They've been in thrilling comeback wins, scored big points and shared the spotlight with awards of distinction.
But nothing meant more to George Brown College's Fab Four than the tribute of having their basketball jerseys retired and permanently displayed on the walls of the Alex Barbier gym.
No. 13 Val Pozzan, No. 24 Vadim Halimov, No. 33 Marv Snowden and No. 42 Kevin Taylor, athletes of distinction, were honoured prior to the opening game of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Men's basketball season for the Huskies and the visiting Seneca College Sting.
Standing at centre court, one by one their names were read, followed by achievements and capped by an ovation from a crowd that packed the St. James Campus gym.
In some ways humbled, three of the four were acknowledged for brilliant careers on the hardwood for the Huskies. Snowden, who reside is Pittsburgh, was not able to attend.
"I am so proud and in awe," said the 48-year old Taylor, who once scored 40 points in a game against Fanshawe College in London.
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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.
Pozzan, who averaged 22 points a game and 11 assists in a George Brown uniform, said staff in the Athletics Department asked him for his sweater four years ago and wondered what ever happened to it.
"Now I know and I am very surprised and deeply honoured right now," said the 65-year old, who still holds dearly the 1975 season he helped the Huskies win a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championship. "The guys on the team were incredible. We worked together and without them, I wouldn't have done as well. Being inducted to the OCAA Hall of Fame was big for me, but this is the real highlight."
Pozzan won two league championships 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 the Most Valuable Player in the Huskies National championship year. A graduate of the Fitness and Lifestyle Program, he had a brief professional basketball career in Italy, and after George Brown he was a member of the renowned Estonia Senior Men's Basketball Club.
Halimov, a Business Marketing grad and shooting guard with the Huskies, was the CCAA's Men's Basketball Player of the Year.
"It's an amazing feeling right now – and as good as it gets," said Halimov, who is 25 years old and is a member of the Huskies current coaching staff. "The best decision of my life was to come to George Brown. In one year, I learned so much. It was a family atmosphere here and I'll always remember the way the people at George Brown – the coaches, the players, the staff – accepted me with open arms."
For Halimov, after switching from Seneca College, his final year at George Brown 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.
As for Snowden, he had a record-setting career with the Huskies, which included 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, he was on a Canadian championship squad and 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.
"I am so proud of there accomplishments and there is so much more to come from others," said Ed Mark, Manager of Athletics and Recreation. "To honour these four was huge for them and very special for us. We accomplish so much with this kind of tribute to them." - DG
