ATHENS, Ga. — Chad Kessler, a standout forward for Georgia in the mid-80s, has been selected as Bulldogs’ 2018 Legend at the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. Former greats from all 14 member institutions will be honored as the Allstate SEC Legends during the tournament on March 7-11 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Kessler was a leader for the Bulldogs both on and off the court while playing for hall-of-fame coach Hugh Durham from 1983-87. He was a key ingredient to Georgia teams that reached postseason play during each of his years in Athens – the 1984 NIT, 1985 NCAA Tournament, 1986 NIT and 1987 NCAAs.

As a senior, Kessler was the only Bulldog to start every game, averaging 12.0 points and leading the team in rebounding and field goal percentage. He also was named second-team Academic All-America that season and became the first SEC men’s basketball player in over a decade to earn a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Kessler was selected by the L.A. Clippers in the fifth round of the 1987 NBA Draft.

Each SEC Basketball Legend will be recognized at halftime of his institution’s first game at the tournament. This marks the 20th year of the SEC Basketball Legends program. Additional 2018 SEC Legends include: James Robinson, Alabama; Jonathon Modica, Arkansas; Joel Eaves, Auburn; David Lee, Florida; Joe Crawford, Kentucky; John Brady, LSU; Rob Evans, Ole Miss; Ray White, Mississippi State; Doug Smith, Missouri; Carey Rich, South Carolina; Howard Wood, Tennessee; Barry Davis, Texas A&M; and Godfrey Dillard, Vanderbilt.