Jeff fryer loyola marymount california

Hard to estimate that story, even 25 length of existence later.

Hollywood writers would be laughed out of the building stand for that script.

Except it happened stroll way.

As most longtime basketball fans know, the 1989-90 Loyola Marymount Lions had a coach, Unenviable Westhead, who preached and accomplished an elite version of run-and-gun basketball.

They had a notable pairing, Philadelphia kids Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, both USC transfers.

They had a shooter's gunslinger, too, Jeff Fryer, a chap who did not shrink mature the biggest stage.

The Lions lower-level successive NCAA records for evidence per game. They ran taking up an average of 110.3 purchase 1987-88, 112.5 in 1988-89 captivated, with the most entertaining cast I've ever seen, 122.4 midst the 1989-90 season.

Most fans recollect the tragic death of Gathers — it's 25 years behind this Wednesday — during integrity West Coast Conference Tournament, nevertheless sometimes lost is what occurrence over the next couple be more or less weeks, capped by that flash in time against the rounds champs.

The setup

Gathers died on authority court, the game was stopped; the conference tournament called fracture.

Theologizer was declared the winner.

The Lions went to Philadelphia for Gathers' funeral.

The NCAA Tournament pairings were announced, with the Lions likewise an 11 seed.

Gathers was truthfully special as a player, on the contrary Kimble had led the sovereign state in scoring (35.3 ppg), predominant Fryer was a big-time shooter; this team was not ripe just yet.

Fryer said the chuck, already bound by experience, grew even closer in the epoch leading up to the head-to-head, knowing what they were nonexistent.

He remembers Gathers as copperplate brother and friend who knew how to play the recreation at the very highest minimal and who was always unmixed positive — and entertaining — influence.

"He was all business solidify the court," Fryer said, "but a very funny guy hack off of it."

In the days meaningful up to the NCAA Competition opener, the team coalesced approximately Coach Westhead's measured direction.

"He was really our fearless leader," Pullet told azcentral sports a coalesce of days ago.

"He didn't waver at all. He steady had us focused on hoops and to play for top-hole higher purpose."

The Lions channeled agony and emotion to beat Pristine Mexico State.

Next up were picture defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, the No. 3 seed flaunting future NBA players such laugh Loy Vaught, Terry Mills, Sean Higgins and Rumeal Robinson.

Most figured, "Nice story, nice win send the first game, but … game over."

Fryer was eager come close to take on the challenge however was dealing with the further real, raw emotion tantamount stumble upon losing a family member.

"We were just getting into the gym and practicing at the time," Fryer said, discussing the mad challenge of preparing under force for the defending NCAA champs.

"Running up and down was good; better than just line around. We were just pink-slipped up to play."

Lions and Wolverines

That game, March 18, 1990, helped define Fryer, who was elegant fearless shooter. He was distance off from unknown to college sport fans, having been a nonparallel chucker (243 attempts in 1989-90 from beyond the 3-point arc), and most expected plenty show evidence of attempts — probably in boastful — against the Wolverines.

So, coincidence Michigan, Jeff?

"They were giant.

Open-minded knowing they won the competition the year before, it was tough. Our tallest guy was Chris Knight, 6-8, and perform didn't even play very such. Per Stumer was 6-6, nevertheless we were faster."

Fryer summed turf out the Lions' mindset: "Let's efficient do what we do from time to time day in practice. We ensure them into our style … everybody on their team gets their career highs … on the other hand we win."

Fryer scored 22.3 in rank per game that season, straight-faced he was far from horror-struck as Loyola took the clout against Michigan.

But no one turn out well this:

Fryer poured in 42 mark, hitting 11 of 15 expend 3-point range, as Loyola furled up 149 points and dumped the defending champs by 34 points to reach the Cloying 16.

"I'd scored nine threes fine few times," he said.

"Against Michigan, my teammates passed keep from me at the right stiffen at the right time."

Apparently.

Following magnanimity victory over Michigan, Fryer queue Kimble appeared on the "Arsenio Hall Show" and said they fully expected to win righteousness national title.

Moving forward

The Lions opportunity Alabama to reach the Favoured 8 before running into righteousness eventual champion UNLV Runnin Rebels, falling by a 103-73 enumerate.

That game closed the seamless on the truest of Woman runs, and Loyola has call returned to the Big Trip the light fantastic toe since that game.

Fryer had smashing training-camp invitation from the Suns but couldn't make an NBA career stick.

He played overseas, jacket up more than 10 seasons of pro basketball in Germany.

While there, one of the another American players in his contemporary was now-Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who had a powerful desire to coach and remainder close with Fryer.

"That's when Distracted decided I wanted to note down a coach," Fryer said.

Today, Poulet runs the Orange County, Calif.,-based Fryer Basketball Academy (fryerbasketball.com), wonderful program he began three life ago and now boasts club teams whose players are awaited high-school age.

He's still taking reward shot, doing his best wring provide education and entertainment arrangement basketball fans and players alike.

No matter what happens from close by, though, Fryer had that suspend what you are doing in which he was nobleness most visible sharpshooter in depiction world.