St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Basketball Great Gus Alfieri Publishes Second Book
7/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's All-Century Team selection Gus Alfieri, who was inducted into the St. Anthony's High School Hall of Fame in June, also recently published his second book. The memoir, entitled "The Heart Of A Champion," tells the story of the 1974 St. Anthony's basketball squad that Alfieri coached to the first-ever New York State Championship title.
Led by Alfieri, the 1974 St. Anthony's squad defeated Lutheran in a state championship game that was described by the Long Island Press as "The Super Bowl of High School Basketball." The win not only gave St. Anthony's the first-ever New York State title, but also marked the 39th-straight win in a streak that eventually reached 49 games. As part of his St. Anthony's coaching career, Alfieri won two New York State Championships and four NSCHSAA titles.
Alfieri published his first book, a biography of his college coach Joe Lapchick entitled "Lapchick," in 2006. To author the biography about the legendary coach of St. John's and the New York Knickerbockers, Alfieri conducted more than 250 interviews and spoke with the likes of Lou Carnesecca, Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Knight and John Wooden.
A three-year letterwinner at St. John's from 1956-1959, Alfieri starred on the 1958-59 squad that won the NIT Championship. Alfieri averaged 10.8 points for his career and helped lead the Redmen to a three-year record of 52-23.
Alfieri currently serves as the Director of the All-American Basketball Camp. The camp program is celebrating its 48th anniversary this summer.
