Ken McFadden
Ken McFadden '97 Basketball
One of only two CSU men's basketball players to ever have his number retired, Ken McFadden enters the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame in his first yea of eligibility.
The New York City native graduated from Seward Park High, but with the exception of a few freshman contests, did not play basketball in school. Instead, McFadden honed his game on the playgrounds and in tough AAU leagues throughout the Big Apple. He was an astute student of the game and mature beyond his years when he arrived as Head Coach Kevin Mackey's lone recruit for the 1985-86 season. Four years later, he had not only lived up to, but also exceeded the high expectations placed upon hi.
As a freshman, McFadden played a key role in the most incredible season in Viking basketball history. CSU went 29-4 and reached the Sweet Sixteen in its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. McFadden became a starter at the shooting guard position in the season's eleventh game after scoring in double figures in nine of the fist 10 contests. Once he entered the starting lineup, he never left it for the rest of his career. He was third on the team in scoring at 13.7 ppg and led the Vikes at the fee throw line with .762. In addition, he swiped 51 steals and was one of five Vikings to record more than 50 that season in Coach Mackey's high pressure, up-tempo style of play. In the AMCU-8 Tournament, McFadden set a CSU post-season record with 33 points against Illinois-Chicago, despite playing on a severely sprained ankle. McFadden was named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team, The AMCU-8 All-Tournament Team while also earning sports on the AMCU- All Newcomer Team and AMCU-8 Second Team.
In 1986-87, McFadden had perhaps the finest individual season in CSU annals, guiding the Vikings to a 25-8 mark and first-ever appearance in the NIT. Starting 33 games, McFadden set school records with 708 points, 177 free-throws made, 22w free-throws attempted, and 83 steals while becoming the only sophomore in school annals to surpass the 1,000- point plateau. He led the Vikes in scoring at 21.5 ppg while shooting a team-best .513 from the floor. His record-setting season included tying the school mark of 27 straight free-throws made and ad 41-point effort against Illinois-Chicago, the second-highest total in CSU history. McFadden was co-winner of CSU's Most Outstanding player Award and was Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region, as well as Fist Team All-AMCU-8 and AMCU-8 All-Tournament.
As a junior, McFadden moved to pint guard and responded with yet another record -setting year. He started all 30 games as CSU went 22-8 and again reached the second round of NIT. He set a school record by dishing out 177 assists and tied his own school mark of 177 fee-throws made. Once again, he led the Vikes in scoring with 20.5 ppg and from the charity stripe at .760. He earned MVP honors at the 1st Bank of Milwaukee Classic with back-to-back 20-point game against Niagara and Marquette. McFadden garnered All-America and All-Region honors and was named the AMCU-8's Player of the Year and Fist Tea All-AMCU-8 as well as CSU's Most Outstanding Player.
McFadden capped his stellar career with yet another fine year as a senior. Despite missing seven games, he again led CSU in scoring with 22.9 ppg as the team went 16-2. He also led CSU with 146 assists, 177 free throws made and a .818 free throw accuracy while ranking second on the team with 45 steals. With a 31-point effort at Valparaiso, McFadden became the second player in school history to surpass the 2,000 point mark. Two weeks later, McFadden set a single-game school record with 16 assists against Northern Iowa.
His play earned him All-American kudos for the third time and all-conference honors for the fourth straight year, CSU's only player so honored. He also was named the Vikes Most Outstanding Player for a third time.
For his career, #10 averaged 19.3 ppg in 117 games. He is the only player in school history to lead the team in free throw percentage four straight years and to average more than 20 ppg three times. He tops the CSU charts with 2,256 points, 3,539 minutes played, and 463 assists. He is also among the top ten in scoring average, games played, games started, field goals made, three-point field goals made, three-point field goal accuracy, assists, and free-throws made. During McFadden's four-year career, CSU went 91-26 with him in the lineup and 1-6 in the seven games he missed in 1988-89.
McFadden has been CSU's ticket manager since January of 1997, but after leaving the Viking hardwood in 1989, he spent four years playing professional basketball. He spent his first season with the CBA's LaCrosse (W) Catbirds before playing the summer of '90 with the USBL's Miami Tropics. After a season with the Fayetteville (NC) Flyers of the NBL, he played for the Tasmanian Devils in Australia's national league in 1991-92. McFadden returned to the CBA and the Albany Patrons for 1992-93.
He worked for the following two years as a marketer with Cleveland Works before going back to school at Cleveland State in '95. He worked for the Cleveland Clinic in the billing department during '96 and received his bachelor's degree in history in June of 1997.
