Tony Dunkin
Encyclopedia
Tony Dunkin is an American former college basketball
standout for Coastal Carolina University
. He is best known for being the only NCAA Division I men's basketball player to be honored as his conference player of the year all four times. In 2003–04 he was part of the inaugural 11-person class inducted into the Big South Conference
Hall of Fame.
' first five games due to NCAA eligibility rules because he had just transferred from Jacksonville University
. In his collegiate debut on December 9, 1989 against Georgia Tech
, Dunkin, a forward, scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He scored a season-high 28 points on February 1, 1990 against Campbell
en route to averages of 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds during his rookie campaign. He led the Chanticleers to the Big South regular-season and tournament championships, garnering numerous accolades in the process. He was named the Big South Player of the Year
, the first-ever Big South Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Conference and to the All-Tournament Team.
1991 NCAA Tournament
The Big South was only in its sixth year of existence when Dunkin was a sophomore. As the conference tournament champion, Coastal Carolina was granted a "play-in" game in order to gain an automatic berth into the 1991 NCAA Tournament
. They defeated Jackson State
78–59 and became the Big South's first-ever team in the "Big Dance." Coastal Carolina (15th seed) would lose to Indiana
(2nd seed) by a score of 69–79. Dunkin was limited to 11 points in the game.
tournament, where Dunkin fell two points shy of setting the tournament's all-time scoring record; his 81 points is second to the record of 83. He was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance. Due to an injury, Dunkin only played in 21 of the team's 33 games, but he led his team in scoring every game he played in and also reached the 20-point mark 15 times. For the season, he averaged 22.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, leading him to a rare third-consecutive conference player of the year selection. At the time, only 15 other Division I men's basketball players had accomplished that feat.
in the country by NCAA Magazine, which also tabbed him as one of the "Most Breathtaking Athletes" in college basketball. Dunkin averaged 23.7 points per game—the highest of his career—and became the first Big South player to score 2,000 career points (his 2,151 was a record that stood for 14 years, until Larry Blair of Liberty
surpassed the mark in 2007). He earned his fourth Big South Player of the Year award on March 4, 1993, making him the only Division I men's basketball player to ever earn the distinction for all four seasons.
1993 NCAA Tournament
Dunkin led Coastal Carolina to another Big South Tournament championship in 1992–93, which gave the Chanticleers their second berth
into the NCAA Tournament in three years. Coastal Carolina was made the 16th seed in the West Region, which pitted them against 1-seed Michigan
and its fabled "Fab Five
". In a lop-sided 52–84 loss to the eventual national runners-up, Dunkin finished his career by scoring a team-high 17 points.
He was invited to participate in the college Slam Dunk Contest during the Final Four Weekend activities, which made him the first Big South player in the event's history.
(CBA) for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez
and in Italy
for Danone-Honvéd BT.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
standout for Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
. He is best known for being the only NCAA Division I men's basketball player to be honored as his conference player of the year all four times. In 2003–04 he was part of the inaugural 11-person class inducted into the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
Hall of Fame.
Freshman season
In 1989–90, Dunkin was forced to sit out the Coastal Carolina ChanticleersCoastal Carolina Chanticleers
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are the athletic teams that represent Coastal Carolina University. They participate in Division I of the NCAA and are a charter member of the Big South Conference. Coastal fields varsity teams in 16 sports, 8 each for both men and women. The football team competes...
' first five games due to NCAA eligibility rules because he had just transferred from Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
. In his collegiate debut on December 9, 1989 against Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team represents the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays its home games in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Under the tenure of Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech established itself as a national force in basketball...
, Dunkin, a forward, scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He scored a season-high 28 points on February 1, 1990 against Campbell
Campbell Fighting Camels men's basketball
The Campbell Fighting Camels basketball team is the men's basketball team that represent the Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school's team currently competes in the Big South Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was...
en route to averages of 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds during his rookie campaign. He led the Chanticleers to the Big South regular-season and tournament championships, garnering numerous accolades in the process. He was named the Big South Player of the Year
Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual college basketball award given to the Big South Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1985–86 season, the first year the league competed in varsity basketball competition.The most...
, the first-ever Big South Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Conference and to the All-Tournament Team.
Sophomore season
Dunkin was named a preseason honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's prior to the 1990–91 season. He would set new career highs in most statistical categories while helping Coastal Carolina to repeat as regular-season and conference tournament champions. In 28 games played, Dunkin averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds to become the first Big South player to win back-to-back player of the year awards. He also was named First Team All-Conference and the Tournament MVP.1991 NCAA Tournament
The Big South was only in its sixth year of existence when Dunkin was a sophomore. As the conference tournament champion, Coastal Carolina was granted a "play-in" game in order to gain an automatic berth into the 1991 NCAA Tournament
1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. They defeated Jackson State
Jackson State Tigers men's basketball
The Jackson State Tigers Basketball team is the basketball team that represent Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. The school's team currently competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007...
78–59 and became the Big South's first-ever team in the "Big Dance." Coastal Carolina (15th seed) would lose to Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
(2nd seed) by a score of 69–79. Dunkin was limited to 11 points in the game.
Junior season
In 1991–92, Dunkin was given a second straight preseason All-American nod. Early in the season, the Chanticleers participated in the Great Alaska ShootoutGreat Alaska Shootout
The Great Alaska Shootout is an annual college basketball tournament in Anchorage, Alaska that features colleges from all over the United States. The University of Alaska Anchorage hosts the tournament every Thanksgiving. Tournament games are played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage...
tournament, where Dunkin fell two points shy of setting the tournament's all-time scoring record; his 81 points is second to the record of 83. He was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance. Due to an injury, Dunkin only played in 21 of the team's 33 games, but he led his team in scoring every game he played in and also reached the 20-point mark 15 times. For the season, he averaged 22.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, leading him to a rare third-consecutive conference player of the year selection. At the time, only 15 other Division I men's basketball players had accomplished that feat.
Senior season
Going into his final collegiate season in 1992–93, Dunkin was rated as the ninth-best small forwardSmall forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
in the country by NCAA Magazine, which also tabbed him as one of the "Most Breathtaking Athletes" in college basketball. Dunkin averaged 23.7 points per game—the highest of his career—and became the first Big South player to score 2,000 career points (his 2,151 was a record that stood for 14 years, until Larry Blair of Liberty
Liberty Flames basketball
-History:The Liberty Men's Basketball program began in 1972 under head coach Dan Manley. Liberty University is the second youngest school in NCAA Division I, founded in 1971 . The Flames finished 13-14 in the inaugural season...
surpassed the mark in 2007). He earned his fourth Big South Player of the Year award on March 4, 1993, making him the only Division I men's basketball player to ever earn the distinction for all four seasons.
1993 NCAA Tournament
Dunkin led Coastal Carolina to another Big South Tournament championship in 1992–93, which gave the Chanticleers their second berth
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
into the NCAA Tournament in three years. Coastal Carolina was made the 16th seed in the West Region, which pitted them against 1-seed Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
and its fabled "Fab Five
Fab Five (University of Michigan)
The Fab Five was the nickname for a 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball team recruitment class that is considered by some to be "the greatest class ever recruited." The class consisted of Detroit natives Chris Webber and Jalen Rose, Chicago native Juwan Howard, and Texas high school...
". In a lop-sided 52–84 loss to the eventual national runners-up, Dunkin finished his career by scoring a team-high 17 points.
He was invited to participate in the college Slam Dunk Contest during the Final Four Weekend activities, which made him the first Big South player in the event's history.
Professional career
After college, Dunkin played in the Continental Basketball AssociationContinental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez
Fargo-Moorhead Beez
The Fargo-Moorhead Beez was a professional basketball club based in Fargo, North Dakota that competed in the International Basketball Association beginning in the 1995-1996 season. They were the 1995-1996 and the 1997-1998 International Basketball Association champions...
and in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for Danone-Honvéd BT.