Story & Photos By Lev D. Zilbermints
BLOOMFIELD – On Saturday, January 28, 2023, Bloomfield College held its 22nd Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The event began with a Hall of Fame Brunch at 10:30 am – 11:30 am in Westminster Hall. This was followed by the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony itself in the college gym.
According to the Induction Event Program, the first Hall of Fame Induction was held in 1986. At the time, inductees featured alumni from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The inductions continued without interruption until 2000. There followed a ten-year gap before Hall of Fame inductions resumed in 2010. These continued until 2016, before stopping again. The current induction is the first one in seven years.
The inductees included Gage Daye, Class of 2012, a former basketball player; Olisa L. Small, Class of 1998, a former basketball and volleyball player; the entire 2010-2011 Bloomfield College Bears Men’s Basketball Team and their coaches. These include Jon Bradley, ’15; Gage Daye, ’12, captain; Woody Eliezer, ’13; Art Ellis; Andre Green, ’14; Ahmad Harris, ’16; Steve Henderson, ’14; Conroy Hosier, ’12; Ryan Rodrigues, ’12; Kevin Udo, ’14; Matt Wafula, ’13; Mike Williams, ’14; Rob Young. The coaches were Baron Hickson; Gerald Holmes, head coach; Ryan James; Malcolm Lash; Wilson Pilarte, ’12.
According to the event program, the 2011 Men’s Basketball Team finished the 2010-2011 season with a mark of 24-9, winning 9 out of 10 of their final 10 games to close a historic season of Bloomfield basketball. Among the accomplishments of the team were the 2010 – 2011 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament Champions; first-ever advancement to the Sweet 16 in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament; Lowest seed to ever win the East Regional Tournament leading to first-ever appearance in the Elite Eight; First CACC basketball team ever to reach Division II basketball’s biggest stage.
“I can’t really put into words what this season has meant to me, “Captain Gage Daye said. “The ride has been amazing. The dinners, the jokes, the experiences with my teammates. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
According to the Induction Event program, Gage Daye was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. Gage was a four-year letterman under Coach Gerald Holmes, and one of the most decorated athletes in school history. As the school’s All-Time Leading Scorer (2,518 points), the two year captain earned First Team All-American Honors, East Region Player of the Year Honors and Two-Time CACC Player of the Year Honors.
Daye went on to establish a professional basketball career with the For Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA Development League, and also traveled and played in Europe and Australia achieving multiple honors including Waratah State League MVP in 2015 and 2016.
According to the Induction Event program, Olisa L. Small, ’98, was born in the Bronx and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She started her basketball career in the 9th grade at Columbia High School in 1989. Small credits her high school basketball coach and mentor, Johanna Wright, with her picking up a basketball for the very first time.
What she learned under Coach Wright in high school set the stage for small to receive a full basketball and volleyball scholarship to play at Bloomfield College. She played both sports with distinction from 1994-1998, receiving many honors. In basketball, she was recognized for scoring over 1000 points and snagging more than 1000 rebounds. Small was team captain for the volleyball team from 1996-1998 while leading the team in blocks and serving aces.
Fast forward to 2023. According to the event program, Daye serves as vice president of the Bloomfield College Alumni Association (BCAA) and has volunteered as an assistant basketball coach under Coach Gerald Holmes for 11 seasons. Daye is the founder of statewide Youth Basketball Training Program (Lab Development) for both male and female players and Academic Athletic Advancement (A3) which provides youth with academic and athletic resources and opportunities. Daye is also the owner of Kleos Ventures, a real estate development company based in New Jersey. Daye is also the author of a children’s book.
Academically, Daye has impressive credentials. He earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Daye is engaged to fiancé Dre Shonda Williams. He has two children, Gia and Gian Daye.
Olisa L. Small graduated from Bloomfield College in 1998. According to the event program, Small resided in Newark, New Jersey, and was hired as a human resources assistant for Continental Airlines, kicking off a successful lifetime career in human resources. After nearly 25 years of living and working in Newark, in March 2022, Small moved to Florida to take a position as human resources manager for Republic Services, a sanitation services company in Fort Lauderdale.
Small has an 18-year-old daughter, Gabriella, from a previous marriage. She is newly engaged to be married next year.
According to Patrick Vera, Director for Advancement, Bloomfield College, two basketball games were played. One was between the BC Women’s Team and Holy Family University. The other was between the BC Men’s Basketball Team and Holy Family University.
Vera told “Local Talk” that the women’s team lost 72-64 in overtime. The men’s team won 83-72.
Full Disclosure: Lev D. Zilbermints graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bloomfield College in 1996 with a B.A. in Political Science. Mr. Zilbermints served as the Executive Secretary in the 1994-95 BC Day Student Government; Vice President in the 1995-96 BCDSG; and finally, as BCDSG President in 1995-96 BCDSG.
