Sellers, who led Rutgers’ Final 4 run, passes away at 69

Sep 20, 2023, 09:21 PM ET

PISCATAWAY, N.J.– Phil Sellers, who led Rutgers to the school’s only Last Four appearance and remains the Scarlet Knights’ profession leader in points and rebounds, has died, the school revealed. He was 69.

Rutgers said in a declaration Wednesday that Sellers died Tuesday night however did not offer details.Sellers scored 2,399 points and had 1,115 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights from 1972-76. He earned second-team All-America honors as a senior in 1975-76 for the team that reached the nationwide semifinals.The 6-foot-4 shooting guard played one season in

the NBA, balancing 4.5 points for the Detroit Pistons in 1976-77.” Phil Sellers is Rutgers royalty.

He is the best player on the greatest group in our program’s history, “Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said in a statement.”His jersey is among three that hang up in the rafters at Jersey Mike’s Arena. He was the ultimate role model for our present Scarlet Knights. Rutgers males’s basketball sends our deepest acknowledgements to his household and loved ones. We like you Phil’The Excitement ‘!”Sellers, a New York City native, shown up in Piscataway in

1972 after originally devoting to Notre Dame. He was hired by Cock Vitale, then a Scarlet Knights assistant coach. He balanced 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, leading Rutgers to the NIT.” Phil was the catalyst in our terrific recruiting class that played an important consider Rutgers having fantastic success in the 1970s that led us all the way to the Final 4,”Vitale said in a statement released by Rutgers.” When we were able to get Phil, we had the ability to get the very best player in New Jersey Mike Dabney. Phil was such a fierce competitor, and he was dominant inside and outside.”Sellers led Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance as a junior

in 1975. In his last season, the Scarlet Knights were undefeated before their loss in the Last Four to ultimate national runner-up Michigan. Rutgers fell to UCLA in the third-place game to complete 31-2. Sellers averaged 19.2 points and 10.2 rebounds that year.” Phil was one of the factors that I decided to go to Rutgers,”stated Abdel Anderson, who was a freshman on the Last 4 squad.” Phil was the very best player I have ever played with.”