[Originally published: Sept. 18, 2014 in The Ionian]

Iona College has become a hotbed for professional basketball prospects. Fourteen former Gaels have gone on to play basketball professionally over the last five years. The two most recent additions to this club are Sean Armand and Tre Bowman.

Armand and Bowman, both members of the class of 2014, have signed professional basketball contracts in Europe. Armand is playing in Germany for Fraport Skyliners, and Bowman is playing in Spain for Zomotza.

“I’m very proud of both of them,” Iona men’s basketball head coach Tim Cluess said. “All their hard work has paid off, one by getting their college degree and second by being able to go and play pro. It’s a tremendous thing for them.”

Armand had a prolific career with the Maroon & Gold. He set the school’s career 3-point record with 348 trifectas. He compiled 1,694 points over the course of his record 137 career games, which places him seventh on the all-time list of scorers (behind six Iona Hall of Famers).

In each of Armand’s four seasons with Iona, the Gaels won at least 20 games and appeared in a postseason tournament. He is the fifth player in program history to play in the postseason in all four years of his career.

“Being a professional [basketball player] is a childhood dream that I still can’t believe came true,” Armand said.

Bowman spent the final two years of his college career in New Rochelle, after initially playing at Penn State (in the Big 10 Conference). In his tenure with the Gaels, he made quite an impact, averaging 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in two seasons. As a senior, he posted career-highs with 13.9 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Bowman and Armand continue Iona’s recent history of having star players go on to play professionally.

From the class of 2013, Lamont “Momo” Jones, Taaj Ridley and Curtis Dennis have both played internationally. Jones has played in Japan; Ridley has played in Uruguay, and Dennis has played in Lebanon.

The year before them had several players who have gone on to make careers out of playing basketball. Most notable is Scott Machado, who has spent time in the NBA, the NBA Development League and overseas. Other members of the class of 2012 who have played professionally include Mike Glover, Randy Dezouvre, Jermel Jenkins and Trinity Fields.

Alejo Rodriguez, from the class of 2011, has played both in the NBA Development League and internationally.

From the 2010 team, Milan Prodanovic, Jonathan Huffman and Ben Mockford have all played professionally overseas.

“Iona has produced a good number of pro, and it looks good for the school,” Armand said. “The credit goes to each player. We pushed each other, and we were motivated. We wanted it, so we worked to make it happen.”

Cluess, who has been at the helm of the program for the last four seasons, is excited about the level of success players have both while they are at Iona and then as they continue their basketball careers elsewhere.

“You can play here, make a name for yourself, win a lot of games, have a lot of fun, go to a great school and still have an opportunity to make it in the pros,” he said.

http://www.ioniannews.com/sports/article_9802f4e6-3ee2-11e4-9640-001a4bcf6878.html