Drew University Athletics

When Jim Magee came to The Forest from Montville (New Jersey) High School, Drew gained a basketball center who made both records and headlines. Some of his records still stood at the time of his induction; all of them are impressive.

Drew's basketball team definitely improved its win-loss records while Magee was a member. In 1975-76 the Rangers went 8-12, then improved to 10-15 in 1977-78 and won the Independent Athletic Conference title. In Magee's junior year, the team went 14-9, won the IAC title, and participated in the East Coast Athletic Conference Metro area tournament. In his senior year the team's record was 14-12, winning another IAC title.

Magee's personal records were notable. In 1975-76 he scored 243 points and 170 rebounds, and was selected to the IAC All-Star team; the next year he was selected (the first of three times) to the IAC All-Star First team with 448 points and 301 rebounds, and also made the Middle Atlantic Conference team. In both those years he was named IAC player of the week several times. The 1977-78 season found him scoring 340 points with 229 rebounds; he was named New Jersey Player of the Week three times and was the IAC's Most Valuable Player. In his senior year he collected 417 points and 239 rebounds, was named Drew's MVP, and made both the IAC All-Conference and the ECAC Division III All-Conference teams. He also played in the 1979 New Jersey All-Star Game.

Upon graduation, Magee held Drew's record for most career points (1,446), which ranked sixth at the time of his induction. His record as first in career free throw attempts (561) still held, as did his second place for career rebounds. He also ranked third in single-season rebounds (301 in 1976-77) and highest career rebounding average (9.4).

His achievements continued to be recognized. In 1979 he was the first Drew player to be honored with a post-baccalaureate Samuel Kaplan Memorial Scholarship from the New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Coaches Association, and the same organization awarded him the NJCBCA Graduate Scholarship in 1982.