If basketball player Sea (pronounced 'Shay') Lonergan had been told that after two years at Dartmouth he would establish himself as the top preseason pick for the top Ivy League player, he most likely would have laughed.
Lonergan, a 6-foot 6-inch guard, is far from laughing at that idea now as he sits poised to lead the Big Green this winter to what they hope will be an Ivy League Championship.
This year Lonergan led the Ivy League in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game and shot 44 percent from the three-point line.
"It's been like a dream," Lonergan said. "I almost didn't come here. I actually waited until the last day and then thought I would just go for it. I'm so glad I did because I've been loving it here."
In his decision process, Lonergan was choosing between Dartmouth, virtually the only Division I school to recruit him, and the Division III Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
"In the end basketball was a major part of my decision and I liked both of the coaches at these two schools," Lonergan said. "Because I wasn't highly recruited, I was kind of scared coming here. I didn't know if I could make it."
Making it has been the furthest worry from Lonergan's mind as he established himself as the league's leading scorer last year after being named Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
"Sea is the type of player that in the toughest of games, he'll be the one to take the ball," Basketball Coach Dave Faucher said. "He puts it all together and he doesn't fear competing."
The basketball court is not the only place Lonergan has grown the past two years. As a chemistry major, Lonergan has maintained a 3.8 grade point average as he prepares for medical school.
"He has achieved such excellence," Faucher said. "The drive he has on the court he carries into the classroom."
Balancing school work, athletics and friendships is difficult for any Dartmouth athlete, but Lonergan has found a way to deal with the pressure.
"It's hard," Lonergan said. "I have to be that more efficient with my work. I've come to realize that it's quality not quantity. When I sit down and study, there are no distractions. I just sit there and pound it out -- much like I do on the basketball court."Lonergan exemplifies this excellence not only in game situations but also in everyday practices, making him a leader to his friends and teammates.
Teammate Chris Butler '97 said, "As a friend, he is a great guy. He is the type of person that you can count on for anything."
"I just want to work hard and it give it everything I've got in practice and games. I love to play basketball. That's why I came here. I'm not playing for the awards or recognition," Lonergan said.
