Men's Basketball
McGovern Honored at 12th Annual Rams Legends Golf Outing
June 23, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. - The 12th Annual Rams Legends Golf Tournament was held on Monday, June 22 at Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, R.I.
The event, which is a substantial fundraiser for the Rhode Island men's basketball student-athletes, honored former URI standout and Hall of Famer Dennis McGovern.
A native of Jersey City, N.J., the 6-2 guard starred for head coach Ernie Calverley from 1962-65. An all-city, all-county, and all-state selection from Stevens Academy in Hoboken, N.J., McGovern came to Kingston during an era in which freshmen were not eligible for varsity play. He tallied 401 points while playing for Rhode Island's freshman team.
McGovern made an immediate impact as a sophomore during the 1962-63 season, averaging 13.7 points per game while appearing in 16 contests.
As a junior during the 1963-64 campaign, McGovern teamed with fellow Rhody Hall of Famer and Ram Legend Steve Chubin to form one of the highest-scoring backcourts in URI history. Chubin (21.5 ppg) and McGovern (20.5) each averaged better than 20.0 points per game - a feat so impressive, that it has only occurred once in the 45 seasons since.
That same season, McGovern set a then-school record, connecting on 251 field goals. He poured in a career-high 40 points on Feb. 15, 1964 versus Manhattan College - 31 in the first half alone. McGovern also scored the game-winning basket in a 68-66 New Year's Day victory at Memphis State. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Yankee Conference second team.
As a senior during the 1964-65 campaign, McGovern again had a 40-point scoring performance - this time against Boston College on Jan. 12, 1965. He earned first team All-Yankee Conference accolades in his final season in a Rhody uniform.
His name is prominently listed among the URI record book. McGovern ended his career with 1,295 points - which currently ranks 26th on URI's all-time scoring list. He averaged 21.1 points per contest while appearing in 67 games while wearing the Keaney Blue - a mark that still ranks fourth all-time. He connected on an outstanding 52.8% of his field goal attempts - third-best in Rams history.
The New York Knickerbockers drafted McGovern in the 14th round of the 1965 NBA Draft. He later enjoyed a fine playing and coaching career in the Eastern Basketball League. He was also an assistant basketball coach and administrator at Rhode Island College.
In 1990, McGovern was honored with his induction into the University of Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame.
