June, 3 2009

Center Valley, PA-Colgate University alumnus Adonal Foyle will be the first Patriot League graduate ever to participate in the NBA Finals when the Orlando Magic take on the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. Although this is Foyle's 11th season in the NBA, it is his second with the Magic, playing primarily a back-up role at center to all-star Dwight Howard.

After being raised in the Caribbean islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Foyle moved to the United States when he was 15. He decided to stay close to his new home in Hamilton, New York and attend Colgate University. Foyle had instant success at Colgate building an impressive résumé including Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Player of the Year. He left Colgate after his junior year to pursue the NBA Draft and, at the time, held the NCAA record for career blocked shots at 492. The mark still holds the number two spot in the NCAA record books.

Foyle was the 8th pick overall in the 1997 draft which sent him to the Golden State Warriors. During his ten years with the Warriors, he became a leader on and off the court. He continued his education at Colgate and in 1999 he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in History. He became active in his new Bay Area community winning several community service awards and starting the campaign reform group Democracy Matters. He has also reached out to his roots in the Eastern Caribbean starting the Kerosene Lamp Foundation, which educates children with the tools needed to succeed in life.

Foyle has played in 10 games this season averaging 1.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.