When Bob Leckie decided to leave the comfortable surroundings of coaching high school basketball at Bishop Loughlin in New York to take over the struggling program at his collegiate alma mater, St. Peter’s College, he knew that there was a huge challenge involved.
"When I came here three years ago, I had some goals in mind and the first was to give the program a level of respectability," Leckie said. "Once we got that respectability, we could build from there."
However, there’s not much respect given to teams that post 4-24 records, which is what the Peacocks mustered in each of Leckie’s first two years. In fact, teams with lowly records like 4-24 marks are laughed at in the general college basketball circles, scorned, the brunt of jokes.
Leckie took a lot of that ridicule personally.
"As much as I understood what I was getting into, self-doubt can be an insidious enemy," Leckie said. "I have to be honest. The thought crossed my mind that I might have been wrong for the job. I thought that maybe this wasn’t for me."
That was before a 5-foot-7 mighty mite came along like a superhero, a la Mighty Mouse, to save the day.
Keydren "Keekee" Clark arrived at Harvard on the Boulevard and changed the entire complexion of the basketball program. The freshman from Rice High School in New York became the best single-season scorer in the history of the program, averaging more than 24 points per game, which was good for sixth in the entire nation.
"I’d have to say his performance was invaluable," Leckie said of Clark. "Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought he could do it. But he did do it. We were able to showcase his talents and allow his creativity to come out."
Clark set a slew of records during his breakout rookie campaign, one that ended with being selected as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. He broke Elnardo Webster’s single-season scoring mark, one that stood for more than 30 years. He made the highest total of 3-point field goals (109) ever made by a freshman in the history of the NCAA.
More importantly, his performance helped to give the Peacocks credibility and the attention helped to put them back on the map.
"There’s no question that Keydren is going to help us recruit other players," Leckie said. "He’s put St. Peter’s College in their minds. When I talk to kids now, I don’t have to answer the question whether we’re (NCAA) Division I or not. He’s the type of player who makes everyone around him better."
While Clark earned MAAC Rookie of the Year and earned All-Tournament honors, he was not selected by the league’s coaches to the First Team All-MAAC, having to settle for Second Team instead.
How Clark is not among the top five players in the league is beyond any comprehension.
"I don’t know how people could have left him off their ballot," Leckie said. "The kid played his ass off."
The Peacocks finished the season 10-18 after losing to Fairfield in the MAAC quarterfinals last week in Trenton. It’s a start for Leckie and his program, especially after back-to-back disasters. That 10-18 record won’t exactly call for parades along Kennedy Boulevard, but it’s certainly a start.
"We’re now going to surround Keydren with better players," Leckie said. "I expect his point total will go down, but his efficiency will go up. Having him helps us to get better a little sooner. I think we could have won a couple more games this year that we let slip through our fingers."
There is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Fellow freshman George Jefferson showed some moments of brilliance after he returned from an early-season injury.
"He has some of the ingredients to be a very good player," Leckie said. "I knew coming here was going to be a quantum leap for him. He made good progress and has a lot of heart and mental toughness. I can see him becoming a very good MAAC player."
Another freshman, Ivan Bozevic, also showed some promise.
"I did see some improvement there," Leckie said. "If he can get his head screwed on straight and stop worrying about officials’ calls, he can play. He is 6-9 and can shoot the three (point shot). I still think he has the integral parts to be a good player."
Leckie and his coaching staff have already made inroads to get better players in for next season. One of those, 6-8 forward Ronald Yates, has already transferred to SPC from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and should make an impact right away. Another, former St. Patrick’s (Elizabeth) standout Jamie Sowers, a transfer from Wichita State, should also contribute. Sowers is a "jumping jack" with a 42-inch vertical leap, according to Leckie.
Another former standout New Jersey High School player, Mark Curry of Seton Hall Prep, has declared his intentions to transfer to SPC from the University of Delaware. One of Leckie’s former high school players, Terrance Watkins, has also decided to come to SPC.
So there are new recruits, new troops on the horizon – which in turn should translate to more victories and better times at Harvard on the Boulevard.
Which means another thing: Leckie will be back coaching the Peacocks next season.
"I think this is the first year we could actually say we were respectable," Leckie said. "I’m not going to leave until I get this done."
That’s also good news for avid Peacock fans. – Jim Hague