The Triangle

Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News

Media Credit: MCT Campus Malik Rose, a 1996 Drexel graduate, was a part of the 1999 and 2003 championship Spurs teams and currently plays for the New York Knicks.

In the star-driven NBA, Malik Rose has made a career with his physical play and toughness. The 11-year veteran is still playing, but he is now a few years removed from being an essential cog in the Spurs' championship rotation. In his college days, Rose made history while playing as a Dragon. The memories created here at 33rd and Market streets have touched so many people that he will never become just another star athlete of yester-year with his name hanging in the rafters.

Rose, a 1996 graduate of the University, has had great success in the NBA. He turned an incredible work ethic into a productive NBA career as he was a part of the 1999 and 2003 championship Spurs teams. Despite all his success, he was not always destined for a career in basketball.

"When he came out of high school, he was an All-State performer in the band," former Drexel head Coach Bill Herrion said. "He played the tuba in high school, and he was a very good baseball player at Overbrook."

Herrion, currently the head coach at University of New Hampshire, coached at Drexel from 1991-99. He first heard of Rose through his assistant, Walt Fuller. In no way was Rose the basketball star in high school that many Drexel students imagined.

According to Herrion, "Walt said, 'Why don't you go watch Malik play for a half over at his high school game?' I drove over to watch the afternoon public league game, and I stayed for one half because I had to catch the team bus because we were playing Saint Joe's that night. Malik touched the ball twice in the first half of the game and scored one basket. He had two points at the half. When I get back to Drexel, Walt Fuller asked, 'What do you think?' I said, 'I don't know to be honest with you, Walt. I don't know if he can play. He didn't do much.'"

Rose may not have been all that impressive at the time, but Herrion knew Drexel was not exactly in a place to be picky.

"When Malik Rose made his official visit to Drexel, he watched a weekend series with Northeastern and Boston University at home. There were about 500 people in the stands for the games."

Continued...

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