NEW YORK, NY - Iona College men's basketball legend Steve Burtt '84 was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame for his performance during his scholastic, collegiate and professional career. An Iona College Goal Club Hall of Famer, Burtt remains the Gaels' all-time leading scorer with 2,534 points.
Born in Harlem, NY, Burtt was one of four boys. His parents passed away when he was 12 years old and he was raised by his grandmother. He started playing basketball in Police Athletic League tournaments.
Burtt played high school basketball for Charles Evans High School in lower Manhattan. As a junior he teamed with future St. John's and NBA performer Kevin Williams and both averaged more than 30 points per game. He committed to play at Iona College early in his senior season. Burtt chose New Rochelle because it was close to his home in New York City and allowed him to care for his grandmother who was in her 90's at the time.
In four seasons in Maroon & Gold, Burtt appeared in 121 games averaging 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. His career point total remains 500 points ahead of the No. 2 performer on the list, his son, Steve Burtt Jr. '06. Burtt also set the single-season scoring record, which is only surpassed by the performance of his son as a senior. He was a three-time All-MAAC First Team performer from 1982-1984 and two-time MAAC Player of the Year as a junior and senior. Along with Delland Steph Curry, the Burtt father-son duo are one of two in NCAA Division I basketball to score 2,000-points apiece.
Following his Iona career, Burtt was selected 30th overall in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He averaged four points per game in an injury-shortened rookie campaign where he played 47 contests. Burtt played parts of four seasons for four different teams (Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and Washington) and logged 101 games played. In 1992 he made eight appearances in the NBA Playoffs with the Phoenix Suns.
Burtt continues to play basketball in 50 and over tournaments in Brooklyn and Harlem. He coaches the JHS 162 boys and Taft High School girls' varsity teams and plans to continue working with the youth of his committee.
Eight other legends were inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame in a ceremony at New York Athletic Club on Sep. 14 including: Gus Alfieri, Jim Couch, Howard Garfinkel, Olden Polynice, Jerry Reinsdorf, Sam Stith, Jayson Williams, andWillie Worsley. It was the 27th Annual induction dinner. Former honorees connected to Iona College are: Richie Guerin (1992), Jim Valvano (1999), Jim McDermott(2001) and Sam Worthen (2015).
The New York City Basketball Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization chartered in 1990 by the New York State Board of Regents. Its mission is to foster, promote and encourage sportsmanship, physical contest and academic achievement as a means of building character, as well as physical and intellectual well-being among the younger generation in order to prepare them more adequately for their future role in society. The Hall of Fame promotes New York City basketball, honors its legends and heroes, and encourages people of all ages to partake of the benefits that the game provides.