Long Island Surf

The Long Island Surf were a professional basketball team based in Long Island, New York. They played 14 seasons in the United States Basketball League (USBL).

Long Island Surf
DivisionNone (1985, 1987–88, 1993–95)
Northern (1991–92, 1996–2001)
LeagueUSBL
Established1985 (1st)
1991 (2nd)
Folded1988 (1st)
2001 (2nd)
LocationLong Island, New York
Team colorsblack, teal, pink
     

History

The franchise was established in 1985 as the Long Island Knights, and played in the first USBL season, finishing with a 9–15 record.[1] The team did not participate in the 1986 season but did return for the 1987 edition, ending the regular season as the 4th ranked team and qualifying for the Postseason Festival (the USBL playoffs), during which they reached the semifinals, where they lost to the Rhode Island Gulls.[1] In the 1987 season, female player Nancy Lieberman played for the Long Island Knights.[2][3] In the 1988 season the Knights ended at the bottom of the table with a 3–27 record.[1] After the season, the franchise was disbanded.

In 1991, a group of 31 Long Island investors coordinated by Ed Krinsky re-established the team under the new name Long Island Surf and a starting budget of a 100,000 US$.[4] In their first season back in the USBL, the Surf ended with a 7–13 record in the Northern Division.[1] Forward Anthony Mason led the league in rebounds at 11.2 per game.[5] In 1992 the Surf finished with the second best record of the division (13–13) and qualified for the Postseason Festival, where they lost to the Philadelphia Spirit in the division finals.[1] In 1993 the divisions were abolished; the Surf ended 4th in the league table with a 14–10 record and qualified for the Postseason Playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Westchester Stallions.[1] Point guard David Cain led the USBL in assists with 9.4 per game.[6]

By 1994, the New York Times reported that the franchise had doubled its value.[4] The team ended the 1994 season with a 13–14 record, progressing to the Postseason Festival quarterfinals where they were eliminated by the Connecticut Skylarks.[1] Surf point guard Jean Prioleau led the league in assists with 10.3 a game. In 1995 the team improved its record to 14–12, but missed the playoffs (only the first three teams qualified); in 1996, ranking 3rd in the re-established Northern Division, the Surf reached the playoffs, where they lost to the Portland Mountain Cats.[1] Former St. John's center Shawnelle Scott led the USBL in rebounding (13.5 per game) playing for the Surf. In 1997 the Surf had a successful season: they ranked 2nd in their division with a 19–7 record, and advanced to the USBL finals after defeating the Connecticut Skyhawks in the quarterfinals and the Atlanta Trojans in the semifinals.[1] The Surf faced the Atlantic City Seagulls in the USBL finals, losing 112–114. In 1998, the Long Island franchise won the Northern Division with an 18–7 record, and again reached the USBL finals after beating the Columbus Cagerz in the second round, and the Connecticut Skyhawks in the Final Four; they lost the finals to the Atlantic City Seagulls for the second consecutive year, 96–100.[1]

In 1999 the Surf finished second in the division behind the Connecticut Skyhawks, and reached the playoff semifinals, where they lost to the Skyhawks, 92–99.[1] The franchise reached the playoffs again in 2000 after finishing 3rd in their division; they lost to the New Jersey ShoreCats, 103–116. The Long Island Surf played their final USBL season in 2001: in their last appearance they made the playoffs and advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions Pennsylvania Valleydawgs.[1] The team was then disbanded after the end of the season.

Season-by-season records
YearWinsLossesWin %Head coach
Long Island Knights
1985915.375Frank Mulzoff[7]
19871315.467Dean Meminger
1988327.100Jim Murphy[8]
Long Island Surf
1991713.350Bernard Tomlin[9]
19921313.500George T. Johnson
19931410.583George T. Johnson
19941314.482George T. Johnson
19951412.538George T. Johnson
19961413.519Cedric Maxwell
1997197.731Sam Worthen
1998187.720James Ryans[10]
19991315.464James Ryans[11]
20001515.500James Ryans
20011316.448James Ryans
Source:[1]

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Source[12]

References
  1. "History of the United States Basketball League". APBR.org. Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  2. "It's a whole other World for Free in summer USBL". The Akron Beacon Journal. June 14, 1987. p. 61.
  3. "Will Birmingham join the United States Basketball League?". birminghamprosports.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. Winzelberg, David (May 15, 1994). "In a Westbury Gym, Striving to Play Basketball in the Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  5. "USBL 1991 SEASON RECAP". usbl.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  6. "USBL 1993 SEASON RECAP". usbl.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  7. "Frank Mulzoff, former coach at St. John's University, was..." UPI. March 28, 1985. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  8. "Middleton still chasing basketball job". Southern Illinoisan. August 1, 1988. p. 11.
  9. "BASKETBALL". Tallahassee Democrat. April 26, 1991. p. 46.
  10. "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. May 29, 1998. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  11. "USBL Team-By-Team Capsules". The Salina Journal. April 30, 1999. p. C5. Retrieved November 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "All-Time USBL Roster". usbl.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
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