Hall of Fame
MIKE SYLVESTER - Men's Basketball - 1971-1974
Sylvestor was an incredible athlete who played for the Flyers from 1971 to 1974. He chose to come to Dayton after being drafted out of high school by the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher in June 1970.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native scored 1,248 points and had 442 rebounds in his three-year career as a Flyer, and was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 6th Round in 1974. Sylvester chose to go play overseas instead of playing in the NBA ,where he played in the Italian Basketball League.
Sylvester became the only Flyer to play in the Olympic games as a member of Team Italy at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The Italian team brought home silver at the event. Sylvester stayed in the international coaching scene after his playing career, serving as an assistant coach in the World Basketball League in 1991 under Coach Donoher.
It was Sylvester who guided the Flyers to a near upset of defending national champion UCLA in the NCAA West Regional. He pumped in a career high 26 points against the Bruins, prompting UCLA coach John Wooden to remark: “It was tremendously impressive shooting exhibition under pressure.”
