Gus Alfieri, a former St. John's University basketball star and longtime coach at St. Anthony High School, died Monday at the age of 87, the school announced.
The Long Island native played three seasons at St. John's under legendary coach Joe Lapchick, averaging 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and shooting 43.6 percent from the field in 72 career games.
Alfieri scored 15 points in a 76-71 victory over Bradley at Madison Square Garden on March 21, 1959, leading St. John's to the 1959 NIT Championship (then the equivalent of winning the NCAA Tournament). led to.
Alfieri moved to the sidelines after his playing career ended.
He ran National Basketball Camps for more than 50 years and spent nearly 20 years coaching the boys basketball team at St. Anthony High School in South Huntington from 1968 to 1985.
Alfieri led the Friars to a 328-106 record, winning two New York State Championships and four NSCHSAA honors.
The school's court was dedicated to him in 2016 when he was inducted into St. Anthony's Hall of Fame.
He will be inducted into the St. John's Hall of Fame in 2023.
Alfieri's other books include “Lapchik: The Lives of Legendary Players and Coaches from Basketball's Glory Days,” which chronicled the 1973-74 season with the Flyers, and “Heart of a Champion: Memoirs of a Championship Team Basketball Coach.” , has written several books. .
Visitation will be held Thursday from 7-9 PM and Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown, NY.
Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Church in Commack, New York.
