Clicky

Meet all the players with Long Island ties on this year’s March Madness Cinderella team

|

They’ve likely busted your bracket but warmed your heart in the process.

The No. 15 seeded Saint Peter’s Peacocks are the darlings of the NCAA Tournament, and they’ve got some Long Island connections to boot.

KC Ndefo, Elmont

Saint Peter’s KC Ndefo (11) goes up for a dunk against Murray State’s KJ Williams (0) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Leading the way is senior KC Ndefo, who six years ago led the Elmont Spartans to their first-ever state championship.

Ndefo, the nation’s leader in blocks as a junior, scored 17 points, collected 10 rebounds and blocked six shots in the Peacocks’ second-round win over No. 7 Murray State last week.

“I’m not surprised at all,” former Spartans coach George Holub told greaterlongisland.com. “KC was a huge part of our state championship team. He’s done a great job. I’m so happy for him.”

Holub said the Peacocks are playing “beautiful basketball” and loves Ndefo’s competitive spirit. “He has such a fire in him. He wants to win every game, he’s always laser focused.” 

Check out this incredible chase-down block from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year for three years running.

There was a possibility that he wouldn’t return to the Peacocks after mulling transferring to another school.

Ndefo put his name in the portal after last season and did his due diligence to find a new program. He listened to other players. Visited Texas Tech. Did Zooms with other schools and thought a lot.

“In the end, I knew what was best for me and who had my best at heart,” Ndefo said. “So, you know, coming back to this program was definitely something I definitely wanted to do.”

And, so far, it looks like he made the right choice.

This past season, the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.3 steals.

And now his Peacocks are just the third 15 seed to ever make the Sweet 16, joining Florida Gulf Coast (2013) and Oral Roberts (2021).

Fousseyni and Hassan Drame, Our Savior New American School (Centereach)

Saint Peter’s players celebrate after defeating Murray State in a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Contributing some important minutes are twin brothers Fousseyni and Hassan Drame, who played their high school ball at Our Savior New American School in Centereach.

“I’m enjoying watching them,” said former Our Savior New American coach Pastor Ron Stelzer. “I have very positive feelings about them. Good players, good students and good people.” 

Fousseyni led Saint Peter’s in total rebounding this season, while Hassan scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds against Murray State.

Saint Peter’s Hassan Drame (14) dunks during the second half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

In addition to playing on Long Island, the boys tore up the courts in their home country of Mali, a West African nation. Born in Bamako, Mali, the brothers eventually went on to play for the national team.

Together, they won the U18 African Championship in 2018, and led their country to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 Championship game.

The 6-foot-7 brothers quickly got the attention of college scouts while at Our Savior, receiving offers from bigger schools than Saint Peter’s.

According to the New York Post, they were really impressed with head coach and Queens native Shaheen Holloway.

Now together with their coach, the brothers are helping make a big splash in the Big Dance.

Former coach Stelzer said he hasn’t texted with the brothers because he doesn’t want “to be a distraction.”

“But I’ll be watching,” he said. 

Brent Bland, Wheatley Heights

Saint Peter’s guard Brent Bland being helped up by guard Daryl Banks III. (Credit: Saint Peter’s Athletics)

Watching and learning while on the Peacocks bench is former Half Hollow Hills West star Brent Bland.

The four-time All-Long Island selection is a red shirt freshman guard on Saint Peter’s, and former Hills West head coach Steve Atkinson had rave reviews for the young hoopster.

“For us, he was great.” Atkinson told GLI. “He was one of the top three-point shooters on Long Island for a few years. I always thought he had the potential to be a Division I player…but you need a D-I body and he has it now. I give Saint Peter’s credit, they did their homework.”

Atkinson said he’s texted back-and-forth with the Long Island native, who despite not playing still finds ways to contribute. 

“I can see he’s having so much fun…when he used to come out of the game with us, he was probably the best guy on the bench when it came to cheering, so I know he’s loving it now.”

Shaheen Holloway, Queens

Saint Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway questions a call during the first half of a college basketball game against Murray State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

While it’s technically not Long Island, Saint Peter’s head coach was born geographically on the island.

He was raised in South Jamaica, Queens, and would go on to play high school ball in New Jersey and eventually star at Seton Hall University.

The last team from New Jersey to reach the Sweet 16? That would be Seton Hall in 2000, with Holloway at point guard.

“I was a decent player. I’m small. People counted me out. So I had something to prove every time. So I coached that way,” he said.

He later went on to play professional basketball before getting into coaching at the collegiate level.

The New York Post recently asked him what drove him as a kid.

This is what he had to say:

“To be honest, to get out of the ’hood, to make it out of South Jamaica, Queens.”

While he was successful in doing so, he never forgets where he came from.

After defeating No. 7 seed Murray State last week, a reporter asked him if they were intimidated by the considerable size advantage of their opponent.

He responded with the following.

“I’m going to say this. It’s going to come off a little crazy. I got guys from New Jersey and New York City,” Holloway said. “You think we’re scared of anything? You think we’re worried about guys trying to muscle us and tough us out?”

The Peacocks magical run continues Friday night when they try and upset No. 3 seed Purdue at 7 p.m.

Additional reporting from Associated Press

Top: Saint Peter’s players celebrate after defeating Murray State in a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Our Local Supporters