Union Basketball: Donohue finalist for Division III award

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

One of the greatest players in Union College men’s basketball history is in line to win the most prestigious award available on the Division III level.

Keven Donohue, a 6-foot-7 senior forward/center who finished his career fifth on the Dutchmen’s all-time scoring list, was named among the 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy this week.

The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account basketball ability, academic prowess and community service, and helps recognize the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete.

“In all honesty, I’m completely surprised by this,” said Donohue, who graduated from Hudson Falls High School. “I would have never thought that I would have won an award like this. I don’t think it has really sunk in yet. It will definitely hit me sometime in the future. To think I’m being considered for such a prestigious award among all the Division III basketball players in the country is really something.”

Donohue is the first Union basketball player to be nominated for the award since Aaron Galletta in 2002. Union is the only Division III program in the country this year to have one of its athletes nominated as a finalist for both the Jostens Trophy and the Gagliardi Trophy. Linebacker Noah Joseph was a Gagliardi Trophy finalist in football.

“This is a terrific honor for Keven Donohue,” said Union College head basketball coach Bob Montana. “When you think of the fact that there are 407 NCAA Division III men’s basketball programs, and all the players on so many great teams, to be selected as one of the 10 finalists in the country is such a great accomplishment,” Montana said.

“Keven truly reflects the term student-athlete, and he has represented our basketball program and Union in a first-class manner throughout his four-year career. With his selection as a Jostens finalist, Keven continues to be a great ambassador for Union College, while being honored as an athlete, student and contributor to our college community.”

Donohue, who carries a 3.47 cumulative grade-point average in economics, finished with 1,499 career points. He led the Liberty League in scoring at 19.7 points per game and was third in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and fifth in blocked shots (1.0 pg).

Donohue scored in double figures in 25 of his 26 games and scored a career-high 37 points against RIT. That was the most points scored by a Union player since Galletta’s 41 in 2001-02.

“I would say, as a whole, my strong suit is my versatility as a player,” Donohue said. “I think of myself primarily as a post player. I try to get as close to the basket as I can and finish with a strong move. But when you’re up against the bigger post players, they don’t like to guard you when you move beyond the three-point line. Over the years, I got pretty proficient at shooting from the perimeter, and I often got open looks because of the matchups. I tried to exploit the situation that was best for me.”

Donohue said he is proud to be a member of only the sixth Union team to win at least 20 games.

“They’ve been playing basketball at Union for more than 100 years, and I feel honored to have played on one of the few teams that won 20 games,” he said.

Donohue said he isn’t sure what he is going to do after graduation. He said he will probably test the job market first and perhaps return to school later on.

The Jostens Trophy winner will be announced March 21 at the

Salem Civic Center just before the national quarterfinals.