California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Ishmieal Kamara was a three-year starting guard for the men's basketball team from 1999-00 through 2002-03.

He was a three-time all-conference selection which included first-team honors his junior and senior seasons.

Playing under retired head coach Bill Brown, Kamara helped the Vulcans compile an 88-31 cumulative overall record and a 35-13 PSAC West mark during his four-year career.

He is the second recruited player by Brown, who coached the Vulcans to a school-record 365 wins over 20 seasons, to be inducted into Cal U's Hall of Fame. He joins 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Seth Martin ´02 from his era.

"I was, and still am, in total disbelief," said Kamara after Brown phoned him about making the Hall of Fame. "Coach Brown being Coach Brown was just talking to me casually and then after a while sticks it in about the honor. I don't think anyone who actively plays thinks about making a Hall of Fame."

As a freshman, he appeared in 18 games and the Vulcans were PSAC West co-champions. Kamara averaged nearly 14 points per game and shot 59 percent from the floor as a sophomore.

In 2001-02, his junior year, Kamara averaged 16.3 points per game with a team-high 167 field-goals made and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line with 71 assists.  He was a first-team all-region selection. The Vulcans finished that season with a 23-6 overall record and reached the PSAC Championship after winning another PSAC West co-championship.

During his senior season, Kamara averaged 15.8 points per game. His 538 points that season remains 12th-best in school history and his .822 free-throw percentage (139-of-169) ranked fifth in the conference.

He was selected as the 2003 PSAC West Athlete of the Year after leading the Vulcans to an outright PSAC West title (10-2) and a 25-9 overall record, which tied the 1988 and 1994 teams for the third-highest victory total at the time.

Kamara's three-point buzzer-beater from nearly halfcourt in a memorable 62-60 PSAC semifinal home win over West Chester capped his 25-point performance and propelled Cal U to a second-straight PSAC Championship appearance.

Fifteen years later Kamara vividly remembers that post-season game, but recalls the humbling events leading up to his dramatic game-winning basket.

"We needed that win badly and I had missed some free-throws down the stretch which gave West Chester the chance to take the lead," said Kamara. "So I sort of owed everybody there that shot because if I did not hit it we'd have lost because of me."

He finished his stellar career with 1,421 points, which ranks 11th in school history. Kamara also shot 78.4 percent from the free-throw line (326-of-416) and produced 354 rebounds, 213 assists and 80 steals.

Kamara joined a program that was a perennial power in the PSAC and the region. Earning playing time was his main focus as opposed to putting together a Hall of Fame career.

"The competition was serious and at a high level so also I knew right away that I really needed to focus on my game to just even get on the floor," he said. "It was extremely challenging, but an exciting time that brought out everyone's best."

Kamara was a Dean's List student majoring in secondary education. He was also active with the Black Student Union and was a student-worker in the health center.

"You don't realize it when you're going through it, but looking back it was so much fun," Kamara said about his time at Cal U. "I enjoyed everything about being at Cal."

He pursued a professional basketball career immediately after his playing days and competed five years in the Continental Basketball Association and International Basketball League.

Originally from Dublin, Ohio, and a graduate of Dublin Scioto High School, he earned All-Ohio honors twice and was a three-time all-metro selection.  Kamara was the 1998-99 Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year.

"Ish" is still the Irish' career leader in scoring (1,201 points), field-goals made (446) and defensive rebounds (308).

When he arrived at Cal U, he joined fellow Ohioans Aaron Brown ´99, Cort Hamilton '00, Damon Taylor '02, and Martin. Brown, the coach's son, had previously played AAU basketball with Kamara's older brother, Al.

"As challenging as things were, it was an incredible transition for me from high school because of the familiarity," Kamara said. "Not just the Ohio players, but all of us really got along well and did everything together."

Understandably, Kamara praised his college coach – another Ohio native.

"Coach Brown is one of the easiest people to get along with and he allowed us to grow, learn from our mistakes and become men," he said. "It was an absolute pleasure to play with him and this honor is a reflection of the job he did putting our team together and the opportunity he gave me."

Brown called Kamara a special player and an even better person.

"Ish is a guy that was very respectful of others and was a great teammate," Brown said. "He was so low key but let his actions speak for his play.

"He never let his individual accomplishments affect who he was as a player or a person and we knew if we needed a bucket he would get one for us."

For nearly a decade, Kamara has owned and served as a personal trainer and fitness instructor for MiLegacyMyLife in the Washington, D.C. metro area. As part of his duties, Kamara runs a series of wellness programs and clinics for companies as well as fitness projects for several schools.

Kamara frequently brings up the advantages of Cal U and a small-school setting when interacting with many of the scholastic student-athletes he comes in contact with.

"On any given day I would walk down campus and administrators and professors would not only know me by name, but they'd walk and talk with me not just about basketball, but life," he said. "That does not happen everywhere."

He resides in Laurel, Maryland, and Kamara always looks forward to returning to campus.

"As much as the campus and buildings have changed when I come back to campus it still has that nice 'Cal' feel to it which is amazing," he said. "That's why Cal U is so special."

updated 04/17/18