National Champions: 1968, 1983, 1984 and 1986 (Undefeated Champs: In 1986, San Jacinto College became the fourth team in NJCAA history to go undefeated and win the national championship.)

National Champion Runner-up: 1967, 1977, 1997 and 2003

National Tournament Appearances: 19 (1967, 68, 69, 74, 75, 76, 77, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 97, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006)

Undefeated Champs: In 1986, San Jacinto College became the fourth team in NJCAA history to go undefeated and win the national championship.

 

1961–62 14-19

1962–63 19-16

1963–64 22-14 Region XIV south zone tournament champions

1964–65 19-20

1965–66 25-15, Conference Champions

1966–67 42-5, National Champions Runner-up

1967–68 44-2, National Champions

1968–69 44-3 7th place national tournament finish

1969–70 36 -6 Conference Champions

1970–71 37-4 Conference Champions

1971–72 36 -6 Conference Champions

1972–73 22-12 Region XIV south zone tournament finalist

1973–74 34-4 8th place national tournament finish

1974–75 38-4 4th place national tournament finish

1975–76 32-7 National tournament quarterfinalists

1976–77 33-7 National Champions Runner-up

1977–78 27-9 Conference Champions

1978–79 26 -7 Conference Champions

1979–80 25-7 Conference Champions

1980–81 25-7 Conference Champions

1981–82 30-4 Conference Champions, regional runners-up

1982–83 35-2 National Champions

1983–84 35-2 National Champions

1984–85 25-4 Conference Champions

1985–86 37- 0 National champions

1986–87 36 -1 5th place national tournament finish

1987–88 32-2 Conference Champions

1988–89 36-4 3rd place national tournament finish

1989–90 34-4 7th place national tournament finish

1990–91 27-4 Conference Champions, state final four

1991–92 25-9 State champions, national qualifier

1992–93 24-6 Conference Champions, state qualifier

1993–94 14-15 State qualifier

1994–95 17-14 State qualifier

1995–96 24-7 State qualifier

1996–97 36-1 National Champion Runner-up

1997–98 26-4 Conference Champions, state qualifier

1998–99 25-7 Co-conference Champions, state qualifier

1999–00 30-5 Conference Champions, national qualifier

2000–01 30-6 Conference Champions, national qualifier

2001–02 30 -2 Conference Champions

2002–03 28-10 National Champions Runner-up

2003-04 27-4 Co-Conference Champions

2004-05 31-3 Conference Champions

2005-06 24-12 Region XIV tournament champions, national qualifier

2006-07 23-8, Region XIV tournament quarterfinals

2007-08 23-9, Region XIV tournament semifinals

A familiar face just may get to see the San Jacinto College men’s basketball program a little more often now that he's back for another season as a member of the Houston Rockets. Steve Francis, who played five seasons in Houston during his initial stay, signed as a free agent with the Rockets prior to the 2007-08 season. He had been traded from the New York Knicks to the Portland Trailblazers, but accepted a buyout of his contract and became a Rocket again in the summer of 2007.

San Jacinto College fans are no doubt happy Francis is back in H-town. As a member of the San Jac men’s basketball team from 1996 to 1997, Francis helped San Jac reach the national title game, averaging 12.5 and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Head coach Scott Gernander remembers Francis' arrival like it was yesterday. "He was sort of raw in terms of his skills because he hadn't played that last year," Gernander said. "About halfway through the season, I could see his incredible talent taking over games. He's the best rebounding guard we have ever had and he could do so many things to help you win. He played above the rim from the guard spot and was a big contributor that year."

After two standout seasons at the University of Maryland, Francis was the second overall pick of the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1999 NBA draft. He was traded to the Rockets a short time later. Prior to the 2004-05 season, he again packed his bags and headed to Orlando as part of a trade with the Rockets for Tracy McGrady.

Ironically, Francis did not play basketball as a senior in high school in Maryland, but came to San Jac to try to restart his career. He did that and more. Gernander watched Francis guide a talented team to 36 straight wins before the loss in the NJCAA national tournament. Over the years, Gernander and Francis have remained close.

"Steve called me the night he resigned with the Rockets," Gernander said. "We talked for about an hour. I know he's thrilled to be back in town as a player. He's always kept a home here, and now that he is married with two children, I know he's pleased to be able to come back to a familiar place."

Once deemed "The Franchise" in Houston, Francis enters the 10th year of his career in a new role. He may start for the Rockets or he may come off the bench. Most of all, he just wants to win.

"I think there will be less pressure on Steve this time around," Gernander predicted. "He never gave himself 'The Franchise' tag. That was derived in the media. I think he’s going to have a great second tour here."

* Steve Francis photo courtesy of Bill Baptist

 

The Boston Celtics’ Sam Cassell is another former San Jac player who has enjoyed a fine career in the National Basketball Association. And this past season, he added another NBA championship to his résumé.

Cassell was with San Jac for two seasons (1990 – 1992) and averaged 23.4 points, 7.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds a contest during an All-America sophomore season. After playing the 1992-93 season with Florida State, Cassell was a first-round pick of the Houston Rockets in 1993, where he helped the team win back-to-back NBA world championships (1993–1994 and 1994 –1995).

Set to begin his 16th season in the NBA, Cassell is putting the finishing touches on a career that has included three world championships and an All-Star Game appearance (2003-2004). He’s averaging 15.7 points and 3.2 rebounds for his career.

What a journey it has been for the player formerly known as 'Sam I Am' in Houston. Cassell was the 24th overall player chosen in the 1993 NBA draft. In the 1993 NBA Finals against New York, Cassell made several clutch baskets that helped the team eventually win the title in a seven game series. The next year, Cassell again played a big role as the Rockets advanced as the No. 6 seed in the West, ultimately winning the title again in a four-game sweep of Orlando.

Cassell spent three seasons in Houston and has played for seven other teams in 15 seasons. He is seven games shy of reaching the 1,000-game mark for his career, and has scored over 15,000 points.

"I'm so proud of Sam for the things he has accomplished in the game," San Jacinto head coach Scott Gernander said. "He has always had the drive to be great and has had a terrific career. Two titles to start with and just a solid, solid career. I'm happy for him."

 

San Jacinto College has a remarkable tradition of sending players to four-year colleges after their stay in Pasadena. Here is a look at the former players to have gone on to play beyond SJC.

Player	Yrs. at SJC	School
Tom Mitchell	1965-67	Seattle
Richard Vasquez	1965-67	Florida
Ollie Taylor	1966-68	Houston
Jeff Haliburton	1967-69	Drake
Terry Mullins	1967-69	Texas
Leon Huff	1968-70	Drake
Bob Nash	1968-70	Hawaii
Buzzy Thomas	1970-72	Drake
Tom Henderson	1970-72	Hawaii
Art Johnson	1973-74	Iowa State
Ray Williams	1973-75	Minnesota
Sam Williams	1974-75	San Francisco
Mike Schultz	1974-76	Houston
Ollie Mack	1975-77	East Carolina
Alton Lister	1976-77	Arizona State
Larry Spriggs	1977-78	Howard
Curtis Phauls	1977-79	Massachusetts
Billy Goodwin	1979-80	St. John’s
Don Plummer	1980-81	San Diego State
Nolan Gibson	1981-83	Bradley
Carey Holland	1981-83	Auburn
Spoon James	1981-83	UNLV
Andre Ross	1981-83	San Diego State
Walter Berry	1983-84	St. John’s
Ron Singleton	1983-84	Arizona State
Linwood Moye	1983-84	UNLV
Lew Hill	1983-85	Wichita State
Tom Grant	1985-86	Houston
Tyrone Shaw	1984-86	West Virginia
Ledell Eackles	1984-86	New Orleans
Boo Harvey	1985-87	St. John’s
Michael Porter	1985-87	St. John’s
John Hudson	1985-87	South Carolina
David Butler	1986-88	UNLV
Moses Scurry	1986-88	UNLV
Arnold Bernard	1987-89	Southwest Missouri State
Daryl Reid	1987-89	Southwest Missouri State
Butch Morris	1988-90	Arkansas
Bryan Sallier	1989-90	Oklahoma
Sam Cassell	1989-91	Florida State
Rodney Odom	1990-91	North Carolina-Charlotte
Ernest Jackson	1990-92	South Alabama
Bill Burnett	1990-92	Southern
Leonard Williams	1990-92	Louisiana Tech
William Howze	1991-93	New Mexico State
Carl Turner	1991-93	St. Louis
Michael Lloyd	1992-94	Syracuse
Lonnie Alexander	1993-95	Stephen F. Austin
Dink Peters	1994-96	East Carolina
Omar Sneed	1995-97	Memphis
Steve Francis	1996-97	Maryland
Calvin Bowman	1996-98	West Virginia
William Clay	1996-98	Texas
Alex Scales	1996-98	Oregon
Charlie Naihe	1998-99	Baylor
Gee Gervin	1997-98	Houston
Alex Shorts	1998-99	Miami (Ohio)
Mugsy Green	1998-2000	Manhattan
Antonio Falu	1999-2001	St. Mary’s
Roberto Morentin	1999-2001	Central Florida
Darnell Hopkins	2001-03	Murray State
Daryl Mason	2001-03	Louisiana Monroe
Jihad Muhammad	2001-03	Cincinnati
Rashad Robinson	2001-03	Liberty
Marcus West	2001-03	Fresno State
Scott Robert Gernander	2001-03	Sam Houston State
Courtney Captain	2003-05	East Carolina
Kentrell Gransbury	2003-05	South Florida
Trey McDowell	2003-05	Louisiana Tech
Manuel Neto	2004-06	Stoneybrook
Champ Sylvester	2004-06	Texas A&M-Commerce
Kevin Widemond	2004-06	Texas A&M-Commerce
Tafari Toney	2004-06	Houston
Ben Bell	2005-06	North Texas
Robert McKiver	2005-06	Houston
David Devezin	2006-07	Marist
Booker Woodfox	2006-07	Creighton
Luiz Moreira	2006-07	St. Mary’s (San Antonio)
Jeremy Barr	2007-08	Louisiana-Lafayette
Kyle Cannon	2007-08	Oklahoma
Jason Crockom	2007-08	Missouri Baptist
Lance Pevehouse	2007-08	Sam Houston State
Stavon William	2007-08	Utah State