By Amy Ward

National Association of Basketball Coaches first-team all-American NABC east district co-player of the year Two-time Empire Eight first-team all-star Empire Eight player of the year (1999–2000) Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference first-team all-star (second-team in 1998–99) ECAC player of the year Josten’s Trophy finalist (recognizes the outstanding Division III men’s basketball player in the country) GTE third-team academic all-American Ithaca College Ben Light senior athlete of the year ECAC medal of merit winner D3hoops.com (Division III basketball) team of the year member D3hoops.com third-team all-American

This reads like the list of accomplishments of an entire basketball team. But these honors were all achieved by one individual: Pat Britton ’00. During his Bombers basketball career (from 1997 to 2000), the team compiled a 62-44 record and made the ECAC playoffs three times. A team captain, Britton finished his career with 1,503 points (third on Ithaca’s all-time list) and set school records for highest free-throw percentage in a season (89.0) and career (84.5).

Britton is not one to talk about his achievements. He would rather talk about how he could not have done any of this without teammates, coaches, family, and friends. How teammate Aaron Spearman put off wrist surgery and played a great season despite the pain. Or how teammate Ryan Bamford had his best season, no matter what position he was asked to play. Britton insists that Ithaca won the ECAC championship because everyone else played well, not because he averaged 22 points per game and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He gives accolades to coaches Jim Mullins and Sherry Dobbs. He believes that Mullins’s promotion to head coach after Britton’s frustrating first year helped him play as well as he did. Most important, though, are his parents, Pat and Joanne, and his brother, Jeff (now a senior at Ithaca). "I definitely could not have done all this without them," says Britton. "They were supportive to me and the team. I appreciate that so much."

Britton’s teammates rave about him not just as a basketball player, but as a student — and a person. "Pat inspired us with his play in practice and games," says Bamford. "He put the team’s success ahead of any personal accomplishments."

Director of athletics Kristen Ford has also been impressed: "Pat Britton epitomizes a Division III student-athlete. He has been an excellent role model to his teammates, his classmates, and all of us associated with Ithaca College athletics. Pat will be sorely missed both as a member of our athletics program and as a member of the campus community."

Britton was also a leader off the court. He had a cumulative grade point average of 3.573 when he received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He received the George C. Textor Award and the Pratt-Northram Workership Award and was a member of the NABC honor roll and on the dean’s list. He was vice president of the Ithaca College Student Advisory Council and a member of the IC Health and Fitness Club and the Occupational Therapy Club. He hopes to become an occupational therapist.

Not to embarrass Britton, but IC will miss him. Coach Mullins puts it this way: "Pat is the best guard ever to play in the Ithaca College program — and we have had a lot of good players come through. I only hope one day I have the opportunity and honor to coach another student-athlete like him.".

Photos by Tim McKinney