From the days of Butler Gymnasium and the Olean Armory through to the past five decades in the Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure basketball has remained a constant in the University community for the last century. Those who have donned the Brown and White over the past 100 years have created memories to last a lifetime with fans of the program.
With so many greats to wear the Bonaventure colors through the years, coming up with an All-Time Team stands as a daunting task.
As part of the St. Bonaventure Basketball Centennial Season celebration, the Athletics Department gathered voting from fans and partnered with some of the most well-versed individuals on the history of the program to create an All-Time Team.
Along with an online fan vote and at games this season resulting in over 2,000 votes, a group of Olean Times Herald columnist and former sports editor Chuck Pollock and former beat writer Mike Vaccaro '89 along with current Olean Times Herald sports editor JP Butler '07 and longtime voice of the Bonnies Gary Nease selected from a group of 60 players for All-Time Team consideration. From that list, a group of 20 program greats have earned selection to the Centennial Season All-Time Team. Each ballot cast counted as one vote - each panelist vote counted as one while the top 20 from the fan vote counted as a single ballot as well.Â
To watch the All-Team Team Selection Show, please click here. For more information on the Centennial Season celebration, visit GoBonnies.com/100
The St. Bonaventure Basketball Centennial Season All-Time Team:
Jaylen Adams
An Honorable Mention All-American selection by the Associated Press following his senior season, Adams' name is written throughout the Bonaventure record books. Over his Bonnies career, Adams was a three-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection. He is the top scoring guard in school history with 1,912 points (sixth overall among all SBU players) and also ranks second on the team's all-time list for three-pointers (270) and third in assists (590). His 10 three-pointers in February 2018 vs. Saint Louis stands as the program's all-time single-game record while his 14 assists in a game - twice - are tied for the program record. Over his four seasons, Adams helped the Bonnies to 87 wins, which is the most ever for a graduating class. As a senior, he helped the Bonnies to the NCAA Tournament and First Four win over UCLA as well as a school-record 26 victories. He spent the 2018-19 season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.
Earl Belcher
The third all-time leading scorer in program history with 2,077 points from 1977-81, he finished his career 15th in rebounds (650) as well as third in free throw percentage (.831). Belcher averaged 19.9 points per game and was a member of the NCAA Tournament team in 1978, and also played on the 1979 NIT team. The 6-foot-6 forward from Syracuse, N.Y. averaged 20 points per game over his four years with the team. He earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year twice (1980, '81) and helped the Bonnies to a 70-41 record during his career before earning selection to the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. His No. 25 jersey was retired in 2007.
J.R. Bremer
Bremer ranks ninth on SBU's all-time scoring list with 1,732 points and led the Bonnies to three postseason appearances (NCAA Tournament in 2000 and NIT in 2001 and 2002). As a senior in 2001-02, he averaged 24.6 points per game and scored 738 points that season alone. He ranks third in school history in three-pointers with 223 and also stands sixth in career steals (185) and ninth in assists (334). Bremer also had memorable postseason performances - in the 2000 NCAA Tournament, he posted 17 points vs. Kentucky, then had 26 points vs. Pitt in the 2001 NIT and 29 points vs. Syracuse in the 2002 NIT. He went on to play in the NBA and later, a long and successful professional career overseas.
Bill Butler
Noted for his aggressive play and the polish of his many skills, he was St. Bonaventure's captain in 1967-68. He was named by Look Magazine to the All-District Team the same season. Butler finished his career with 1,462 points during his career and grabbed 650 rebounds, also delivering 34 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Boston College in 1968. His No. 14 jersey hangs in the Reilly Center rafters and he was selected to the Athletics Hall of Fame.
George Carter
In three seasons on the basketball court, Carter became a member of the 1,000-point club with 1,322 points and averaged 19.4 points per game. He ranks fifth in rebounds with 849 including a career-high 305 in 1966-67. He played professionally with the Virginia Squires of the ABA and the New York Nets of the NBA before earning SBU Athletics Hall of Fame honors in 1974. The native of Silver Creek, N.Y. averaged 18 points per game during his ABA and NBA careers spanning between 1967 and 1976.Â
Fred Crawford
A prolific scorer, Crawford established the SBU men's basketball scoring record for sophomores with 614 points in 1960-61. During his three years of varsity competition, he totaled 1,738 points and ranks eighth in program history. His 22.5 points per game is still good for third all-time among Bona players. In the 1961 NCAA Tournament, he posted 34 points and 16 rebounds in a first round win over Rhode Island, then had 19 points and 10 boards in a second round setback vs. Wake Forest and scored in double figures in every postseason game he played. He served as captain his senior season of 1962-63 and was named All-East that year. He played professionally for the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Buffalo Braves and Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and his No. 54 jersey is retired. Crawford was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970.
Matt Gantt
A member of the 1970 NCAA Final Four team, Gantt scored 992 points and averaged 13.6 points per game during his career. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1970, he had a stat line of 19 points and 16 rebounds in a first round win over Davidson, then had 15 and 11 in a second round triumph over N.C. State. His roll that postseason continued with 19 points and 18 rebounds vs. Villanova and he also scored 16 points in the Final Four vs. Jacksonville. He hauled in 706 rebounds over his career. He also helped Bona to the 1971 NIT with a 21-6 record and 62-17 during his career. He was inducted into the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
Marques Green
Green left St. Bonaventure as one of the best guards in program history. He's the school record-holder in both assists (657) and steals (325) - ranking second in Atlantic 10 history for steals and eighth in assists. He is tied for the SBU single game record for assists with 14, and second in steals for a game with seven. His 281 three-pointers are the most in school history while he shot 38.5 percent from distance for his career, good for sixth in program history. Green ranks ninth all-time in school history scoring (1,734 points) and is first in 3-pointers made (281), assists (657) and steals (325). He was selected All-A-10 First Team in 2003, the Second Team in 2004 and Third Team in 2002. He was all an A-10 All-Defensive Team pick in three straight seasons. He's played as a pro overseas for 15 years.
Glenn Hagan
The point guard of the 1977 NIT Championship team, Hagan established the career assists record for the program with 486 (4.7 apg), a total that still ranks fourth today. A team player, he finished his career with 1,396 points which ranks 19th all-time. Hagan helped clinch the 1977 NIT Championship with clutch efforts in the postseason: He knocked in the game-winning shot for a win over Rutgers, finishing with 26 points. Hagan also posted 13 points in a win over Oregon as well as 14 points in the championship game win over Houston. The following season in the NCAA Tournament, he poured in 19 points vs. Penn. He was named to the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
Essie Hollis
Hollis enjoyed a tremendously successful career, ranking seventh in program history with 1,798 points while he still stands second in rebounds with 939 - 9.2 per game over 109 contests. A two-time ECAC All-Star (1976, '77), he was a co-captain of the NIT Championship Team in 1977, scoring 24 points in the championship game win over Houston after scoring in double figures in every game of that tournament. Hollis was a second round pick of the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 and also played for the Detroit Pistons (1978-79). He was picked to the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and his No. 25 was retired in 2007.
Mark Jones
Having set an NCAA record for the highest freshman free throw percentage (88.4 percent) in 1979, Jones went on to become the seventh-leading scorer in program history at the time he finished his career. His 1,704 career points still rank 11th in Bona history while he is also seventh in assists (408) and fifth in steals (194). In 1982, he was the A-10's leading scorer at 18.0 ppg and was an all-conference first team selection. He was also A-10 second team in 1983 and the captain of the 1983 NIT team before being selected to the SBU Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bill Kalbaugh
A distinguished guard for the Bona basketball program, he was co-captain of the NCAA Final Four team of 1970. Against Davidson in the first round, he finished with 17 points before adding 13 vs. N.C. State and 15 vs. Villanova. He tallied 659 points and his skillful play was instrumental in leading Bona to a 65-12 record during his career (1967-70). The later assistant coach of the program was inducted to the SBU Hall of Fame in 1989.
Bob Lanier
A consensus All-American twice (1969, '70), Lanier finished his career as the St. Bonaventure record holder in seven categories including points (2,067), rebounding (1,180), single-game scoring (51 points vs. Seton Hall), single-game rebounding (27 vs. Loyola MD), single-season rebounding (416), single-season shooting percentage (.586) and average rebounds in one season (16.0 rpg) in 1969-70. During NCAA Tournament runs in 1968 and 1970, he scored in double figures in every game he played with dominating performances. In addition, he was the NBA Rookie of the Year with the Detroit Pistons and played professionally for the Bucks as well. After a long career in the NBA, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The key to SBU's 1970 Final Four team, his No. 31 jersey that brought the University national fame hangs in the Reilly Center rafters and he was inducted into SBU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975.
Andrew Nicholson
As a senior in 2011–12, Nicholson earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors in addition to All-American Honorable Mention, and First Team All-Atlantic 10 and All-Defensive team honors. He became the seventh player in the 35-year history of the league to earn both Rookie and Player of the Year honors and the first St. Bonaventure player to earn the top overall award since Earl Belcher won two such honors in 1980 and 1981. He also became the first player in the history of the league to earn four straight Player of the Week awards. He scored his 2,000th career point and averaged a double-double in the final week of the 2011-12 season, posting 25.5 points and 11.0 rebounds. In 32 games (all starts), he averaged 18.5 points and 8.4 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. He finished his four-year career at St. Bonaventure with 2,103 points, 887 rebounds and 244 blocks in 123 games (118 starts). Nicholson was key to the program's turnaround under head coach Mark Schmidt as he led the Bonnies to the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championship before being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
Glenn Price
In three years (1971-74), Price played his way into the program record book. He finished his career third in rebounds and still stands there with 922, an average of 12.1 per game over 76 contests. He's also seventh in career field goal percentage (.528) and fifth in scoring average at 20.8 points per game. By the time he closed his Bona career, he had scored 1,579Â points - a total that leaves him 14th all-time in the program record books. Price was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.
Greg Sanders
Named MVP of the 1977 NIT, he is St. Bonaventure's career leader in points with 2,238 (1974-78). He is also first in career field goals made (944) and shot a .538 percentage, also grabbing over 600 rebounds. He scored 40 points in the NIT Championship Game in 1977 and had a career-high of 46 points against Detroit earlier that year, also pouring in 30 points in the second round of the NIT with a win over Oregon. He earned All-American honors in 1977 and was an eighth round draft choice of the New York Knicks in 1978. His No. 53 is retired and he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
Sam Stith
The catalyst of the celebrated St. Bonaventure "nervous defense," he helped to initiate a total change in defense which later led to the zone press. Quick to steal the ball, he was the ultimate playmaker and team player. He finished his career with 1,112 points, 620 rebounds and shot .761 from the free throw line. He helped Bona to three NIT berths and went on to play for the New York Knicks. The captain of the 1959-60 team when he averaged 20.5 ppg, his No. 22 is retired and he was a member of the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Tom Stith
Stith had an almost unstoppable hook shot and won more national attention for the program than any other player up to that time. His recognition included: Associated Press All-American (1959-60 and 1960-61); United Press International All-American (1959-60 and 1960-61); Look Magazine All-American (1960-61); Sporting News All-American (1959-60 and 1960-61); Catholic Digest All-American (1960-61) and ECAC All-East (1960-61) among others. The University's first consensus All-American, he ranks fifth in program history with 2,052 points including the '59-60 season when he averaged 31.5 ppg, the all-time program record. He would play for his hometown New York Knicks and was a member of the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class.
David Vanterpool
Vanterpool helped lead the Bonnies back to national respect, taking Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors in 1991-92. As a senior, he averaged 17.5 ppg and was named First Team All-A-10. More importantly, he led the 1994-95 team to the NIT - the first for the program since 1983. Vanterpool stands 14th all-time in career scoring with 1,474 points and is also among the program's leaders in assists (401, eighth), rebounding (630, 22nd) and three-pointers (106, 19th). His 247 steals were at the time a school record and a total that still ranks fourth in program history. A player in the NBA for Washington and New Jersey, Vanterpool today is a well-respected NBA assistant coach, currently with Minnesota and previously with Portland. He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.
Tim Winn
A four-year floor general, Winn was a program-changing recruit for Jim Baron. Over his career, Winn guided the Brown and White to 66 wins, an NIT berth in 1998, an appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship Game and a berth in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. An All-Atlantic 10 selection as both a junior and a senior, including first team honors and All-Defensive status in 1999-2000, he ranks 18th in all-time scoring with 1,407 career points. During his time with the Bonnies, he sank 192 three-pointers, good for fourth in program history. Winn is also second all-time in steals with 319 and first in steals per game at 3.0 - he's also third all-time in Atlantic 10 career steals. He earned a spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
