Asmar Fortney was a key in helping turn the Scarlet Raider men’s basketball
program around in 2000-01 when he averaged 15.0 points and 5.8 rebounds
a game to help carry the squad into post-season play. He earned
All-NJAC Honorable Mention on the ECAC Metro Playoff team which
went 14-11 under head coach Chris Casey, helping the coach garner
NJAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honors.
As a senior, he earned first team berths on the American Basketball
Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Mid-Atlantic, All-NJAC and
D3Hoops.com All-Atlantic squads while averaging 19.0 points and 7.5
rebounds.
Casey states, "Recruiting is the life blood of any program and requires
attention every day. During the spring of 2000 I attended a junior college
exposure camp. The event showcased a number of very talented players.
One in particular grabbed my attention right away because he
played with passion and effort every trip down the floor. While most in
the event were just focused on scoring points, Asmar not only scored
points but performed in what I call the effort categories - rebounding,
coming up with loose balls, defending, and running the floor. Our
coaching staff made immediate contact with Asmar and worked on
trying to convince him to become a Scarlet Raider. When Asmar decided
to join us, the entire staff was excited because we felt we had a
player, and most importantly a quality person, who could help our
program win.
"The minute Asmar arrived on campus that September, he made an
immediate impact. He approached his classes in a very business- like
manner and set a great example on how to be a student. His consistent
effort on the court raised the level of our workouts and practices on a
daily basis. During the season, Asmar played any position and role on
the court, that we asked of him. He could score inside and out. He
could guard any position on the floor, and frequently was assigned to
the opponent’s leading scorer. And, he was always more interested in
winning than in his personal numbers, even though his personal numbers
filled up the stat sheet after every game."
He is a 2008 graduate of Rutgers-Newark with a bachelor’s degree in
psychology.
