Hall of Fame
Phil Odom ’92 is recognized for his stellar play on the hardwood as a member of the men’s basketball team.
During Phil’s time with the Giants, under fellow Keystone Hall of Fame inductee Dennis Mishko, his squads compiled a two-year record of 48-11. His stellar play on both ends of the court it still the standard today in the Keystone basketball record books.
Phil currently holds the record for the most assists in a season in a Giants uniform, compiling 322 during the 1991-92 season and 296 in the 1990-91 campaign, which rank first and second all-time. His career total of 618 is also the program record. He also holds the second and third slots for most assists in a game, dishing out 17 on March 3, 1991 and 16 on January 24th of that same year. He finished his career with an astounding 10.9apg average.
He is also the all-time steals leader at the College, recording 278, which included a 180 during the 1990-91 campaign, the most ever for a single season.
A former team captain and MVP of the Giants, Phil was also an Academic All-American during his time with the Giants. After earning his Associates degree in Liberal Arts at Keystone, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Scranton.
For all his accomplishments on the hardwood, Phil may be known best known for his efforts and involvement off the basketball court.
Presently he is employed with the Scranton School District as the Director of Youth Enrichment. In his role he provides counseling and assistance to at risk students and their families; serves as a mentor for the Teenage Fatherhood Initiative Program; assists students and their families with finding community resources to address their needs in the areas of financial, mental health or legal matters.
He has organized and facilitated an Annual Men’s Basketball Tournament “Let’s Hoop Out,” where the proceeds provide needy families with Thanksgiving Dinners. The 2012 tournament will be the 12th consecutive year of this worthwhile endeavor. He has also served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of America; St. Joseph’s Center -Maternity and Family Services; Girl Scouts of America Lackawanna County and the Commissioner’s Minority Council.
His hard work, dedication and commitment has not gone unnoticed, having earned numerous accolades, including: “Champion of Youth” Award, given by the Boys and Girls Club of America- April 2000; “Dr. Ada Belton Leading Light” Award- January 2003 given by The African American Arts Alliance and Florence Midtown Crime Watch, “Night Of Helping Hands” Award -March 2007.
Phil’s competitive juices still flow these days as a coach, serving as the seventh grade boys basketball coach and eight grade girls basketball coach at Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Summit since 1997. He also coaches the Keystone Karma AAU High School Girls Basketball team. He also has shared his experience as a Scranton Preparatory Girls Varsity Assistant and University of Scranton Men’s Basketball Assistant. He still continues to work at various area summer camps coaching youth in the fundamentals of basketball
