Whether you call them power forwards or stretch fours, we are up to the first group of bigs who made their impact closer to the rim than the players we have singled out thus far.
For those of you just tuning in, here are the ground rules in qualifying for the Super 75, I had to have seen the players live over the last 38 years, they must have played for teams that were in our region at the time, and their careers must now be completed.
Please be advised that I haven’t seen everyone, specifically those who suited up for New England schools between 1982-92 when I was primarily following Le Moyne College, and that team was designated in a different region, then known as the Atlantic (my partner, Steve Zerdelian, will be highlighting many of the men’s players from this era whom I didn’t see but he, in fact, did, for the purposes of giving them the attention they so richly deserve).
In case you missed them, here are links to the first three parts of the series:
https://d2easthoops.org/men/features/Super_75/SUPER_75_-_POINT_GUARDS
https://d2easthoops.org/men/features/Super_75/Super_75_Men-s_Shooting_Guards
https://d2easthoops.org/men/features/Super_75/Super_75_Men-s_Wings_-_Small_Forwards
As stated in previous columns, athletes qualify regardless of how many years they played, and their program’s successes are not the primary factor, though in the majority of cases, individual and team greatness coincided. In short, this is a strictly talent-based list of stars who had a certain “Wow Factor.” There were far too many standout players for far too few spots, and there were many hard choices to make. So if a particular great did not make the cut, it was by no means an indictment on him. It simply means that there were others who captivated my attention more, in some cases, by a razor-thin margin. Or, in the case of flatfooted ties, their team’s fortunes were better. It also depends on when I saw a player and how effective he was in those games. Again, nothing against the individual. With all that context provided, here are my picks for the most memorable 4s:
Ellis Cooper (Franklin Pierce, 2010-14) – This 6-3 warrior from Northampton, MA, who missed half his freshman year due to a broken foot, was one of the most competitive, tenacious and underrated big men I’ve ever seen. Teammate Eric Jean-Guillaume may have taken home the hardware with back-to-back NE10 Player of the Year honors, but with all due respect to that tremendous scorer, who just missed my point guard list, I always considered Cooper to be the most vital cog on those Ravens teams. And he shined brightest on the grandest stage, as evidenced by his 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds over 14 postseason games. As a junior, Cooper earned Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Regional, guiding Franklin Pierce to its first Elite-8, while it was his courageous final act in the 2014 regional semis at Southern Connecticut that left an indelible mark on my memory. That’s when he pulled a Willis Reed and willed his way onto the floor despite debilitating leg cramps, posting 30 points and 16 rebounds. Cooper’s overall numbers are terrific (1,503 points, 704 boards, 188 assists, 74 blocked shots and 211 steals, the last total ranking fifth in program history), but there really is no accurate measure for the heart and passion he clearly brought to the court, night in and night out. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Janik, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, Franklin Pierce University)
Demond Cowins (NJIT, 2000-04) – Before the Highlanders ventured off to Division 1 in 2005, they represented not one but two of the three D2 conferences in our region. After transitioning to the NYCAC from Division 3 in 1997, NJIT switched to the more geographically sensible CACC, and Cowins – a 6-7 beast from Newark, NJ – was a member of the first four teams of that five-year sojourn and was clearly the best talent in the program’s D2 era. To date, the two-time first-team All-CACC standout holds down #2 on the school scoring list (1,909), #4 on the rebound charts (959), #3 in blocked shots (152), #8 in steals (122) and #1 in free throw makes (478). Extremely dangerous down low (think of a D2 Buck Williams), but few who saw him likely remember that he also possessed a potent jump shot outside the paint (his 28-for-60 efficiency behind the arc as a senior was good for 47%). Even though the team wasn’t very good his senior year, Cowins sparkled like a diamond, finishing second in the CACC in scoring (21.9), first in rebounding (10.9), first in blocks (2.0) and sixth in shooting (.549). The three most memorable things from NJIT’s eight-year D2 run were playmaker Clayton Barker, Cowins and the scrumptious hot dogs at the Fleischer Center.
Nate Fritsch (Bentley, 2003-08) – Here’s a perfect example of the numbers not coming close to reflecting the brilliance of the individual talent. This 6-6 long, lean, super-skilled athlete from Durham, NC ranks 19th on the Falcons’ all-time scoring list (1,442 points) and 14th in rebounding (734), but very few altered the outcome of games quite like Fritsch, one of the most well-rounded D2 basketball players I’ve ever seen (and my personal favorite of all the greats that program has produced). Sure, he was part of a championship caliber group that won three regionals and posted an absurd 117-17 record over his four full seasons (he played just two games his freshman year), but one could argue that he was the difference-maker for a team that went an unprecedented 63-0 in region as an upperclassman. Fritsch was the toughest match-up for any opponent because of his dual abilities to put it on the floor with the best of them, as well as a sensational touch from the outside (his .442 shooting percentage from long range is third-best in Falcons history). Fritsch’s long arms bolstered his exceptional defense as he routinely deflected balls, rejected 132 shots (tied for 5th most at BU) and truly made all his teammates better, as his 222 assists will attest. In short, he had no weakness.
Argelix Gil (Concordia, 2009-13) – As reported in last week’s notebook, Concordia College is closing its New York campus after this season and, despite limitations that kept the Clippers from being a major player in the region since joining D2 in 1983, there have been a handful of special players to pass through Bronxville. None was better than this tough 6-4 hombre from Brooklyn who blasted onto the scene as an impact rookie post player and evolved every year, expanding his game to include the 3-point arc. When the Clippers enjoyed their greatest success, Gil was at the center of it, such as the formidable preseason upset of D1 Manhattan (he contributed 19 points on 8-12 shooting), the program’s marquee win at #7 Bentley (22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists), another win at Bentley two years later (26, 14, 3), a shocker vs. Philadelphia, which had won 27 of 28 in the series to that point (29 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, six steals) and an explosive regular-season finale vs. Bloomfield that clinched the team’s only CACC Tourney bid, during which he amassed 26 points, 20 rebounds and four helpers. Husky in stature and unforgiving in spirit, Gil was an All-Lunch Bucket Teamer whose hoops legacy is cemented as Concordia’s all-time leading scorer (1,690) and rebounder (994), while also finishing in the Top 10 with 218 assists (#10), 166 steals (tie-#3), 42 blocked shots (tie-#9) and 395 free throws made (#4). (Photo courtesy Eli Sirota, Sports Information Director, Concordia College (NY))
Elad Inbar (UMass-Lowell, 2000-04) – Dynamic and built for the big moment, this 6-7 product of Kiryat-Haim, Israel was a winner in every sense of the word, his career culminating with the D2 Player of the Year Award his senior season. The crown jewel from Gary Manchel’s Israeli pipeline, Inbar spearheaded the River Hawks to a 100-27 record and four 20+-win seasons, each of which resulted in an NCAA appearance and the last two culminating in Elite-8 trips. In his last regional game, Inbar single-handedly defeated Bryant with a difficult baseline fadeaway at the four-second mark, capping a 22-10 game-ending run that turned an 11-point deficit into a gritty, 63-62 victory. And even though his team was bounced in the national quarterfinals both years, it was not because of the seasoned veteran (he was nearly 26 years old when he graduated), who scored 27 and 29, respectively in those losses. No one played more games in school history (he and compatriot Uri Grunwald – a brilliant defensive guard – share the record with 127) and no one scored more points (2,099). Like Fritsch above, Inbar – who also snagged 854 rebounds and shot a terrific .854 from the line – was the consummate team player with a basketball IQ that may have been the best I’ve ever witnessed, playing the game like a chess grand master: multiple steps ahead.
Garret Kerr (USciences, 2011-15) – Like Inbar, the son of pro hockey star Tim Kerr was the D2 Player of the Year his senior season, and showcased star power from the moment his career took root. The numbers are historic (2,434 points, 1,391 rebounds, 88 double-doubles in 110 career games, all school records), coupled with the hardware (three-time CACC Player of the Year, national rebounding champ as a freshman and sophomore, #6 on the all-time D2 boards list, the CACC’s top four season rebounding totals). And the unstoppable native of Avalon, NJ saved his best for the biggest games, racking up 40 points and 14 rebounds in the Devils’ first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance vs. St. Anselm, followed by 34 and 12 the next day vs. eventual regional champ SNHU. But the standout moment for me was his remarkable performance against Division I Drexel earlier that season, which I witnessed first-hand. Kerr was unquestionably the best player on the floor, delivering 27 points and 10 boards, as well as burying the game-winning 3-pointer (see photo) as the Devils became the first D2 team in 42 years to knock off a mid-major on its home floor during the regular-season. The first of three brothers to play for the Devils (Wes and Tanner followed) and a perennial Dean’s List student, Garret Kerr made the game look easy and carved out his spot in the pantheon of legendary regional players, ranking seventh all-time in scoring and third in boardwork. He also had a bone-crushing handshake that I will never forget. To quote his great coach and basketball scholar, Dave Pauley: “there are two plays: “Romeo and Juliet” and “Get the Ball to Garret.”
Garrett Kerr hits the game-winning three-pointer to defeat Drexel 54-52, December 4, 2014. (Photo taken by Steve Falk of the Philadelphia Daily News, courtesy of Zachary Durham, Director of Athletic Communications, University of the Sciences)
Tyler McFarland (Bentley, 2012-16) – The list of regional shooters who slashed 54/50/88 in a season is miniscule (Saint Rose’s Jeff Gore and Southern New Hampshire’s Rodney Sanders are two) and this hard-nosed, 6-5 forward from South Portland, Maine achieved the feat in his sophomore year. McFarland was the first Falcon to lead his team in scoring and rebounding for three straight years, and his scoring total of 2,118 is unmatched in the history of such an esteemed program. The efficient, inside-out threat was a gifted post player, a terrific long-range bomber (.423 for his career) and as reliable as the sunrise at the stripe (.867 – second-best in the Bentley annals). In addition, McFarland was a physical defensive force, ranking 11th in rebounds (841) and second in blocks (163) while also averaging the most minutes played (34.8), belying Jay Lawson’s tendency to not “burn out” his stars. Proves just how hard it was to take this all-time great off the floor.
Bryan Moore (Assumption, 1997-00) – What distinguishes the vast majority of these standout stars is their ability to score in a variety of ways, and that’s certainly true of this vigorous, 6-5 All-American who came to Assumption after a year at nearby Massasoit Community College. All he did in his three years of D2 play was accumulate 1,766 points (#7 at AC), 570 free throw makes (#2), 116 triples, 857 rebounds and 120 rejections. The two-time NE10 Tournament MVP averaged 23.9 points and 9.7 rebounds with the Greyhounds, hitting for 30 points on no fewer than 15 occasions. Moore – who was dubbed the preseason National Player of the Year as a senior – was deceptively quick and proficient, able to use his body in such a way that he could create his own shot from just about anywhere. A matchup nightmare, he was adept at drawing contact and feasting at the foul line. Moore was a major weapon in his team’s return to the NCAA Tournament his sophomore year, and his NE10 Tourney average of 27.8 points over seven games (34.7 as a sophomore) is one of the highest ever, proving he was made for the grand stage.
Jim Moore (Saint Anselm, 2003-06) – So you want more “Moore”? Well, one successful 6-5 transfer who made his presence felt in a big way over his three years at the D2 level begets another. And the congruities don’t end there. While Bryan Moore played his college ball in Worcester, Jim Moore (no relation) was actually from that Central Massachusetts city. Again, we are talking about a versatile scorer who was just as effective inside the paint as well as beyond the 3-point line, as the St. Anselm great (by way of D1 Youngstown State, where he scored 209 points as a freshman) delivered a whopping 1,704 points with the Hawks (#11), as well as 630 rebounds, 513 foul shots (#1) and .834 free throw percentage (#2). His most amazing feat was going a mind-numbing 26-for-26 at the stripe in a game vs. Saint Rose on February 18, 2006, tying a 54-year-old D2 NCAA record. He also etched his name into the NE10 history book by becoming a two-time league tournament MVP, an accomplishment shared with only three other men’s players. Like so many of the St. A’s players singled out in this Super 75, Moore was muscular, military tough and always ready to inflict his will on the opposition.
Sulaiman Muhammad (Caldwell, 1999-2003) – When I first saw the Cougars play as they transitioned with the rest of the CACC from NAIA to NCAA classification, this towering, physically imposing rim protector from Elizabeth, NJ was the first program player who imprinted on my brain. And that’s not just because he sported the most impressive afro I’ve seen on a hardwood floor since Doctor J. The NAIA All-American and three-time All-CACC stud just qualifies for this list because his senior season coincided with Caldwell’s first year as a full-fledged member of the region. Primarily a post player on offense (he never attempted a 3-pointer), Muhammad’s 1,147 career points rank 14th in program history, his .584 field-goal percentage is second and his 191 blocked shots are second to none. His rebound total of 774 may not seem like a lofty number for a 6-9 mammoth, but Muhammad was truly a four in Mark Corino’s system, which featured nine (count ‘em!) consecutive seasons of Tonkovic brothers at the center position, two of whom he played alongside, and all three of whom scored more points, making Muhammad’s output all the more impressive.
Justin Reyes (St. Thomas Aquinas, 2013-17) – While outstanding guards Chaz Watler and Jonathan Lawton were tough late cuts, the one Spartan that is an unquestionable no-brainer for this list is the 6-4 specimen from Haverhill, MA who somehow found his way out of the clutches of numerous New England programs and into the welcoming hands of Tobin Anderson in sleepy Sparkill, NY. Like Kerr above, Reyes earned conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior and senior, and was the face of the STAC program as it evolved into a regional power, practically willing his teammates to their first three league titles, three NCAA Tournament runs and the 2017 Regional Championship. The crafty and explosive athlete often matched up against taller players, but that hardly seemed to matter as Reyes played much bigger, with an impressive vertical and uncanny aptitude to score, as his 2,247 career points are the most ever by an ECC player (D2 era). To boot, his 1,144 rebounds trail only Saint Rose’s Damon Reed, who happened to be seven inches taller (and who may or may not be on next week’s 5s list – suspense, suspense). The All-American, who helped the Puerto Rican basketball team earn a Silver Medal at the 2019 Pan American Games, finished his brilliant collegiate career with a 102-29 record and carried himself with a swagger that only the all-time greats can pull off.
Todd Roberts (St. Michael’s, 1997-2001) – Like STAC, it really killed me keeping magnificent, strongly considered Purple Knights guards like George Daway, Mark Mulvey and Levi Holmes III off this list, but an exceptional 4-man makes the cut with ease. The only Vermonter on the Super 75 (from Fair Haven), Roberts was the man of the hour on St. Michael’s last NCAA team, guiding it to the Sweet 16 his senior year, when he also earned the NE10 Player of the Year trophy. At 6-8, Roberts was the prototype of a stretch four, almost unguardable as he shot the long ball as effectively as the typical NE10 guard, especially from the top of the key as the trailer. He was no slouch down low, either, with fabulous footwork, powerful drop-step moves and the ability to wriggle out of a double-team. Even though he graduated 20 years ago, Roberts remains in the Top 10 across all the key categories for the P-Knights, including #3 in scoring (1,816), #2 in 3-pointers (301), #8 in 3-point accuracy (.402), #10 in rebounding (815), #8 in blocks (85) and #9 in steals (158).
Lambert Shell (Bridgeport, 1988-92) – Where do I start? The 6-4 battering ram from Brooklyn is, to my mind, the greatest D2 player these eyes have ever seen, with a region-record 3,001 points to hammer the point home (12th most points all-time at this level). The All-American, whom coach Dr. Bruce Webster ordered never to come to practice because ”you don’t drive a Cadillac in city traffic,” played the game with a death stare that forever pierced my memory, as if he were on the floor with the sole intention of trying to destroy his opponent, which he did better than anyone. A superb dribbler, relentless driver and ferocious finisher, Shell held the ball in his massive hands as if it were made of nerf foam and made mincemeat of anyone who dared get in his way. A classmate of fellow Super 75er Pat Morris, Shell enjoyed a 103-31 record and never played a season that didn’t end in at least a regional final, reaching the Elite-8 his last three seasons and the national championship game the last two, even earning that event’s MVP as a junior despite a loss in the final to North Alabama. Shell faced adversity during his final run as he severely twisted his foot in the national quarterfinals and sat out the semis in a walking boot before returning to action the following afternoon courtesy of a cortisone shot. The only member of the Super 75 whose jersey is hanging in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Lambert Shell averaged a phenomenal 22.7 points a game over his dazzling career, combined with 1,345 rebounds, 332 assists and a .547 field goal percentage, numbers we are likely never to see again in these parts. (Photo courtesy Lambert Shell)
Justin Swidowski (Holy Family, 2008-10) – A more athletic version of Todd Roberts, this 6-9 All-American from Cinnaminson, NJ only graced our region as a freshman and sophomore before transferring up to D1 Sacred Heart. But boy, what a two-year run he gave us as he averaged 20 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots, totaling 1,101 points, 480 rebounds, 138 assists and 62 swats. Swidowski was a man amongst boys when he landed in Northeast Philly, lanky but highly skilled, with the ability to put the ball on the floor like a point guard, plus post up, bang threes and rock the rim with thunderous dunks. Had he stayed at D2, the big man would have been a regional legend, but his overall numbers in just two seasons are impressive enough to be the envy of many four-year players who put together solid overall careers. Though he was just a blip on our radar, Swidowski’s brilliance lit up the landscape like a meteor.
Eddie Williams (Adelphi, 1998-2002) – Full disclosure: my last cut in this category was the uber-talented Manny Suarez, the 6-10 force whose highly unorthodox two-year D2 career was bookended by stints at two different D1s. I opted instead for a different Adelphi big man, albeit four inches shorter, due to his greater impact as a four-year starter and two-time regional champion. For the casual observer, it would have been relatively easy to overlook the Brooklyn-born All-American’s brilliance because Adelphi’s most dominant run was driven by the magnetic Super 75 point guard Ryan McCormack and the teams’ true MVP: namely, a suffocating defense. That’s where Williams excelled, neutralizing the opposing team’s most dangerous frontcourt weapon. Built like a bull and possessing tremendous upper-body strangth, Williams was an exceptional student and vocal leader who stepped up his game when the stakes were highest, contributing 17 points and nine rebounds in the 2002 Regional Championship vs. Assumption, helping him reach the 1,000-point plateau (1,052). Williams – whose younger brother Zach was a 1,000-point scorer at Ohio State and Wright State – converted 57% of his shot attempts (#6 in AU history) and was a two-time All-Region selection under current Penn State Head Coach Jim Ferry.
Your comments are welcome at: chrisgranozio@gmail.com. Next week, we fill in the final 15 pieces of the Super 75 puzzle: specifically, the post players or centers. Until then, Happy Hooping to All!