Newberry College To Retire Todd Frazier’s Jersey Saturday
NEWBERRY - Saturday afternoon Newberry College Athletics will retire Todd Frazier's jersey at halftime of the Wolves home men's basketball game against Lincoln Memorial.
The game tips off at 4:00 p.m. at Eleazer Arena.
As a student-athlete, Frazier finished third in career points with 1,999 and fifth in career rebounds with 897.
He is one of only two players in Newberry men's college basketball history to finish in the top-5 in career scoring and rebounding.
"To me, Todd Frazier was an example of a classic, complete Division II basketball player," said Jack Williams, Frazier's coach at Newberry College. "He worked hard every day and represented the Newberry College ideal as a student-athlete. I couldn't be more proud to have coached him!"
During his four-year career (1985-89) Frazier played in 118 games and averaged 16.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting just under 51% from the field and 70% from the free throw line.
Frazier also finished second in career free throws made (472), third in career field goals made (736), third in career field goals and (1,420) free throws attempted (679), and 10th in career field goal percentage (.518). His 638 points during the 1988-89 season are the 10th most in school history.
He was a consistent scorer and rebounder during his career and started several games his freshman season in 1985-86 and every game he played in the following three seasons.
After being named the Most Improved Player as a freshman, Frazier averaged 16 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.8% from the floor and 76.1% from the free throw line as a sophomore.
He made 10-of-11 shots from the floor for 90.9% accuracy, fourth best in school history, finishing with 22 points in 23 minutes in a win against USC Aiken on November 22, 1986.
Frazier scored a career-high 37 points, fourth most in school history, and grabbed 11 rebounds, while making 15 of 16 free throws in a 109-97 win over Voorhees on January 29, 1987.
As a junior, Frazier had a breakout year, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-America honors and being named the NAIA District 6 Player of the Year averaging 21.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. He also made 53.7% of his shots from the floor and just under 70 percent from the free throw line.
In consecutive games on consecutive days, December 2-3, 1987, Frazier scored 55 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in wins over Erskine (74-73) and Presbyterian (92-79).
He grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds, fifth most in school history, and added 28 points against Erskine on December 12, 1987, and scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, made 16 of 18 free throws, dished out four assists and blocked two shots against Claflin on January 25, 1988.
Frazier was the NAIA District 6 Player of the Week after averaging 31.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game after registering back-to-back 30-point scoring games against Limestone (31) and Presbyterian in the final week of January. He followed that up with his third consecutive 30-point game scoring 32 points in a win over Allen. He added two other 30-point games in victories over USC Aiken (30) on February 18 and Voorhees (33) on March 2nd.
In his senior season, Frazier was named second team NAIA District 6, closing out his career averaging over 20 points per game (20.6) for a second consecutive season along with a career-best 9.6 rebounds per contest.
One of his best games was a 31 point, 13 rebound, three assist, three blocked shot effort against Presbyterian on January 28, 1989.
He finished his career with a flourish by scoring 33 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Voorhees on March 1st, 28 points and 11 rebounds in a 109-98 win at Presbyterian on March 4th and 21 points and 14 rebounds against Lander March 6th.
"Todd Frazier was, as best as I can describe it, a beast on the floor." fellow hall of famer and the voice of the Wolves Jimmie Coggins mentioned. "He was always ready to play and that is borne out by his numbers and awards. It was a privilege to call his games."
Frazier was inducted into the Newberry Letterwinner's Hall of Fame in 2006.
Frazier, a native of Joanna and a graduate of Clinton High School where he was a two-time all-conference performer, graduated from Newberry College in 1989 and has been a long-time coach, educator and administrator in public schools in Newberry County.
