The Story of Seven Seniors

March 13, 2009

WASHINGTON - As winter turns to spring across the country, it is common to see many college seniors walking across campuses, silently pondering their potential future careers upon graduating in a few short months. Yet, these same seniors are often rarely seen at the same time running, passing and dunking on Division I basketball courts, with many college players today leaving early for the riches and fame associated with the NBA.

However, on the campus of American University, there is not just one senior playing in March Madness. There are in fact seven members of the Class of 2009 still putting on their uniforms in hopes of playing one more time in the NCAA tournament.

This unique group of players has played through one of the best eras in AU men's basketball team history, capturing back-to-back PL regular season titles and last year's first ever appearance in the Big Dance.

They span across the entire spectrum of a college athlete, from point guard Derrick Mercer who has started all but two games during his four years playing at Bender Arena and setting a new school record for games started and played in the process, to forward Brian Gilmore, who earned a spot in the the starting lineup this season.

They are also reflective of the name on the front of their uniform, coming from across the United States from big cities such as Mercer's Jersey City, N.J., Gilmore's Chesapeake, Va., and Garrison Carr's Bellevue, Wa., to small towns such as Frank Borden's Anthony, N.M., Jordan Nichols' Glenn Dale, Md., and Bryce Simon's Syracuse, Kansas. They even have an international flavor too, with Frane Markusovic hailing from Solin, Croatia, just for good measure.

Most importantly, they are the true definition of the student-athlete, with the emphasis on the first word over the second.

All seven seniors will graduate with a degree from American University, another rarity in Division I athletics, where it is often the play of the field that is more vital than the studying in the classroom.

Reflective of the group as a whole, their majors are just as diverse as themselves, ranging from Criminal Justice, to Business, to Communications. It is nice to know that despite their immense talents on the court, all seven of these players will be able to have solid careers in a field of their choice once the season ends.

Although these seniors were honored on Senior Day during the last regular season game against Navy on Feb. 25, they will have one final chance to step on the Bender Arena court on Friday, when they take on rival Holy Cross for the Patriot League crown.

Win or lose, these seven seniors from the Class of 2009 have already provided pride and inspiration for the AU students, faculty and alumni that have watched them play over the past four seasons. Their talents on the court and in the classroom have made them role models and will allow them to remain legends in the history of American University basketball forever.