By Adam Schupak

Maroon-News Staff

Three years ago, nobody could have imagined the impact that Tucker Neale would have on the downtrodden Colgate men's basketball program. On Monday night, by nailing a twelve foot jumper from the right wing against Cornell University, Neale passed Mike Ferrara (1978-1981) to become Colgate's all-time leading scorer.

Ferrara's record had stood for nearly fourteen years, but ever since Neale started launching long-range jumpers for Colgate, it had only been a matter of time until the 1994 Patriot League Player of the Year would surpass it.

Scoring has long been Neale's forte. While attending Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio, Neale pumped in a school record of 22.4 points per game.

At Colgate, Neale amassed 1,000 points quicker than any Red Raider before him, and scored more points than any other active collegiate player over the past two seasons.

He entered his senior campaign in sixth place on the all-time scoring list with his sights set on the top spot. Remarkably, Neale shattered the record in just two-plus seasons at Colgate.

After breaking the long standing record he said, "I put a lot of hard work into my game. It means a lot to my mom and dad, and they were able to be at the game. Whenever my parents are there it always means something extra. I also owe a lot to my teammates."

Neale came to Colgate from Ashland University, a school that was ranked number one in the country in basketball among Division II schools, and was talented enough to beat many Top 25 Division I opponents. The basketball program was placed on probation for committing numerous NCAA violations, and Neale's name was cited among the incidents. "I came here to clear my name," said Neale.

Although the Colgate captain admittedly struggled a bit academically when he first arrived at Colgate, he has since tackled his classroom shortcomings with the same fervor with which he approaches his game. He will graduate as an education major this spring.

After transferring to Colgate, Neale was forced to sit out his first basketball season in accordance with NCAA rules. That year was one of many personal adjustments.

There were times during the year when he felt removed from his teammates, when he felt like he did not belong and when he even wished he could go home. "It was a long year," he said, "Especially since I would go to practice and play well and it didn't matter. I remember the team came back after the first game up at Yale, which we lost by two, and the coaches said to me `if we had you we would've won by 15,' It was hard to hear that. These were my teammates and I wanted to help them out and be a real part of the team. [Instead], all I could do was help prepare them."

It would have been quite easy for Neale to have been thrown off center in his life after leaving Ashland University in Ohio, just a 45 minute commute from home, and taking his world of talent to the sleepy town of Hamilton, NY.

"At first, I wanted to go home," Neale recalled, "I felt like a stranger coming from a big city and not being use to this atmosphere. But, I also found myself and it made me realize my goals."

While Neale is particularly proud of his personal accomplishments, he considers the 17-12 and 18-11 seasons his greatest achievements.

"I helped take a program that was nothing, and I was able to be an integral part of making it something. Nowadays, with Adonal here, we're getting national recognition. I think that helping to turn around a program is the greatest thing you can ever do for your school. Now the community and the students are behind us."

Behind the fluid motion and smooth look to his game is the work ethic that has brought Neale this far. His off-season preparation this past summer for a big senior year was halted when he broke his foot. He was forced to undergo surgery that placed two screws in his foot and limited him to lifting weights. Nevertheless, until mid-August, he shot from a chair and on one foot for an hour everyday while his dad rebounded for him.

Since first stepping on the hardwood for Colgate in 1993, Neale has been the nucleus of a Red Raider squad that has recorded back-to-back winning seasons while steadily ascending the conference ranks from also-rans to regular season co-champions, and ultimately this season's unanimous favorites.

Yet, the Patriot league tournament title, which awards an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, has so far eluded Neale and his teammates.

"There's only one thing left, and that's winning the Patriot League Tournament. It was my goal coming here to go to the big dance. I'll sacrifice and I'll do whatever it takes to get there and that's the bottom line right now," Neale said.

With his legacy at Colgate already secure, Neale is holding firm to his professional basketball aspirations and hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Colgate greats Ernie Vandeweghe and Bob Duffy by playing in the NBA someday.

"It's a childhood dream," said Neale, "I want to get to the NBA. Hopefully, I will get invited to some pre-draft camps. If I play well you never know what can happen with a little bit of luck."

In pursuit of his dream, Neale has outlined a three-year plan to making the NBA that includes playing in the Continental Basketball Association if need be.

In the meantime, Neale will continue to pad his prolific numbers while shooting for the 2000 point mark, which he believes lingers within reach, as well as doing his part to ensure that Colgate makes it first trip ever to the NCAA Tournament in March.