California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Kenney Toomer was a dominant center on the Vulcan men’s basketball team for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons.

A transfer from North Greenville Junior College, Toomer led the Vulcans to their third PSAC-West title in five years in 1990-91. He averaged 23.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 64% from the floor, 74% from the foul line and blocked 33 shots. An All-PSAC and ECAC first-team selection, Toomer was 25th nationally in scoring and rebounding and 13th in fieldgoal percentage. In PSAC-West play he averaged 27.4 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. He produced a 38-point, 21-rebound effort in a divisional victory at Lock Haven. The Vulcans finished with final national ranking of 20th and won the NCAA II Team Rebounding Margin (+12.4) statistical championship. Remarkably, Toomer did not start for the Vulcans that year and was the first player off the bench for 2005 Hall of Fame inductee Jim Boone, who coached the Vulcans from 1986-87 through 1995-96.

Toomer’s first season ended with an upset PSAC home playoff loss to Shippensburg, a setback that Toomer believes helped set the foundation for a record-breaking season.

“When we lost that game I never will forget that Coach Boone took us into the locker room and asked us the question do you all want to be great?” Toomer said. “Of course as players there was only one way to answer that. We started working out at 6 in the morning a couple days after losing that game. That played a big part for the following season because when every other team was having fun and getting ready to come back we were already in the gym, lifting and working out every day. Coach Boone and his staff did a heck of a job.”

The following year, Toomer improved his individual statistics while helping the Vulcans produce the finest men’s basketball season in school history. Toomer averaged 25.5 points and 10.1 rebounds a game and scored a single-season school record 842 points which is still second highest in PSAC history. His 331 made field goals remains a school and conference single-season record and he also blocked 52 shots while shooting 65% from the floor.

The 1991-92 Vulcans rolled to a 31-2 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Final Four while achieving a school and PSAC record 29-game win streak that still stands today. Toomer helped the Vulcans attain the nation’s number one ranking in early February through the conclusion of the season.

In Cal’s 84-73 national quarterfinal victory over South Dakota State, Toomer scored 35 points with 15 rebounds. He scored 20 or more points in 28 of Cal’s 33 games that year with 17 games with 10 or more rebounds. Cal’s season ended with a one-point loss in the national semifinals but the greatest season in school and conference men’s basketball season had been achieved.

“That was a game we should never have lost and we should have played in the championship game,” said Toomer. “We knew going into that senior year we could have been special and we just came together. I think one of the most special things about that year was going 12-0 in the conference. Only one other team had done that and I think it will be a long time before that happens again. I knew we were going to go far because we put the time in and had that previous year of playing together. That was a magical season and so many great things happened.”

Toomer, named to the 1992 Elite Eight and East Regional All-Tournament teams, received NABC All-American honors in 1992 and finished with 1,490 career points, 609 rebounds and 85 career blocks in just two years. He is the first Hall of Fame inductee from the 1991-92 team.

“I should have went in a long time ago,” joked Toomer. “I am very proud of what I accomplished in two seasons and most people that get this honor played all four years with one team. It’s a great honor to be inducted though and I am thankful.”

After his Cal U days, Toomer enjoyed a successful professional basketball career overseas. He played for teams in Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, and Luxembourg.

Originally from Ridgeland, South Carolina, and a graduate of Jasper County High School, Toomer was selected as his team and conference’s Most Valuable Player his senior season. At North Greenville Junior College, now an NCAA Division II school, Toomer averaged more than 15 points and five rebounds a game in 1989-90. He helped the Crusaders compile a 29-5 overall record and advance all the way trot he Final 16 of the National Junior College Tournament. Toomer was selected as the Region 10 Junior College Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Toomer came to Cal with James Kirkland, a highly recruited teammate of Toomer’s at North Greenville. Both adjusted to the northern climate and became one of the most storied post-player tandems in school history.

“For me it was rough and I was ready to go home my first two months,” he said.

“When I got to Cal I was on the white (jersey) team and the red team was the starting team. The coaches knew I could score and eventually everything all worked out. Before my first year we knew with the returning players that we had great potential and I think James, Chris Williams and myself might have been the missing pieces to the puzzle It’s amazing how life works out, especially when you are an athlete because you never know what’s going to happen. I really appreciated the two years I had at Cal because I had a chance to grow, play and matured a lot also. If push came to shove and if I could do it again I would do it again. It was an amazing two years.”

Toomer, who is a sub-contractor, resides in Moon Township with his partner, Nicole. He has four daughters—Kayla, Megan, Madison, and Shyawne. He also coaches Little League baseball.