Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Queenan, Daren
Daren Queenan
- Induction:
- 1997
- Class:
- 1988
The modern era of Lehigh basketball hit an all-time high with the arrival of Darren Queenan. “Q” as he would soon be known as could dunk like no other player before him. He was something special to watch. And watch they did as the student body and the Lehigh Valley discovered that Lehigh did have an exciting basketball team. Stabler Arena would be rocking night after night as Queenan led Lehigh to its first-ever NCAA Basketball Tournament appearances in 1985 and 1988.
His accomplishments are remarkable. Lehigh’s all-time leading scorer with 2,703 points, Queenan also held the school’s career rebounding record (1,013) until 2017. He finished the 1987-88 season as the second leading scorer in the country at 28.4 points per game. He was only the sixth player in Division I basketball history to score over 2,700 points and have over 1,000 rebounds.
A four-time East Coast Conference First-Team selection, Queenan was named the ECC Rookie of the Year in 1985 and the conference’s MVP in 1987. He was also a Street and Smith Magazine Preseason All-America selection prior to the 1987-88 season. Queenan earned more national attention after scoring 81 points and pulling down 22 rebounds over a two-game span to earn Sports Illustrated Player of the Week honors in 1988.
Queenan turned people onto basketball locally and help Lehigh receive national attention on ESPN as well as several national newspapers.
He still holds Lehigh single-season records for field goals made (324) and free throws made (214), both coming in the 1987-88 season. For his career, in addition to holding the Lehigh scoring record, his 1,024 field goals and 626 free throws are also school records.
In all, Queenan averaged over 18 points per game all four years and over 24 points per game in his final two seasons. He scored a school record 49 points vs. Bucknell (3/7/1987) and scored over 40 points three times in his career.
It is no wonder that his number (12) hangs from the rafters in Stabler Arena as one of Lehigh men’s basketball’s retired numbers.
“He had incredible talent and an intense desire to improve,” teammate and fellow hall of famer Mike Polaha said. “It was fun playing with him. His ability to take over on the offensive end of the court was truly impressive. He brought so much excitement to Stabler Arena for both the fans and his teammates.”
After graduation, Queenan went on to play basketball professionally in the Belgian Professional Basketball League.
His accomplishments are remarkable. Lehigh’s all-time leading scorer with 2,703 points, Queenan also held the school’s career rebounding record (1,013) until 2017. He finished the 1987-88 season as the second leading scorer in the country at 28.4 points per game. He was only the sixth player in Division I basketball history to score over 2,700 points and have over 1,000 rebounds.
A four-time East Coast Conference First-Team selection, Queenan was named the ECC Rookie of the Year in 1985 and the conference’s MVP in 1987. He was also a Street and Smith Magazine Preseason All-America selection prior to the 1987-88 season. Queenan earned more national attention after scoring 81 points and pulling down 22 rebounds over a two-game span to earn Sports Illustrated Player of the Week honors in 1988.
Queenan turned people onto basketball locally and help Lehigh receive national attention on ESPN as well as several national newspapers.
He still holds Lehigh single-season records for field goals made (324) and free throws made (214), both coming in the 1987-88 season. For his career, in addition to holding the Lehigh scoring record, his 1,024 field goals and 626 free throws are also school records.
In all, Queenan averaged over 18 points per game all four years and over 24 points per game in his final two seasons. He scored a school record 49 points vs. Bucknell (3/7/1987) and scored over 40 points three times in his career.
It is no wonder that his number (12) hangs from the rafters in Stabler Arena as one of Lehigh men’s basketball’s retired numbers.
“He had incredible talent and an intense desire to improve,” teammate and fellow hall of famer Mike Polaha said. “It was fun playing with him. His ability to take over on the offensive end of the court was truly impressive. He brought so much excitement to Stabler Arena for both the fans and his teammates.”
After graduation, Queenan went on to play basketball professionally in the Belgian Professional Basketball League.
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