To commemorate Black History Month, we will be celebrating the achievements of Black Varsity Blues athletes, highlighting their stories, and showcasing their impact in shaping the history of U of T.
 
Over her five years at U of T, Justine Ellison scored 924 points and played a key role as the Blues won two OWIAA gold medals and three silver medals, earning a trip to the CIAU championships each season. She was an impact player on the Blues two CIAU silver medal finishes in 1993-94 and 1995-96.

Ellison was the OWIAA East division rookie of the year, a two-time OWIAA tournament all-star, a four-time OWIAA all-star and was named the East division's most valuable player in 1995-96. She garnered both second team (1994-95) and first team (1995-96) CIAU all-Canadian status and was twice named a CIAU tournament all-star.

She ended her intercollegiate career on a high note, scoring 91 points in three games at the 1996 CIAU tournament and that season became only the second Varsity Blue to win the Nan Copp trophy for the CIAU's women's basketball player of the year. She was named the 1996 U of T T-Holders' female athlete of the year and went on to become the first U of T athlete to win the prestigious Howard Mackie award as the Canadian university female athlete of the year.

After graduation, Justine became a member of the Canadian team that won five of six games at the 1997 FISU games in Sicily, Italy, and then enjoyed a 10-year career playing professional basketball in Israel.
 
SPOTLIGHT:
Name: Justine (Ellison) Sharp
Sport: Basketball
Degrees: BPHE 9T6 | OISE 9T8
Varsity Blues Career: 1991-96
Varsity Blues Highlights:

• 1995-96 Canadian university female athlete of the year.
• Two-time CIAU all-Canadian.
• Four-time OWIAA all-star.
• Three-time OWIAA team champions.
• Two-time CIAU silver medalist.
• U of T Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (2009).