27) DAN CALLANDRILLO

27. Dan Callandrillo: Seton Hall – (1979-1982 ) North Bergen, NJ

Three years: 20.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.3 spg, 77.4% FT

Four year career overall: 18.4 ppg , 3.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.4 spg, 76.8% FG

Player of the Year (1982)

The Big East conference started just in time for Callandrillo’s sophomore year and the locally grown 6’2” sharp shooting guard clearly enjoyed the newfound attention.

Callandrillo started every game as a freshman, averaging 12.1 ppg and 2.7 spg. As a sophomore, Callandrillo hit the Big East in style averaging 19.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, and 74.7% from the line. He also against showed great defense a superb 3.0 spg. During his junior season his overall average dropped to 16.1 ppg, but his conference average of 19.4 ppg led the league. He also added 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, and 1.7 spg. He finally exploded during a senior season that was one of the best in league history. Callandrillo was named the 1982 Big East Player of the Year after an amazing season in which he lead the league with 27.4 ppg in conference games and 25.9 ppg overall, good for third in the nation. Even more amazing was that his numbers were accomplished before the advent of the three point shot and that as a 6’2” guard he shot 51% from the field on 490 shots. Callandrillo also led the league in free throw shooting with 82.5% and steals that season with 2.7 spg.

Former Big East basketball play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman remebers Callandrillo as a “great player on bad teams…(a) big-time scorer.”

His career ended with 1,985 points and he still leads the program in steals with 260. His 2.2 spg in conference games is 17th best all-time and his 21.7 ppg career average in conference games is the 4th best all-time.

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