); Jeremy Collins (Men's Track & Field, 1996-2000); Lilli Falconer Deering (Women's Swimming & Diving, 2006-10); Jasmine Jennings (Women's Track & Field, 2005-09); Anthony Latronica (Men's Soccer, 1994-97); Darren Rizzi (Football, 1989-92); Michael Sims (Men's Golf, 1998-2001); and Kevin Smith (Football, 1987-1990).

Full bios for each member of the Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame are provided below.

"This is an incredibly impressive class of Hall of Fame inductees," Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. "These individuals were among the best of the best, not just among their peers here at Rhode Island, but across the country during their respective collegiate careers. When you take a moment to appreciate their accomplishments, it really allows you to embrace what is a rich history of athletic success at Rhode island."

This year's pool of candidates included more than 30 nominations. Because this is the first Hall of Fame class of individuals chosen in six years, all candidates will remain on the ballot for the next three selection cycles.

The Hall of Fame also will move to an annual selection process beginning next year.

"The selection process was very difficult, and there were many other candidates from this year's list who are worthy of election," Bjorn said. "The eight individuals selected truly stood out among this year's candidates, but we also recognize that there are many others who are deserving." 

The 2025 Hall of Fame induction will occur on Saturday, March 8 as part of the men's basketball regular-season finale against Fordham.   

2025 Rhode Island Hall of Fame Inductees
Geoff Cameron – Men's Soccer (2006-07)
A two-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference and All-Championship team selection in his two seasons at Rhode Island, Cameron led the Rams to the 2006 Atlantic 10 title after transferring from West Virginia. He was the 2007 A-10 Midfielder of the Year as a senior, also earning First Team All-Conference and All-Mid-Atlantic recognition. Cameron and the Rams defeated Rutgers in the opening round of the 2006 NCAA Championship in a shootout. Following his collegiate career, Cameron went on to start for the United States at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He appeared in 55 matches for Team USA from 2010-17 and was the Man of the Match in the national team's victory over Ghana at the 2014 World Cup. Cameron played seven seasons in Major League Soccer (Houston Dynamo from 2008-12; FC Cincinnati from 2021-22) and also played six seasons in the English Premier League with Stoke City (2012-2018) as well as two seasons in the EFL Championship with the Queens Park Rangers (2019-21). A two-time MLS All-Star, he was named to the 2009 MLS Best XI Team.

Jeremy Collins – Men's Track & Field (1996-2000)
An eight-time Atlantic 10 individual champion, Collins was twice the A-10's Indoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Performer, earning the recognition in both 1997 and 1999. He finished his career as Rhode Island's record holder in six different events, including his indoor 400-meter time of 47.50 seconds still stands as the A-10 Indoor Championship record 25 years later. Collins also held URI records in the 55m Indoor; the 200m Indoor; the 400m Indoor; the 100m Outdoor and the 200m Outdoor. The 1997 A-10 Indoor Rookie of the Year, Collins won the 200m, 400m and triple jump events at the conference meet that year. He won the triple jump title three times (1997-99), was a two-time champion in the Indoor 200m and 400m (1997, 1999) and he won the 1997 Outdoor 200m. He also was a five-time New England Champion (1998 Indoor Long Jump; 1999 Indoor 400M; 1997 and 1999 Outdoor 200m; and the 1999 Outdoor Long Jump). Following his illustrious track & field career, Collins gained notoriety as a three-time contestant on the hit CBS show Survivor, winning the 2015 season Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance. He left URI to become a firefighter in Cambridge, Mass., where he works to this day.
 

Lilli Falconer Deering – Women's Swimming & Diving (2007-11)
Falconer Deering was an All-Atlantic 10 selection all four years that she swam for Rhode Island. She was named the 2010 Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer at the conference championship meet, where she won both the 200 and 400 Individual Medley races. In addition to being a two-time A-10 individual champion, Falconer Deering was a nine-time A-10 medalist in her career, adding five silver medals and two bronze medals to her titles. At the time of her graduation, Falconer Deering held Rhode Island's program record in the 200-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard individual medley and the 400-yard individual medley. Her records in the 200- and 400-yard individual medleys still stand. In 2010, she was recognized as URI's 2011 Winifred Keaney Award Winner as the school's most outstanding senior female athlete. Today, Falconer Deering is the head coach of the women's swimming and diving program at Rhode Island. She has been a coach with the program for nine seasons overall, beginning as an assistant coach in 2016 before taking over as head coach in 2021.

Jasmine Jennings – Women's Track & Field (2005-09)
The first women's track & field All-American in Rhode Island history, Jennings earned the honor in the hammer throw in 2009. That year, she finished eighth in the country, which at the time was the highest individual finish for any event for a Rhode Island competitor at the national championship. Jennings was a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier in the hammer (2008 and 2009). She placed second in the hammer at the 2009 NCAA East Regional after winning the 2009 Atlantic 10 title in the same event. Her throw of 203'0 at the 2009 A-10 Championships remains the conference record 15 years later. Jennings also was the hammer champion at the Penn State Relays and the New England Championships. She was the 2008 NCAA East Regional Champion in the hammer and was the first NCAA Regional champion in any event in program history. She won that title with a program-record throw of 205'06 after also winning the 2008 Atlantic 10 title. Academically, Jennings was honored with the 2008 National Academic Momentum Award. She was the female recipient chosen out of 63 nominees.
 

Anthony Latronica – Men's Soccer (1994-97)
One of the most decorated men's soccer players in program history, Latronica was a two-time NSCAA All-American (1995 and 1996); a three-time NSCAA All-New England selection (1995, 1996 and 1997); and a four-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection (1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997). The four-year team captain led Rhode Island to back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances in 1995 and 1996. In 1995, he recorded a shutout victory over St. Francis in the opening round of the NCAA Championship. Latronica led Rhode Island to Atlantic 10 regular-season titles in both 1995 and 1996, and a conference tournament title in 1995. They represented the first conference titles in program history. In 1995, he led the Rams to a program-best record of 19-2-2 and helped URI achieve Top 10 national rankings in both 1995 and 1996. He remains the Atlantic 10 record holder for shutouts in a single season with 13 in 1995. He also is still Rhode Island's program record holder for career shutouts (25) and single-season goals-against average (0.69 in 1995). In 1998, Latronica was recognized as URI's Elizabeth Holmes Student Athlete of the Year. He earned 1996 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference honors and was the 1996-97 ECAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. In 1996, Latronica was a USAA All-American Scholar and a finalist for the NECAC Student Athlete of the Year.

Darren Rizzi – Football (1989-92)
The most decorated football player in Rhode Island history, Rizzi earned nine All-America honors during his career in Kingston. He was a consensus First Team All-American in 1992, earning the distinction from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football News, Don Hansen, Kodak, The Sports Network and Walter Camp. In 1991, Rizzi earned Second Team All-America honors from The Sports Network and Third Team All-America honors from Don Hansen. He had 74 receptions for 1,103 yards in 1992. At the time he graduated, Rizzi ranked third in program history with 160 career catches and he still ranks sixth in the category. He still ranks fifth in program history with 2,426 receiving yards and sixth with 15 touchdown catches. A two-time All-New England selection, he also earned First Team All-Yankee Conference and All-ECAC honors in 1992. Rizzi has spent 16 seasons as a coach in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. He was named the interim head coach of the Saints last November.

Michael Sims – Men's Golf (1998-2001)
Sims led Rhode Island to back-to-back Atlantic 10 and New England championship titles in 1999 and 2000, winning the league's individual titles in 2000. He became just the third Ram to win the individual A-10 title, joining follow URI Hall of Famers Pat Horgan (1980) and Mike Harrington (1994). He was a two-time NCAA East Regional qualifier (2000, 2001). A four-time All-Atlantic 10 honoree, Sims was the 1998 Rookie of the Year for the conference. He was named the A-10 Golfer of the Week five times, and in his four appearances at the Atlantic 10 Championship, he finished first (2000), second (2001), fourth (1999) and sixth (1998). As a senior in 2001, Sims won four of the 14 events he played and had 10 Top Four finishes. Following his URI career, he was a PGA Tour professional, making his debut in his home country at the inaugural Bermuda Championship at age 40 in 2019. Sims played professionally for six years on the Korn Ferry Tour, making 111 starts and recording five top 10 performances. He won the 2005 Bermuda Open. In 2001, he became the first amateur to win the New England Open. Sims also won the 2001 North-South Amateur at Pinehurst and the 2001 Players Amateur. In 2001, he reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur. Sims was the first player on the eGolf Tour – and just the sixth player in history at the time – to card a 59, which he did at the 2012 Southern Open. He has both played and caddied on the PGA Tour.

Kevin Smith – Football (1987-90)
A four-time All-American, Smith is among the most decorated football players in Rhode Island history. In 1990, he earned All-American recognition from the American Football Coaches Association, Kodak and The Sports Network. It was his second time being honored by The Sports Network, which also put him on its 1988 All-American team. A member of the Yankee Conference 50th Anniversary Team in 1996, Smith was a four-time All-Yankee Conference selection. He is still Rhode Island's all-time leader in interceptions with 23, which is eight more than any other player in school history. He tied the program record for pass break ups in a single season with 12 in 1988. Smith also set a program record with four interceptions in a single game, doing so against Massachusetts on Oct. 8, 1988, a mark that still stands today. Smith went on to play in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers before embarking on a profound career in educational support. He spent many years as the director of a minority-owned Child and Family Services Program before returning to URI to work in the University's Talent Development program.