Coming home: Brooklyn-raised basketball star Travis Atson transfers to SFC

Brooklyn native completes Terriers' additions for 2020-21 season

May 21, 2020 John Torenli

Former Christ the King star and Brooklyn native Travis Atson is heading to St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights after making stops at Tulsa and Quinnipiac University. Photo: Gregory Payan/AP

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Travis Atson took the long way back home.

The Brooklyn native and former Christ the King High School basketball star was granted a waiver from the NCAA recently, allowing him to transfer from Quinnipiac University to Remsen Street’s St. Francis College last week.

Atson, who began his collegiate career at Tulsa University, will round out the Terriers’ 2020-21 recruiting class, which also includes David Muenkat, Elijah Hardison of Brooklyn’s Xaverian High School, Vuk Stevanic and Rheaquone Taylor.

The 6-foot-5 swingman still has two years of eligibility in Brooklyn after playing one season at Tulsa, where he appeared in 22 games as a freshman, and one at Quinnipiac, where he averaged 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest over 31 games during the 2018-19 season.

“We are extremely excited to add Travis, another New York City player, who has a lot of experience and has been through the battles of Division I college basketball,” SFC Head Coach Glenn Braica said.

“We feel that St. Francis College is a great fit for him since he is a native of Brooklyn. He is a solid all-around basketball player who can rebound, shoot it, score it, and has a good basketball IQ.”

Atson helped Quinnipiac reach the 2019 CIT (Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament) and could play a key role in guiding the Terriers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament if things break right next season.

He showed his championship mettle during three years at CTK in Queens, spearheading the Royals to two New York Catholic High School Athletic Association state championships before spending a year at Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts.

Atson, who was also named the 2014 NYC CHSAA MVP, felt a strong connection with the SFC players and coaches during a visit, and chose the Terriers because it is close to home, according to a school-issued release.

Graduate guard Unique McLean, who ranked third on the SFC roster in scoring with 11.4 points per game while ripping down a team-best 8.0 rebounds per contest, grew up playing basketball with Atson in our borough before both headed off to college.

Now, the duo will be able to reunite at Brooklyn Heights’ Pope Center, where the Terriers went 9-5 last season en route to a 13-18 overall record and first-round ouster, albeit via a one-point loss, to top-seeded Robert Morris in the Northeast Conference Tournament.

Along with McLean, Atson will also play alongside returning regulars Chauncey Hawkins, Larry Moreno and Rob Higgins.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome (Atson) to our team, and we think that he compliments our roster nicely,” Braica said.

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Junior swimmer Amanda Peren was named the Female Athlete of the Year at LIU, where she helped the Sharks to a strong performance at the NEC Championships. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

Long Island University junior swimmer Amanda Peren and men’s basketball senior Raiquan Clark received the coveted Athlete of the Year Awards at Monday night’s virtual banquet.

Peren, who was named the Female Athlete of the Year, re-wrote the record books at the 2020 NEC Swimming and Diving championships.

She was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet after setting a pair of conference and school records in the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle.

She swam a 2:00.30 in the 200 IM, and snapped a 14-year-old conference record in the 200 free with a time of 1:47.26.

The Alexandria, Virginia native capped her weekend with a win in the 100 free in a school record time of 49.71. She also earned two silvers and a bronze medal in relay events.

Clark had one of the most decorated careers in recent LIU history while going from walk-on to the all-time leading scoring in the Brooklyn-based program’s history.

LIU’s Male Athlete of the Year became just one of seven men’s players in Northeast Conference history to hit the 2,000-point mark. He ranks first in scoring in a program record book that dates back nearly 100 years.

In his final season at LIU, Clark averaged 19.5 points a game while playing nearly every single minute of every game on the schedule. He was recognized for his outstanding play by receiving several postseason awards, including All-NEC, All-ECAC, All District and All-Met.

Seniors Dan Foley from men’s lacrosse and Patricia Griffin from women’s softball earned LIU’s Scholar Athlete of the Year honors and the women’s lacrosse team received the Make a Difference Award for its community service.