MercerHoops Hall to welcome first class Sunday
It has long been talked about and nowwill be realized on Sunday with the induction of the inaugural class of the Mercer County BasketballHall of Fame.
Mercer County has always been a hotbed of basketball talent from the early days of Trenton High and Trenton Catholic right to this great Nottingham team of the current season.
The initial class will be inducted on Sunday, March 18 at Mercer Oaks beginning at 3 p.m. Unfortunately, the cutoff date for tickets has passed, however, ifyou have ordered tickets they will be atwill call.
There are many deserving players, coaches, administrators, officials and media members who are worthy of Hall of Fame recognition and here isalookat the inaugural class.
DAHNTAY JONES » Dahntay attended Steinert and led the Spartans to a state titleinhis senioryear. A 1,000-point scorer, he went on to Rutgers and Duke and had an even more impressive collegiate career.
He played 14 seasons in the NBAwinning aworld championship in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He recently completed the Harvard University Business School’s MBA Crossover into Business program. EMILWANDISHIN» Thelegendary coach at Ewing High had a career on the bench, or on a basketball court in front of the bench, that spanned over 27 years ,leading the BlueDevils to 491wins.
A native of Hazel ton, Pa ., Emil led the Blue Devils to five state championship appearances, winning the title in 1992 and 1996.
A winner of many Coach of the Year awards, but the greatest show of respect and admiration is having the Ewing gymnasium bear his name.
KATELARKIN» Katewas a player who broughtwomen’s basketball toprominence inMercerCounty.
Her 2,745 career points still stands as themost scored by any girl or boy in the county. During her four-year career at St. Anthony (McCorristin) the Iron Mikes were 85-17 and claimed two state championships.
L ark in continued her career at Old Dominion and La Salle and while with the Explorers she became an Academic All-America. GEORGEO’GORMAN » There isn’t much O’Gorman hasn’t done relating to high school athletics in Mercer County.
A longtime sports reporter at The Trentonian, he covered boys and girls basketball, he served as the color commentator for the games broadcast byWBCBradio and many times he represented the area as a member of the AllState selection committee.
George was also the Sports Information Director at Mercer County Community College and a coach and member of several area Hall of Fame’s.
NICK WERKMAN » Nick “the Quick” was one of the most prolific scorers ever produced by Mercer County.
When he played at Trenton Catholic, the Golden Wave won four consecutive state championships and at Seton Hall the legend grew even greater. Werkman was a two-time All-America player and in 1963 he led the NCAA in scoring.
He amassed 2,273 points in three years and he is only one of four players to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. NORMVANARSDALEN » One of the most respected and knowledgeable officials to ever grace a basketball court.
Whether itwas high school or college, Van Arsdalen was one of the top officials and could be seen refereeing big game after big game.
He began his career at PrincetonHigh in just about every capacity and Norm’s career wasn’t just contained toMercer County he has officiated and conducted clinics around the globe. GREGGRANT» WhenGregwas a senior at TrentonHigh and averaged 24.6 points a game andwas namedAll-County itwas just the beginning.
Once at Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey, Grant had one of the greatest careersin collegiate basketball for the Lions. He averaged a national record 30.6 points a game for his career, he was the school’s first and only two-time All-America player and heist he all-time leading scorer in school historywith 2,611 points.
Grant was the three-time NJAC Player of the Year, he was voted the greatest athlete inTCNJ history and after college he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns and played eightNBA seasons. HOLLISCOPELAND» Hollis had a great career at E wing High where he was an All-America performer in basketball and track.
After a stellar four years with the Blue Devils, it was off to Rutgers and for his freshman season he played basketball and ran track. But, thefinal three seasons itwas all basketball
A vital part of the Scarlet Knights Final four team in 1976, Copelandwasalso theMVPof the EC AC Tournament and he received All-America Honorable Mention. Hollis was drafted by the NBA and playedwith theNewYork Knicks. FR. CLARENCEO’SHEA » Fr. Clarence compiled an amazing record at Trenton Catholic coaching the GoldenWave to six state championship games in his eight years as varsity coach, winning three times.
Fr. Clarence and TC never shied away from anyone and he always loved the battles with Trenton High, St. Peter’s, DeMatha and the competition of the Eastern States Catholic Invitational Tournament held each year in Newport, R.I.
The 1957 Trenton Catholic team went undefeated, winning both the state championship and the ESCIT.
VICKY PICOTT » A great talent, Vicky set a very high standard at Hightstown High scoring a school record 2,279 points and in 1987 she led the Ray Clarkcoached Rams to the state title.
AconsensusAll-Americaplayer in her junior and senior season at Hightstown, she was one of the top forwards in the nation. Picott took her talents to Rutgers and flourished there, as well.
She was the Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year and an all-league performer from sophomore year to her senior season.
Afterher playingdays inEurope ended, Vicky returnedtothe starts and began coaching serving as an assistant atXavier andVanderbilt.