March 9, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Former Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball standout Kebu Stewart has been named to the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Elite Eight Team as announced by the NCAA.
Stewart, who played for the Roadrunners in 1996 and 1997, was one of 10 players and two coaches chosen to the elite squad. Student-athletes who advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight berth in men's basketball were eligible for nomination to the 50th Anniversary Team. They also were named to the respective NCAA Division II All-Elite Eight teams during their collegiate careers.
The Brooklyn native rewrote the record books at Cal State Bakersfield, posting the best individual season performance by a Roadrunner in 1996-97 at 21.5 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per game. Both are CSUB records as are his career averages of 20.5 ppg and 12.2 rpg.
Stewart, who transferred to Bakersfield from UNLV for the 1995-96 season, helped the 'Runners post a 55-8 record during his two-year career, adding a third NCAA Division II title in 1997. During the 1997 Elite Eight, Stewart was named the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player as well as earning the NCAA DII Player of the Year award.
Stewart was drafted in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. After player his rookie season in Philadelphia, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks before leaving for a lengthy career playing in various leagues overseas where he still plays today.
Here are the members of the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary All-Elite Eight Team:
John Ebeling, Florida Southern College (1980, 1981, 1982)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1980, 1981, 1982); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1981); only three-time Elite Eight All-Tournament Team honoree; holds the NCAA Division II Championships game record for most free throws made (13); Finished third in the NCAA Division II National Championships (1980); NCAA Division II National Champions (1981); NCAA Division II National Runner-up (1982)
Walt Frazier, Southern Illinois University (1965)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1965); NCAA Division II National Runner-up (1965)
Antonio Garcia, Kentucky Wesleyan College (1998, 1999)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1998, 1999); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1998, 1999); one of three players in Elite Eight history to be named Most Outstanding Player twice; NCAA Division II National Runner-up (1998); NCAA Division II National Champions (1999)
Phil Jackson, University of North Dakota (1965, 1966)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1966); holds the NCAA Division II tournament game record for most field goals made (22); finished third in the NCAA Division II Championships (1965); Finished fourth in the NCAA Division II Championships (1966)
Earl Monroe, Winston-Salem State University (1967)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1967); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1967); holds the NCAA Division II Championship game-only records for most points (40) and field goals made (16); NCAA Division II National Champions (1967)
Jerry Sloan, University of Evansville (1963, 1964, 1965)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1964, 1965); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1964, 1965); one of three players in Elite Eight history to be named Most Outstanding Player twice; holds the NCAA Championship game record for rebounds (25); NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals (1963); NCAA Division II National Champions (1964, 1965)
Ed Smallwood, University of Evansville (1958, 1959, 1960)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1958, 1960); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player; one of three players in Elite Eight history to be named Most Outstanding Player twice; Finished third in the NCAA Division II Championship (1958); NCAA Division II National Champions (1959, 1960)
Kebu Stewart, California State University-Bakersfield (1996, 1997)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1996, 1997);Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1997); NCAA Division II national quarterfinals (1996); NCAA Division II National Champions (1997)
George Tinsley, Kentucky Wesleyan College (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1968, 1969); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1969); played in four straight Elite Eight tournaments including three NCAA Championship games; NCAA National Champions (1966, 1968, 1969); Finished third in the NCAA National Championships (1967)
Marvin Webster, Morgan State University (1974)
Elite Eight All-Tournament Team (1974); Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player (1974); NCAA Division II National Champions (1974)
Arad McCutchan, Univ. of Evansville, coach, (1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1971)
Five-time NCAA Division II Championships (1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971); finished third in the NCAA Division II Championships (1958); NCAA Division II quarterfinalists (1963, 1968); holds the Division II records for most NCAA Championships won (5) and Elite Eight games won (17); Led Evansville to a perfect season in 1965 (29-0)
Clarence “Big House” Gaines, Winston-Salem State University, head coach (1967)
NCAA Champions (1967); all-time winningest coach in NCAA DII history with 828 wins
Student-athletes who advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight berth in men's basketball were eligible for nomination to the 50th Anniversary Team. They also were named to the respective NCAA Division II All-Elite Eight teams during their collegiate careers. The first NCAA Division II Elite Eight berth was in 1957 when Wheaton College (Ill.) defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College, 89-65.
A committee comprised of NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Committee members, NCAA staff and basketball administrators selected the 50th Anniversary Team. Several members of the 50th Anniversary Team have been invited to attend the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Men's Basketball Championship, which will be held March 22, 23 and 25 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
California State University, Bakersfield Athletic Department
9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Phone: (661) 654-3071 ? FAX: (661) 654-2376
