Nov. 9, 2010

CHICAGO - After recognizing all-decade teams from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s in the previous four seasons, Loyola University Chicago will salute its 1990s Men's Basketball All-Decade Team at the current Ramblers' Dec. 4 game versus Valparaiso at the Gentile Center. Eleven of Loyola's top players from the 1990s found a place on the all-decade squad and six of those individuals scored over 1,000 points in their career.

Most notable among the members of the 1990s All-Decade Team is high-scoring Keith Gailes (1988-91), who was a three-time All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference performer and also earned MCC Newcomer of the Year accolades in 1989. Gailes finished his career as Loyola's No. 2 all-time scorer with a whopping 2,025 points, which trails only Alfredrick Hughes (2,914 points) on the school's career chart. A 2006 inductee into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame, Gailes' 24.7 points per game scoring average for his career is the best ever by a Rambler.

Javan Goodman (1995-99), who currently ranks 10th on Loyola's all-time scoring chart with 1,564 points and seventh with 908 rebounds, also was selected to the 1990s All-Decade Team. A two-time First Team All-MCC honoree, Goodman led the Ramblers in rebounding in each of his four seasons in Rogers Park and was also the club's top scorer in both 1997-98 (16.8 ppg) and 1998-99 (18.5 ppg). Keir Rogers (1987-92) ranks 13th on Loyola's career list in scoring with 1,433 points and 14th with 700 rebounds and was a First Team All-MCC selection in 1991-92 when he averaged a career-best 19.0 ppg to go with 7.2 rpg.

Kerman Ali (1990-94) averaged double figures in three of his four seasons as a Rambler and currently ranks 27th in school history with 1,142 points and 22nd with 575 rebounds. He is joined on the 1990s All-Deacde Team by former teammate Eric Dolezal (1990-93), who rolled up 1,046 points in his three-year Loyola career. Dolezal's best season came in 1992-93 when he put up 12.6 ppg.

Earl Brown (1996-2000) totaled 1,074 points in his career and ranks among the top five in school history in both steals (2nd, 184) and assists (5th, 448). A Second Team All-MCC pick as a senior in 1999-2000, Brown had his best season that year as he contributed 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.4 apg and 1.6 spg.

A pair of Ramblers who only played two seasons on the Lake Shore Campus, yet had immediate impacts on the program, earned spots on the 90s All-Decade Team. Derek Molis (1995-97) was a two-time Second Team All-MCC honoree and holds the top two Loyola single-season marks for three-point field goals made - 75 in 1996-97 and 71 in 1995-96. He also was the team's leading scorer in each of his two seasons at Loyola. Meanwhile, despite a brief two-year stint at Loyola, Vernell Brent (1992-94) made substantial contributions in the backcourt, averaging 10.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg for his career, while collecting MCC All-Newcomer Team recognition in 1992-93 and Second Team All-MCC accolades in 1993-94.

Rounding out the 1990s All-Decade Team is Donyale Bush (1995-98), Theodis Owens (1994-96) and Charles Smith (1994-97). Bush was a force in the post, averaging 10.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.8 bpg, while shooting 57 percent from the field during his three-year career. During his short stay in Rogers Park, Owens, who was a standout junior college player before enrolling at Loyola, chipped in 11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.6 apg and 1.2 spg. In his three years of competition, Smith posted career averages of 7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 1.8 apg.

The players comprising the Loyola 1990s All-Decade Team will be honored at halftime of the Dec. 4 men's basketball game versus Valparaiso.

Loyola Men's Basketball 1990s All-Decade Team
Kerman Ali (1990-94)
Vernell Brent (1992-94)
Earl Brown (1996-2000)
Donyale Bush (1995-98)
Eric Dolezal (1990-93)
Keith Gailes (1988-91)
Javan Goodman (1995-99)
Derek Molis (1995-97)
Theodis Owens (1994-96)
Keir Rogers (1987-92)
Charles Smith (1994-97)