NCAA Basketball: Final Four Referees

With the Final Four just around the corner, the following NCAA officials have been named to this prestigious round of the tournament taking place in New Orleans over the March 30 weekend. Included are the referees' names, hometowns, a brief biography and a list of most common conferences worked:

• Pat Adams (Mobile, Ala.) has worked NCAA Division I basketball since the 1990s and has officiated the NCAA Tournament annually since the 1996-1997 season. Was an alternate at the 2010 Final Four; cousin of NBA referee Bennie Adams. SEC and C-USA Conferences.
• Roger Ayers (Roanoke, Va.) has worked NCAA D1 basketball since 1994 and the NCAA Tournament since 2006-07. Was part of the LA-Lafayette vs. W-Kentucky, six men on the floor game. ACC and Big East Conferences.
• Joe DeRosa (North Canton, Ohio) has worked NCAA D1 since 2010-11, the NCAA Tournament since 2010-11 and worked NBA for 21-years prior to college, including 11 NBA Finals. At the time DeRosa cited his retirement as "refereeing for all of the wrong reasons." By officiating college, DeRosa is able to spend more time at home: this is his first Final Four. Big 12 and Horizon Conferences.
• Tom Eades (Central City, Ky.) has worked NCAA D1 and NCAA Tourney since the 1990s and the 2010 National Championship Game. This is his third Final Four in five years. SEC and Missouri Valley Conferences.
• Verne Harris (Denver, Co.) has worked NCAA D1 since 1987 and college since 1980. Has officiated the NCAA Tournament since 1997 and the National Championship twice: 2004 and 2005. Worked the 2011 Final Four. WAC, Mountain West and Pac-12 Conferences.
• Les Jones (Chesapeake, Va.) has worked D1 basketball for 15 years and will work his fourth consecutive Final Four: he worked 92 games in 2009-2010 and is poised to have worked nearly 90 by this season's end. ACC and Big East Conferences
• Jamie Luckie (Charlotte, Nc.) has worked D1 basketball for nearly 20 years and has refereed NCAA Tournament games since 2000-01. This is his third straight Final Four. ACC, SEC and Big East Conferences.
• Doug Shows (Rome, Ga.) has worked D1 basketball since the early 90s and the NCAA Tournament annually since 1998, with a one-year gap in 2003. This is his second consecutive Final Four. SEC and Big East Conferences.
• Mike Stuart (Maryville, Tn.) has worked regular D1 basketball since 1994 and the NCAA Tournament since 2000 and will have worked nearly 90 games by this season's end. It was Stuart who correctly called a lane violation against Notre Dame during their loss to Xavier earlier this tournament. This is his third Final Four in four years. Big 12 and Big East Conferences.
• Mark Whitehead (Denham Springs, La.) has worked the NCAA Tournament every year since 1996 and will have worked nearly 90 games by season's end (high of 95 in 2009-10). This is his second consecutive Final Four and third overall. Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conferences.

Congratulations to these ten officials and best of luck during Final Four weekend.