Wayne McKoy, St. John's Basketball Star, Dies at 64

Wayne McKoy, a standout player for the St. John's men's basketball team, died Wednesday at his home in Bayside. He was 64.

During his college career from 1977 to 1981, McKoy scored 1,534 points for the Redmen, averaging more than seven rebounds and blocking a then-school-record 164 shots over 117 games. He was a key player on the 1979 team that narrowly missed reaching the Final Four.

In his youth, McKoy garnered significant attention, with some projections comparing his talent favorably to that of NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Wayne McKoy was remembered by those who saw him play as a remarkable talent. Frank Gilroy, a former opponent and then-sophomore at Holy Cross High, recalled seeing McKoy play in March 1975 at the Top Eight Classic. Describing McKoy as 6-foot-8 and around 250 pounds, Gilroy noted that his presence on the court was breathtaking.