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Donald Copeland, a former All-Big East guard at Seton Hall and professional player, who starred at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, NJ, has been named graduate manager for the Wagner men’s basketball team, fourth-year Seahawk head coach Bashir Mason has announced.
In addition to his duties with the men’s basketball program, Copeland will pursue a Master’s of Business Administration at Wagner College.
While at Seton Hall, the Jersey City, NJ native helped lead the Pirates to NCAA Tournament appearances in his sophomore (2004) and senior (2006) seasons. As a senior in 2005-06, Copeland led the Hall in a host of statistical categories, including scoring (16.1), assists (4.5), steals (41), three-pointers (71) and free throw percentage (84.4).
For the season, he ranked third in the Big East in assists per game (5.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.69). He was named to the All-Big East Second Team, Met Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Second Team, and was a two-time representative on the Big East and MBWA Weekly Honor Rolls.
“I’ve known Donald since we were both seven years old,” said Mason, who shares the exact same birthdate (February 11, 1984) with Copeland. “Donald holds a playing pedigree that instantly earns him the respect of, not only high school coaches and fellow members of the college basketball community but, players alike.”
“His knowledge of the game and high basketball I.Q. will allow him to serve as an asset to the Wagner basketball program,” Mason continued. “I truly believe that Donald will quickly become a rising star in college basketball and I’m proud to be able to provide him with this opportunity here at Wagner.”
Prior to accepting a full scholarship at Seton Hall, Copeland played for legendary head coach Bob Hurley, Sr. at St. Anthony, helping lead the Friars to New Jersey State Championships in 2001 and 2002, with the latter team ranking No, 2 in the nation. He earned First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Tri-State honors following his senior season of 2001-02.
“I’m honored that Bashir has given me this opportunity to begin my post-playing career at the Division I level here at Wagner,” said Copeland. “Having grown up here in the New York metropolitan area, I’ve long admired Wagner basketball and am looking forward to contributing to the Seahawk program.”
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Media Studies from Seton Hall in 2006, the 6’0″ Copeland embarked on a nine-year professional career throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America, where he played on two professional championship teams in Puerto Rico (2011 and 2015).
Over his near decade-long pro career, Copeland’s basketball talents took him to France (Paris Basket Racing-LNB Pro A/JL Bourg-LNB Pro B), Puerto Rico (Gigantes-BSN, Carolina/San German Atleticos-BSN/ Bayamon Vaqueros-BSN, Arecibo Capitaness –BSN/Quebradillas Piratas –BSN/ Ponce Leones-BSN), Poland (Polpharma Basketball-PLK, Starogard, & PGE Turow-PLK Eurocup, Zgorcelec), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (KK Bosna-Adriatic League), Germany (Eisbairen Bremerhaven-BBL), Hungary (ZTE Basketball-A Division, Zalagerzeg), and the Ukraine (BC Kyiv (Super League and Eurochallenge, Kiev).
http://www.wagnerathletics.com/news/2015/9/10/MBB_0910153004.aspx?path=mbball
Photo Courtesy Wagner Athletics
