NATCHITOCHES – With Northwestern State's basketball Centennial Celebration next Saturday in Prather Coliseum, half of the Demons' All-Century Team has been named with the “Fab 50” from the Modern Era, covering NSU's NCAA Division I history beginning in 1976-77.
 
The “Fantastic 50” encompassing standouts from the first recorded season of basketball at the university in 1912-13 through 1975-76 will be added Monday to the All-Century Team roster. The 100-man team and a few honorary captains will be introduced during the Demons' final home game of the season next Saturday afternoon, March 9, at 3 p.m. in Prather Coliseum and at that evening's 6 p.m. Demon Basketball Reunion Dinner in the arena. All basketball alumni are invited and should RSVP to the NSU basketball office at 318-357-4274.
 
The Modern Era “Fab 50” is topped by the Demons' career scoring leader (2,009 points, 18.8 per game) and No. 2 all-time rebounder (1,150, 10.7 average), Billy Reynolds, who starred from 1973-77 and led the Demons' first Division I team to a 17-9 record as a senior.
 
There were 21 selections whose careers ended in 2000 or later, 14 who finished as Demons in the 1980s, 11 from the 1990s and four from the 1977-79 timespan.
 
The Modern Era team includes 14 of the 26 Demons who scored 1,000 career points and 12 of the 22 who have at least 500 career rebounds. Among the Modern Era selections are career assists leader Ryan Bundy (552 from 1994-98), career blocked shots king William Mosley (460, fifth all-time in NCAA history, from 2008-12), career steals leader Tyronn Mitchell (264 from 2002-06), career 3-point baskets leader Jermaine Wallace (200 from 2002-06) and career field goal percentage king George Jones (58.7 percent from 1984-88).
 
Also selected for the Modern Era list were single-season record-setters Jethro Owens (71.4 percent from the floor in 1990-91), Jay Scherer (80 3-pointers in 1991-92), Dwight Moody (7.9 assists per game in 1985-86), Lester Davis (2.94 steals average in 1976-77), and Richard Taylor (76 steals in 1999-2000).
 
Eight players were chosen from the most successful team in school history, the 2005-06 “Demons of Destiny” who repeated as Southland Conference champions, set a school record for wins in a season (26-8) and beat Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Oregon State and memorably, No. 15 Iowa in the NCAA Tournament.  Byron Allen, Colby Bargeman, Kennan Jones, Clifton Lee, Luke Rogers and Jermaine Spencer joined Mitchell and Wallace on the Modern Era “Fab 50.” All but Rogers were members of the 2004-05 team that won NSU's first Southland crown.
 
There were six picks from the Demons' other NCAA Tournament team, the 2000-01 squad (19-13) that posted a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Winthrop after capturing the Southland Conference Tournament by upsetting regular-season champion McNeese. Making the Modern Era list were Michael Byars-Dawson, Ryan Duplessis, Josh Hancock, Chris Lynch, Alann Polk and Chris Thompson.
 
Five members of the 1981-82 squad that posted a 19-9 record were chosen: Kenny Hale, Calvin Madlock, Johnny Martin, Ernest Reliford and Wayne Waggoner.
 
Four seniors on the 1997-98 team made the Modern Era “Fab 50” – Sam Alexander, Charles Duncan, Seth LeGrand and Bundy.
 
Among the others chosen was former Demon head coach Dan Bell (1988-94), who averaged 14.2 points in 50 games over two seasons playing alongside Reynolds from 1975-77. He had 125 assists as a senior in NSU's first Division I season, then coached the Demons to a win over Kentucky on Dec. 7, 1988 and the 1991-92 NCAA team scoring title.
 
Also on the team are two current head coaches, Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Southern's Roman Banks. Brey ranks eighth on NSU's career assists list with 311 from 1977-80 while Banks is second with 515 from 1987-92, and also third in steals (190) and seventh in scoring (1,454 points).
 
Selections were made by a blue-ribbon panel of media, coaches, former players and longtime observers of the NSU program. Players from this year's team were not eligible for consideration.
 
Northwestern State's Modern Era “Fab 50” on the Demon Basketball All-Century Team Roster:
 
Sam Alexander, G, 1996-98, St. Peters, Mo.; Byron Allen, C, 2002-06, Leland, Miss.; Devon Baker, G, 2009-11, Harlem, NY; Roman Banks, G, 1987-92, Shreveport; Colby Bargeman, F, 2004-08, Lafayette; Dan Bell, G, 1975-77, Huntsville, Ala.; Mike Brey, G, 1977-80, Rockville, Md.; Tarius Brown, G-F, 1990-95, Birmingham, Ala.; Ryan Bundy, G, 1994-98, Peoria, Ill.; Gerald Bush, F, 1985-87, Birmingham, Ala.;
 
Michael Byars-Dawson, G, 2000-02, Fort Worth, Tex.; Lester Davis, G, 1974-78, Natchitoches; Charles Duncan, G, 1994-98, Trenton, Tenn.; Ryan Duplessis, G, 1998-2002, New Orleans; Lester Elie, F, 1974-78, Cloutierville; Trey Gilder, F, 2006-08, Natchitoches; Dexter Grimsley, F, 1989-93, Abbeville, Ala.; Kenny Hale, G, 1981-83, Memphis, Tenn.; Josh Hancock, G, 1997-2001, Kountze, Tex.; Jim Hoops, F, 1977-81, Deshler, Ohio;
 
George Jones, 1984-88, F, Shreveport; Damon Jones, G, 2006-10, Winnfield; Kennan Jones, G, 2003-07, Opelousas; Eric Kubel, C, 1990-94, Moreno Valley, Cal.; Clifton Lee, F, 2002-06, Boyce; Seth LeGrand, C, 1994-98, Nebraska City, Neb.; Chris Lynch, F, 2000-02, Cedar Hill, Tex.; Calvin Madlock, F, 1981-83, Sardis, Miss.; Johnny Martin, C, 1981-83, Shady Grove; Michael McConathy, G, 2006-10, Natchitoches;
 
Tyronn Mitchell, G, 2002-06, New Iberia; Dwight Moody, G/F, 1984-86, Memphis, Tenn.; William Mosley, C, 2008-12, Shreveport; Jethro Owens, G/F, 1989-93, Houston, Tex.; Frederick Piper, C, 1976-81, Alexandria; Alann Polk, G, 1997-2002, Emerson, Ark.; Will Pratt, F, 2009-11, Bronx, N.Y.; Terrence “Bo” Rayford, F/C, 1986-89, Quitman, Ga.; Ernest Reliford, F, 1977-82, Ashland; Billy Reynolds, F, 1973-77, Calhoun;
 
Luke Rogers, G, 2005-07, Chicago, Ill.; Jay Scherer, G, 1990-92, Huntsville, Ala.; Pernell Smith, G, 1987-89, Braxton, Ga.; Jermaine Spencer, F, 2003-07, New Iberia; Richard Taylor, G, 1998-2000, East Tallassee, Ala.; Larry Terry, G/F, 1990-94, Ponchatoula; Chris Thompson, F, 1999-2001, Bossier City; Wayne Waggoner, G, 1980-82, Logansport; Jermaine Wallace, G, 2002-06, Dubberly; Victor Willis, 1985-87, Monroe.