St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Remembers Mel Utley
9/25/2019 12:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Utley ranks in the top 30 all-time in scoring at the University
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's Athletics Department mourns the passing of Mel Utley, a former basketball star in Queens, who died on Tuesday at the age of 66.
A native of Far Rockaway, Utley scored 1,243 points in three seasons at St. John's, tied for 30th with Phil Greene IV on the school's all-time scoring list. He ranks among the program's all-time leading scorers despite playing just 84 games as a member of the Johnnies.
Utley also dished out 345 assists as a member of the Redmen, the second-highest total in program history by a three-year player.
Making his varsity debut in 1972-73 under the direction of Frank Mulzoff, Utley averaged 11.0 points per game and led the team in assists with 4.8 per game.
As a junior in 1973-74 under Lou Carnesecca, Utley enjoyed a jump in production, averaging 17.6 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting.
Utley poured a career-high 482 points as a senior in 1974-75 and again led the squad in assists with 4.3 per outing.
With Utley in uniform, the Red Storm went 60-24 and qualified for three-straight postseasons, earning an NCAA Tournament bid in 1973 before garnering back-to-back NIT invitations in 1974 and 1975. In 1975, Utley helped lead the Johnnies to a fourth place finish in the NIT.
A second round draft pick (33rd overall) of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1975 NBA Draft, Utley returned to St. John's to complete his degree in 1977.
A native of Far Rockaway, Utley scored 1,243 points in three seasons at St. John's, tied for 30th with Phil Greene IV on the school's all-time scoring list. He ranks among the program's all-time leading scorers despite playing just 84 games as a member of the Johnnies.
Utley also dished out 345 assists as a member of the Redmen, the second-highest total in program history by a three-year player.
Making his varsity debut in 1972-73 under the direction of Frank Mulzoff, Utley averaged 11.0 points per game and led the team in assists with 4.8 per game.
As a junior in 1973-74 under Lou Carnesecca, Utley enjoyed a jump in production, averaging 17.6 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting.
Utley poured a career-high 482 points as a senior in 1974-75 and again led the squad in assists with 4.3 per outing.
With Utley in uniform, the Red Storm went 60-24 and qualified for three-straight postseasons, earning an NCAA Tournament bid in 1973 before garnering back-to-back NIT invitations in 1974 and 1975. In 1975, Utley helped lead the Johnnies to a fourth place finish in the NIT.
A second round draft pick (33rd overall) of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1975 NBA Draft, Utley returned to St. John's to complete his degree in 1977.
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