FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Five former Fairfield University men's basketball team players were named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) 40th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team. The Stags were represented by Deng Gai (2001-05), Tony George (1982-86), Derek Needham (2009-13), Tyler Nelson (2014-18), and Darren Phillip (1996-00). The team was announced on Tuesday afternoon. The MAAC celebrates its 40^th Anniversary throughout the 2020-21 academic year, continuing its mission to provide student-athletes the opportunity to succeed in both academics and athletics.



Deng Gai joins the 40th Anniversary team after securing a slot on the MAACs 25th anniversary team. He earned three MAAC Defensive Player of the Year awards as he became one of the nation's top shot blockers by his senior season. The forward was heralded as the conference's top defensive player following the 2004-05, 2002-03, and 2001-02 campaigns and earned post season accolades from the group as well. He collected All-MAAC honors in 2004-05 and 2002-03 after garnering a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team as a freshman. He holds the school record with 442 career blocks, more than twice as many as Fairfield's next best career total. He ranks ninth in the Division I record book with 4.42 block per game and 10th with 442 blocks.He is the MAAC's all-time leader in both total career blocks and career blocks per game.



Tony George became the first Fairfield men's basketball player to reach 2,000 career points when ended his career with 2,006 career points, a position he held . He was well decorated for his efforts by the MAAC, culminating with the 1985-86 conference's player of the year award. He played an instrumental role in the team's first-ever MAAC championship and subsequent NCAA tournament appearance. The guard received the 1985-86 MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award after the Stags swept through the conference tournament. He was named to the All-MAAC highlighted by his 1985-86 first team appearance as well as his 1983-84 third team nod. George currently ranks 13th among the MAA all-time scoring leaders.



Derek Needham was recognized as a member of the All-MAAC team in each of his four seasons with the program. In addition to making the MAAC All-Rookie team in 2009-10, he also picked up his first all-conference honor as a second teamer. He captured a first-team appearance the following season before finishing up his tenure with a pair of second-team berths. The guard was named the conference's Rookie of the Year as well. He ended his career as the top three-point shooter in school history and currently sits second in that category. His 537 career assists ranks among the top three leaders in Fairfield history while his 1,875 points placed fourth all-time in program annals. He currently stands 24th among all MAAC scorers.



Tyler Nelson ended his Fairfield career as the program's top scorer of all time with 2,172 points, one of only two Fairfield student-athletes to leave campus with more than 2,000 points. He was recognized by the conference's coaches four times during his four seasons, beginning with an All-Rookie nod in 2014-15. He followed up his rookie effort with a second-team berth in 2015-16 and first-team selections in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He completed his career as the Stags' all-time leading three-point shooter, netting 315, which also pushed him into 10th place on the MAAC's all-time leaders with 2.54 three pointers per game. He is listed fifth on the conference's all-time scoring list.


Darren Phillip, a member of the MAAC 25th anniversary team, helped the Stags captured their third MAAC championship and bid to the NCAA tournament during the 1996-97 season. The forward was a member of the 1996-97 All-MAAC Tournament team as the team defeated three of the tournament's top three seeds in successive nights. He was a member of the All-MAAC team in 1998-99 before ending his stay with a first-team nod in 1999-00. Phillip led the nation in rebounding as a senior, grabbing 14.0 rebounds every forty minutes. During that 1999-00 campaign, Phillip secured 24 double-doubles with 19 coming in succession. He finished his four-year in Fairfield with more than 800 rebounds and remains among the MAAC's top rebounders, standing 13th on the prestigious list.