It will be a night to remember.
For the first time at Toronto's George Brown College, four former athletes – and all basketball players – will have their jerseys retired in a formal presentation on October 22, 2014 at the Alex Barbier gym.
Marv Snowden, Val Pozzan, Kevin Taylor and Vadim Halimov each had superb College basketball careers during their academic years at George Brown.
"We're acknowledging stellar accomplishments by four individuals whose spectacular performances will never be forgotten," said Ed Mark, Manager of Athletics and Recreation at George Brown.
"This is a first for us and we will continue to highlight and recognize others, in all sports, whose contribution to sport and success were admirable."
Snowden wore jersey number 33. Taylor had sweater 42. Pozzan was 13 and Halimov was 24.
A forward, Snowden had a record-setting career with the Huskies, which included setting four Ontario records that lasted for two decades. In 1973-74, he established single season records for most points (582) and most two-point field goals (264). Add on a single game record for most points (87). Then, in 1974-75, he set the record for most two-point field goals in a single game with 41.
George Brown won the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championship in both of Snowden's years with the team. In 1974-75, they went on to win a National championship with Snowden being named championship Most Valuable Player. A two-time OCAA all-star, Snowden was named to the OCAA Men's Basketball All-Millennium team in 2000 and inducted to the OCAA Hall of Fame three years later.
Pozzan, just like Snowden, also won two league championships and his name appears in the OCAA Hall of Fame. Pozzan played two seasons of College basketball – and was a Provincial all-star in both. In 1975, he – and Snowden – shared the Male Athlete of the Year award at George Brown. In 2000, Pozzan was also named to the OCAA basketball All-Millennium team.
A point guard, Pozzan was on the George Brown squad that won the inaugural Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championship – and he was the Most Valuable Player. Pozzan
After graduating from the Fitness and Lifestyle program, Pozzan became the program director at St. Albany's Boys and Girls Club and returned to George Brown as a Coordinator in the Athletics Department.
Taylor, a Business Administration graduate, had an incredible term at George Brown and is one of the all-time Top Ten scorers in OCAA history.
At George Brown, Taylor was dominant on the Huskies squad helping the team earn an OCAA bronze medal in 1989 and a year later added to his collection with a silver medal. He averaged 28.9 points a game and won the OCAA men's basketball scoring title in 1991. Taylor was also picked as winner of the CCAA all-Canadian award and chosen Athlete of the Year at George Brown in 1992. In 2009, he was inducted to the OCAA Hall of Fame.
Halimov, a Business Marketing grad and shooting guard with the Huskies, was the CCAA's Men's Basketball Player of the Year.
His final year was nothing short of sensational. Nicknamed "Vadim The Dream", he won the OCAA Male Athlete of the Year (a first for a George Brown student), was picked 2014 Male Athlete of the Year at George Brown and considered for College Athlete of the Year in the country.
Toss all the numbers together and Halimov ended his College playing career with records for all-time career scoring points (1,903), points in a season (624) and free throw points in a season (162). In his final year, he piled up 15 major awards. -
