Small College Basketball Releases 2025 Hall of Fame Class

 

Kansas City, MO – Small College Basketball and the Hall of Fame Committee are extremely proud to announce the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. This year’s class is made up of some of the greatest coaches, players, and contributor at the Small College Basketball level. Once again this year, the members of the HOF Class of 2025 have left their imprint on the game of basketball at the Small College Basketball level. John McCarthy had this to say about this year’s class:

 

"Congratulations to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025,” exclaimed McCarthy. “What an impressive and accomplished Hall of Fame Class!  October 31 is going to be a special day, as we formally induct these worthy players, coaches and a contributor into our national Hall of Fame. They have certainly earned it!  We are so grateful to our Hall of Fame Committee for their time, effort, research and knowledge in selecting this class."

 

Players

Seger Bonifant (West Liberty)

Brandon Cole (John Brown)

Mario Elie (American International)

Joey Flannery (Babson)

Steve Honderd (Calvin)

Bob Kauffman (Guilford)

Eric Kline (Northern State)

Lambert Shell (Bridgeport)

Bill Warden (North Central IL)

 

Coach

Herb Magee (Philadelphia Textile, Philadelphia University, Jefferson University)

Dan McCarrell (North Park / Mankato State)

 

Contributor/Player

Ed Bilik (NCAA Rules Committee)

 

This year’s National Hall of Fame Class marks the ninth class inducted into the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame. The National Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday October 31st inside the Branscomb Auditorium on the campus of Florida Southern College  in Lakeland, FL.

 

The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Committee consists of the following individuals: Don Landry, Roy Pickerill, Jim Nelson, Doug Palm, Rich Zvosec, Gary Stewart, Mike Lightfoot, John Rinka, Jim Poteet, Greg Moore, Bob Hoffman, Joe Niland, Bob Wilson, Greg Grant, Charlie Brock, Rusty Osborne, Rick Byrd, and Pat Cunningham.

 

For more information regarding the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame please head to smallcollegebasketball.com.

 

Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Bio’s

 

Seger Bonifant, West Liberty

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Two-time Basketball Times Division II Player of the Year 2015, 2016

Two-time NABC All-American first team 2015, 2016

Two-time Atlantic Region and Mountain East Conference (MEC) Player of the Year 2015, 2016

All-time NCAA Division II leader in 3FG percentage – 52.5% (374-712)

Led 2016 nation in points – 893 (25.5); led 2015 nation in 3FGs – 117; 3FG percentage – 52.2% (117-224)

Second in career scoring – 2,289 (16.7)

Won the Mountain East Conference all four years (2013-2016)

Went 34-2 in 2012-13 (Reached NCAA DII National Semi-Finals); Went 31-4 in 2013-14 (Reached NCAA DII National Championship game); Went 28-4 in 2014-15 (Reached NCAA DII Regional Championship game); Went 31-4 in 2015-16 (Reached NCAA DII National Semi-Finals). 

Had 44 points in final collegiate game

 

Year          G     FG-FGA    FG%   3FG-3A   3G%   FT-FTA   Pct  Reb  Avg  Ast  BS  St   Pts   Avg

2012-13   35  111-196   .566    66-121    .545   18-19   .947  108  3.1   37  15  10   306   8.7

2013-14   35  128-226   .566    78-135    .563   29-30   .933  107  3.1   64  16  16   360  10.3

2014-15   32  254-447   .568    117-224  .522  105-124  .847  127  3.9   65  17  17   730  22.8

2015-16   35  313-536   .584     115-232 .496  152-182  .835  184  5.3  106  27  22   893  25.5

Totals      137  806-1405  .574    374-712  .525  303-355  .854  526  3.8  272  75  65  2289  16.7

 

Brandon Cole, John Brown

 

2006 NAIA Player of the Year Two-time NAIA All-American first team 2005, 2006 Two-time NAIA Championship Most Valuable Player 2005, 2006 Won 2005 NAIA Championship (24-11) Named to the NAIA's 75th Anniversary Men's Basketball All-Star Team His record of 527 career three-point field goals made is more than anyone in the college basketball at any level Garnered national recognition for hitting a triple in a collegiate record 120 consecutive games. First in career points - 2,378 (23.0) John Brown Wall of Fame inductee

 

Year          G-GS     FG-FGA    FG%   3FG-3A    3FG%  FT-FTA   PCT  REB  AVG  AST  AVG   TO BS  STL   PTS    AVG

2002-03  34-34  191-420    .455    129-277  .466     57 73     .781  173  5.1    78     2.3      57  5    56    568    16.7

2003-04  34-34  156-385    .405    128-305   .420     68 92    .739  125   3.7    60    1.8    47  3    34    508    14.9

2004-05  35-35    207-530   .391    136-369   .369    113-14 .774  163   4.7    87    2.5    64  3    29    663    18.9

2005-06  31-31    190-553   .344    134-389  .344    137-170 .806  117   3.8   58   1.9   71  4    28    651    21.0

Totals     134-134 744-1888 .394  527-1340 .393    375-481 .780  578  4.3  283  2.1  239 15  147 2390  17.8

 

Mario Elie, American International

 

Three-time NABC Division II All-American 1983 (third team); 1984, 1985 (second) Three-time Northeast 10 Player of the Year 1983, 1984, 1985 1982 Northeast 10 Conference Rookie of the Year Second in scoring - 2,124 (17.4) and steals – 190 (1.6) Sixth in rebounding - 1,001 (8.3) Eighth in assists – 332 (2.7) His four-year record 91-32 Jersey number 14 retired American International Hall of fame inductee

 

Year                     G            FG-FGA               Pct         FT-FTA Pct         Reb               Avg        Pts         Avg

1981-82              27          157-268              .586       72-97    .742       207        8.3               386        15.4

1982-83              31          188-357              .527       116-157 .739     239        7.7               492        15.9

1983-84              31          225-398              .565       135-170 .794     263        8.5               585        18.9

1984-85              33          252-459              .549       157-202 .778     299        9.0              661       20.1

Totals                  122        822-1482            .555       480-626 .767     1008     8.3               2124     17.4

 

Joey Flannery, Babson

 

Two-time NABC Division III Player of the Year 2016, 2017 Three-time NABC Division III All-American first team 2015, 2016, 2017; 2017 D3.com Player of the Year; Three-time D3.com All-American first team 2015, 2016, 2017 Two-time Basketball Times Player of the Year 2016, 2017 2017 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player Won 2017 NCAA Division III Championship (31-2) Twice finalist for the Small College Basketball’s Bevo Francis Award NCAA Division III Record ninth career points – 2,620 (22.0) First in career scoring – 2,620 (22.0); field goals – 863 and free throws 689 Started all 119 games His four-year record 103-18

 

Year G FG-FGA FG% 3FG-A 3FG% FT-FTA FT% Reb Avg Ast BS St Pts Avg

2013-14 27 181-332 .545 32-90 .356 119-159 .748 167 6.2 33 13 33 513 19.0

2014-15 32 220-453 .486 48-130 .369 201-254 .791 198 6.1 64 12 40 689 21.5

2015-16 28 210-475 .442 47-148 .318 201-240 .838 186 6.6 78 14 38 668 23.9

2016-17 32 252-546 .462 78-201 .388 168-199 .844 228 7.1 121 24 40 750 23.4

Totals 119 863-1806 .478 205-569 .360 689-852 .809 779 6.5 296 63 151 2620 22.0

 

Steve Honderd, Calvin

 

1993 NABC Division III Player of the Year 1993 NABC Division III All-American first team 1992 NCAA Division III Championship Most Outstanding Player Won 1992 NCAA Division III Championship (31-1) First in career scoring – 2,649; career field goal percentage - 62.8% Holds single-game scoring record with 61 points Named the DIII News Player of the Decade in NCAA Division III (1990’s)

 

Year G FG-FGA FG% 3FG-3A Pct FT-FTA FT% Reb Avg Ast Avg Pts Avg

1989-90 31 216-354 .610 0-0 .000 154-192 .802 215 6.9 48 1.5 586 18.0

1990-91 28 198-302 .656 1-3 .333 184-215 .856 200 7.1 36 1.3 581 20.8

1991-92 32 236-362 .652 10-17 .588 179-212 .844 244 7.6 59 1.8 661 20.7

1992-93 28 226-377 .599 32-74 .432 157-200 .785 217 7.8 53 1.9 641 22.9

Totals 119 876-1395 .628 43-94 .457 674-819 .823 876 7.4 196 1.6 2469 20.7

 

Bob Kauffman, Guilford

 

Five-time All-American by Associated Press, United Press International and National Basketball Coaches Association…Responsible for turning the Quakers into an NAIA basketball powerhouse. ..during his four seasons, the Quakers won 86 games with three straight trips to the NAIA Tournament.  He scored 2,570 points on 64% shooting with 1,801 rebounds in his 113-game career…he averaged 22.7 points and 15.9 rebounds per game in his career….holds Guilford school records for single-game rebounds (32), single-season rebounds (698, 1967–68), career field goals (943), single-season field goal percentage (.712, 1967–68), single-season free throws (273, 1966–67), career free throws (684), and single-season free-throw attempts (344, 1966–67).

 

Eric Kline, Northern State

 

1995 NAIA Division II Player of the Year Three-time NAIA Division II All-American first team 1993, 1994, 1995 Three-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC) Player of the Year 1993, 1994, 1995 1995 South Dakota Collegiate Athlete of the Year First in career scoring - 2,629 (26.3) Twice led NCAA Division II season three-pointers made 1994, 1995 Northern State Hall of Fame and NSIC Hall of Fame inductee

 

Year G FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg A BS St Pts Avg

1992-93 36 341-665 .513 148-346 .428 128-164 .780 133 3.7 68 49 17 958 26.6

1993-94 34 333-670 .497 156-350 .446 112-130 .862 125 3.7 56 1 36 934 27.5

1994-95 30 255-541 .471 148-379 .391 79-109 .725 114 3.8 83 0 48 737 24.6

Totals 100 929-1876 .495 452-1075 .420 319-403 .792 372 3.7 207 50 101 2629 26.3

 

Lambert Shell, Bridgeport

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Twelfth All-time NCAA Division II leading scorer 3,001 points Two-time NABC All-American first team 1991, 1992 1990 NABC All-American second team 1991 NCAA Championship Most Outstand Player New England Basketball Hall of Fame and Fairfield County Hall of Fame inductee NCAA Division II Record - most games scoring in double-figures 130

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Year G FG-FGA Pct 3FG-A Pct FT-FTA Pct Reb Avg Ast Avg Pts Avg

1988-89 32 255-420 .607 0-1 .000 184-243 .757 347 10.8 42 1.3 694 21.7

1989-90 33 273-459 .595 0-0 .000 197-288 .684 352 10.7 77 2.3 743 22.5

1990-91 33 298-586 .509 7-29 .241 181-243 .745 318 9.6 93 2.8 784 23.8

1991-92 34 276-549 .502 15-40 .375 213-260 .819 328 9.4 120 3.5 780 22.3

Totals 132 1102-2014 .547 22-69 .732 775-1034 .723 1345 10.2 332 2.5 3001 22.7

 

Bill Warden, North Central (Ill.)

 

Played 1951-55

First in career scoring - 2,249 (28.5) and single game - 52

Four time All-College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin (CCIW) first team 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955

 1954 Helms Athletic Foundation NAIA All-American team

First in NAIA history to average more than 30 ppg in two seasons. His scoring average 34.7 as a senior led the nation

Scored more than 40 points on six occasions and had a high single-game rebounding high of 30

 

1951-52 - 21 games, 214 FG,   98 FT,         526 points, 25.0 per game

1952-53 - 21 games, 254 FG, 181-240 FT, 689 points, 32.8 per game

1953-54 - 19 games, 217 FG, 149-241 FT, 583 points, 30.7 per game

1954-55 - 13 games, 162 FG, 127-192 FT, 451 points, 34.7 per game

Career - 74 games, 847 FG, 555-740 FT, 2249 points, 28.5 per game

 

Herb Magee, Philadelphia Textile, Philadelphia University, Jefferson University

 

Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011…his 63-year career mark was 1,144-450 for a .718 winning percentage (1959-2002)… he ended his career as the winningest NCAA Division II men's basketball coach of all-time, and second winningest across all divisions, with 1,144 victories.

Coach Magee led his team to 13 conference titles, 31 Division II NCAA Tournaments and has had a winning record for the last 23 seasons… guided the Rams through several institution name changes, from Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science (1961-99) to Philadelphia University (1999-2017) to Thomas Jefferson University (2017-22). He led his teams to 31 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national championship in 1970, and 13 conference championships. The Rams recorded 38 20+-win seasons and 12 25+-win seasons—including a school-record 30 victories during the 1992-93 campaign.

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Coach Magee’s Philly University teams from 1991-1995 won 80 consecutive home games, which stood as the longest home win streak in NCAA Division II men’s basketball history for 30 years.

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His coaching produced 13 All-Americans, 49 1,000-point scorers and three 2,000-point scorers. In 2007, Christian Burns was selected as the Daktronics NCAA Division II Player of the Year. After the school joined the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Magee had 15 different players named to the CACC All-Academic Team, including three-time honoree Peter Alexis. Al Angelos (1980), Alexis (2015, 2016), and Antonin Kemkeng (2022) were selected as College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans.

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During the national championship 1969-70 season—Magee’s third season as the Rams’ head coach, Philadelphia overcame a 1-2 start to run off 28 consecutive victories on its way to the crown. The Rams won their final 26 contests by a double-figure margin. In the NCAA Tournament, the Rams won their five games by an average of 23.8 points, including a 101-53 thrashing of American International in the quarterfinal round. Philadelphia won the school’s first national title with a 76-65 win over Tennessee State.

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In the 2009-10 season that saw the Rams reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, Magee won his 903rd career game to pass Bobby Knight for first on the NCAA men’s basketball coaching wins list.

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Jefferson had an 18-game win streak at one point, the longest since 1993-94. Four players earned All-CACC honors, led by CACC Player of the Year Kylan Guerra. Guerra went on to earn NABC All-America honors. Magee captured the CACC and NABC East District Coach of the Year awards. A member of numerous Halls of Fame, Magee is also enshrined in the Philadelphia University Athletics Hall of Fame (1984), Philadelphia Area Small College Basketball Hall of Fame (2002), Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2008), and the Middle Atlantic Conferences Hall of Fame (2022).In 1976, Magee earned the NABC Division II Co-Coach of the Year Award. He has also been recognized as the NABC Division II East District Coach of the Year (1971, ’73, ’89, ’93, 2020), Kodak District Coach of the Year (1993), Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year (2008, ’10, '20), New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (1993, ’94, ’04), and Mideast Collegiate Conference Co-Coach of the Year (twice). In 2016, he received the Joe Lapchick Character Award.

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Dan McCarrell, North Park / Mankato State

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Career – 34 years, 579-348 (62.8%) in NCAA Division II and III; at North Park – 17 years (1967-84), 295-159 (65.0%); at Mankato State – 17 years (1984-2001), 284-189 (60.0%). North Park – Three-time NABC Division III Coach of the Year 1978, 1979, 1980; won three-straight NCAA Division III Championships 1978, 19790, 1980; named Division III Coach of the Decade in 1970’s; the Vikings played five consecutive NCAA Division III tournaments (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and one NCAA College Division Tournament (1969); compiled a 17-4 mark in NCAA Tournament play; won four College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980; winningest coach in school history; North Park Athletic Hall of Fame and Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Mankato State – Winningest coach in school history; won 11 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference division titles; coached nine All-Americans; Mankato State Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.

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Ed Bilik, NCAA Rules Committee

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He was a member of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee from 1997-2010 and served as Secretary Rules Editor responsible for editing the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Book.  During his tenure as Rules Interpreter, he compiled over 500,000 survey responses, gave over 5,000 rules interpretations, and issued over 250 rules memorandums/play situation documents.  In 1989, Bilik was appointed Director of Athletics at Springfield College, a position he held for 10 years.  During those years he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic, the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) Executive and Football Committee and was President of the Eastern Collegiate Gymnastics League (EIGL). In addition, he traveled throughout the country conducting golf clinics for the Lifetime Sports Federation. Bilik was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, the New York State Section 4 Hall of Fame in 1996, and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.  In 2002, Bilik was the inaugural recipient of the NABC’s Guardians of the Game Award in the Advocacy category.  In 2011, the NABC recognized him with the NABC Metropolitan Award.

 

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