MATTOON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball will play its 100th year of intercollegiate basketball during the 2009-10 season and the athletic department kicked off a year long celebration on Friday evening at the Mattoon Country Club. As part of the kickoff celebration the EIU athletic department named ten members of its All-Century team along with recognizing six teams for their success and contributions to EIU men's basketball.
The All-Century team includes the following players (listed in chronological order): Andy Sullivan, Tom Katsimpalis, John Milholland, Charlie Thomas, Craig DeWitt, Jon Collins, Kevin Duckworth, Jay Taylor, Kyle Hill and Henry Domercant.
The six teams earned special recognition include the 1952 NAIA team, 1957 NAIA team, 1976 NCAA Division II team, 1978 NCAA Division II team, 1992 NCAA Division I team and 2001 NCAA Division I team.
The celebration will culminate on the final weekend of the 2009-10 regular season when EIU will hold a two-day event on Feb. 26-27 to honor all of its former men's basketball players. A banquet will be held on Friday event in McAfee Gymnasium while a special recognition ceremony will surround the Panthers Saturday evening game against Tennessee State.
All-Century Team Bios
Andy Sullivan (1942-46) was a two-time team captain during the World War II era playing for Coach Pim Goff. He was a three time All-Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and named league MVP in 1945 after leading the IIAC in scoring.
Tom Katsimpalis (1949-52) was a second team All-American in 1950 and a key member of the Panthers 1952 NAIA team. He was a three-time first team All-IIAC selection and held the single game, season and career scoring records at the time of his graduation. He scored 1,538 points and currently ranks 7th all-time at EIU. He was the first EIU player selected by the National Basketball Association as he was selected in the 7th round of the 1952 draft by the Minneapolis Lakers.
John Milholland (1956-58) held the EIU career scoring record for more than 30 years with 1,655 career points. He was a key member of the Panthers 1957 NAIA team. A three-time first team All-IIAC selection he still holds the EIU record for season field goals made at 284 and is second in career scoring average. He currently ranks 5th on the Panthers career scoring list.
Charlie Thomas (1975-78) was a catalyst for the Panthers 1976 and 1978 NCAA Division II teams appearing in the second most games of any player in Panther history. His 1,452 career points rank 8th all-time on the EIU list while he holds the school record for consecutive free throws made with 54, set during the 1978 season. He ranks third on the EIU career free throw percentage list.
Craig DeWitt (1977-80) was a rebounding and scoring threat twice earning NCAA Division II All-American honors. He was a member of the 1978 NCAA Division II team and the first EIU player to earn All-Mid-Continent Conference honors in 1980. He is one of only three players to rank in the EIU career Top 10 for both scoring and rebounding. His 1,426 career points rank 9th while his 684 rebounds place him 6th.
Jon Collins (1983-86) was one of the most decorated players in EIU history twice being named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year in 1985 and 1986. He was a two-time All-American helping the Panthers win the 1985 Mid-Con Conference Tournament. He ended his career as the Panthers career leading scorer with 1,702 points which now ranks 4th all-time. He was a 5th round selection of the Denver Nuggets in the 1986 NBA Draft.
Kevin Duckworth (1983-86) has been the most identifiable player in Eastern Illinois basketball history. A force in the low post he was named first team All-Mid-Continent Conference in 1986. He ended his playing days as the EIU and Mid-Con career leader in rebounds with 867. He also holds the EIU record for career blocks at 123 and ranks third in career field goal percentage. One of three players to rank in the career Top 10 for rebounding and scoring he is 6th with 1,569 career points. A second round NBA draft pick in 1986 he went on to become a two-time NBA All-Star with the Portland Trailblazers.
Jay Taylor (1986-89) had a knack for scoring as he twice earned All-American honors while playing for the Panthers. He ended his career as the EIU career leading scorer with 1,926 points, a total that now ranks 2nd. He was named the 1989 Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year averaging 23.4 points per game which ranks 4th on the EIU single season list. He is second in career free throws made with 553. Taylor signed as a NBA free agent with the New Jersey Nets.
Kyle Hill (1998-2001) helped lead EIU to the 2001 NCAA Division I Tournament as he ranked second in the nation in scoring at 23.8 points per game. He finished his career with 211 3-points and ranks 3rd on the career scoring list with 1,819 points. He was a two-time first team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection. A versatile guard, Hill ranks third in career assists and second in career steals. He was a second round draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks and is currently playing professionally in Europe.
Henry Domercant (2000-03) smashed the EIU and Ohio Valley Conference record books with his scoring prowess. He ranks first in career scoring for the school and conference with 2,602 points having playing in the most games in Panther history at 120. He was a member of the 2001 NCAA Tournament team and was the 2002 OVC Player of the Year earning All-America honors. Three times in his career Domercant ranked in the Top 5 in the nation in scoring as he finished fifth in 2001 and second in both 2002 and 2003. He will be elected to the EIU athletic hall of fame this October and is currently playing professionally in Europe.
Teams Being Honored
1952 – The Panthers posted a 22-0 regular-season record to become the only EIU team with an unblemished regular season mark. EIU would go 1-1 in the NAIA District Championships suffering its first loss to Millikin. The Panthers still earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament going 1-1 to end the season at 24-2 overall. The team was coached by Bill Healy with Tom Katsimpalis the team captain.
1957 – The Panthers made a late season surge to earn a spot in the NAIA District playoffs where they defeated McKendree and Millikin to win the championship. The team would advance to the NAIA National Tournament winning their first three games to advance to the NAIA National Semifinals. They would fall to Southeastern Oklahoma in the semifinals and then lost to Pacific Southern in the consolation game to finish fourth in the nation. Robert Carey coached the team with Lloyd Ludwig the team captain.
1976 – The Panthers made a splash on the national scene as they won the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional with wins over St. Joseph's and Evansville. EIU would advance to the Elite Eight defeating Bridgeport in the opening round. The Panthers fell to UT Chattanooga in the national semifinals but rebounded to defeat Old Dominion and place third in the nation in NCAA Division II. Don Eddy coached the team with Brad Warble the team captain.
1978 – The Panthers again advanced deep into the NCAA Division II playoffs as they again defeated St. Joseph's and Evansville to win the Great Lakes Regional. EIU would defeat Elizabeth City in the Elite Eight to advance to their second national semifinal in three seasons. The Panthers lost to UW Green Bay in the semifinal contest but rebounded to defeat Florida Tech in the consolation game for a NCAA Division II 3rd place finish. Don Eddy coached the team with Derrick Scott the team captain.
1992 – The Panthers ran through the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament winning three straight games over Wright State, UW Green Bay and Illinois-Chicago to secure their first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. EIU had entered the Mid-Con Tournament as the four seed. Their reward was as trip to Boise, Idaho where they faced Indiana in the NCAA Tournament first round. Rick Samuels coached the team with Dave Olson the team captain.
2001 – The Panthers were led by two of the nation's top scorers in Kyle Hill and Henry Domercant as they placed second in the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season race. EIU defeated Murray State in the opening round and advanced to their second NCAA Tournament with a memorable championship game win over Austin Peay. The Panthers landed in the Kansas City Regional where they played Arizona. Rick Samuels coached the team with Kyle Hill, Matt Britton and Merv Joseph team captains.
The All-Century team and six teams were selected by a committee which included former basketball coaches Don Eddy and Rick Samuels, current Panther basketball coach Mike Miller, former players Roger Dettro and Troy Collier and Panther Club member Scott Wilson. Members of the EIU administrative staff serving on the committee included athletic director Barbara Burke, assistant athletic director for special projects Dave Kidwell, assistant athletic director for philanthropy Joel Moersch, director of athletic marketing Ryan Gilmore and director of media relations Rich Moser.
