Nov. 6, 2007

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Moraga, CA - The 2007-08 season will mark the 100th year in the history of men's basketball at Saint Mary's College. To recognize the 100 years of basketball, Saint Mary's will release the top-25 players of the last century. Saint Mary's will countdown players 25 through 17 on the nine days counting down to the opening game of the year.

Head coach Frank LaPorte described Maurice Harper as "hyperactive and a player that hustles every minute he's in the game." Harper used his speed and excellent jumping ability to penetrate the opponent's front line defense to score 1,230 points in his career. He ended his career at SMC as the school's second leading scorer, and currently ranks ninth in the record books in career points scored.

Maurice Harper

With his superb ability to drive to the basket, Harper was equally as deadly from the perimeter. The 6-0 guard from Berkeley, California shot 51.2 percent from the floor and averaged 15.8 points for his career. Former Santa Clara head coach Carroll Williams said the following about Harper, "He's a very difficult player to contain. Harper's rapid acceleration makes him a great penetrator who can also hurt you with his outside shooting."

In 1973-74 Harper had his best scoring season of his career, netting 481 points during his junior season, to average 17.2 points per game. His senior season was he averaged 17.4 points per game, the highest of his three-year career as a Gael. Harper was a two-time All-West Coast Athletic Conference selection, being named to the second team following both his junior and senior seasons. An all-American candidate his senior season, Harper was inducted into the Saint Mary's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Players 16-1 will be released at each home game during the season, with No. 16 being announced at halftime of the game between SMC and Sonoma State on November 9. The best player in the history of the program will be named at the Gaels' final home game of the season on February 25 when SMC hosts San Diego at 7 p.m.