Riverdale, N.Y. — Jack Powers will be celebrated for his immense contributions and outstanding legacy in the sport of basketball when he gets inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on September 12 at Gracie Mansion NYC located in Manhattan. The legendary basketball player, coach, and director of athletics will be honored alongside nine other inductees as part of the class of 2024.
"Coach Powers represents everything a Manhattan Jasper should be and our athletics history would not be what it is today if not for his incredible dedication to Manhattan College ever since he stepped foot on our campus 70 years ago," Director of Athletics Irma Garcia said. "We congratulate him on his induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, while sending love and appreciation to him, his lovely wife Anita, and their two children, John and Kimberly, who like their father are proud Manhattan graduates."
Powers graduated from Manhattan in 1958 after enjoying a stellar career with the men's basketball program. As a player, he led the Jaspers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bid — the latter of which he later served as executive director for. Most famously, Powers delivered arguably the greatest performance in Manhattan Basketball history when he scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in an 89-84 upset win over Jerry West and West Virginia in the First Round of the 1958 NCAA Tournament. The win came at Madison Square Garden, which was a staple venue for the Jaspers program during that time.
On the hardwood, Powers posted career averages of 15.4 points and 7.5 rebounds, while amassing a total of 1,139 points. His success caught the attention of the Syracuse Nationals, the NBA franchise who became the Philadelphia 76ers, who drafted him in 1958.
His experiences as a player were a prelude to his lifelong commitment to the men's basketball program and the athletics department at Manhattan College. Starting in 1968, he served as basketball coach for 10 seasons, notching 142 victories and a .550 career winning percentage while adding four more NIT appearances to the program's annals. Under his leadership, Manhattan won the ECAC Holiday Festival in 1973. Starting in 1979, Powers served nine years as director of athletics while overseeing the department's transition into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Throughout his career, Powers held a host of other roles which he equally excelled at. His stint as NIT Executive Director ran for over 20 years and he was also a member of the Executive Councils of the Eastern College Athletic Conference and Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America. Powers' extensive leadership efforts also include serving as president of the Metropolitan Basketball Association, the MAAC, and the Tri-State Soccer League.
Powers was the first Jasper to have his number retired, which saw his number 34 officially immortalized in Draddy Gymnasium in 2016. His name resides in a number of hall of fames, including the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame, Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Brooklyn's Old Timer Hall of Fame, Brooklyn's Sports Foundation, Mamaroneck High School Hall of Fame, and now the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to those honors, Powers won the NACDA/NIT Athletics Directors Award, and in 2015 was honored with the ECAC Lifetime Award.
Powers' welcoming into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fames comes alongside fellow class of 2024 honorees; players Tina Charles, Joe Hammond, Lauren Cargill and Raymond Delmau; coaches Jonathan Halpert and Gil Reynolds; official Ronnie Nunn; and fellow contributors Tom Konchalski and Charley Rosen.
Powers currently lives in Eastchester, New York with his wife Anita.
