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SU Athletics Mourns Passing of Emanuel Breland '57
12/5/2021 4:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Syracuse University Athletics is mourning the passing of Emanuel "Manny" Breland '57, a former men's basketball standout who went on to a long career in education in the Central New York community.
Breland, who was named a Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction in 1994, was believed to be the first African-American basketball player to earn an athletic scholarship at the school.Â
A three-year letterman at Syracuse, Breland was a member of the program's first NCAA Tournament team. The 1956-57 unit coached by Marc Guley posted an 18-7 record and reached the NCAA Regionals. He was the leading scorer on the 1952-53 freshman team (freshmen were not eligible for varsity play at the time) and joined the varsity the following season. He averaged 9.8 and then 9.7 points per game in 1953-54 and 1954-55, respectively. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis during the summer of 1955 and was forced to miss the basketball season because of it. Breland returned for the 1956-57 campaign and averaged 6.3 points per game.
He logged 64 games and accumulated 538 points in three years of play with the varsity.
Breland went on to a distinguished career in scholastic education, serving in the Syracuse School District as a teacher, vice principal and principal for 31 years before retiring in 1991. He also coached basketball for a time at Central Tech and led the program to Section III titles in 1968 and 1971.
Breland grew up in Syracuse and attended Syracuse Central Tech High School, where he was a celebrated basketball performer. He earned first-team all-city recognition multiple times.
He was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2005, Breland was presented with the Fighting Spirit Award by the American Cancer Society.
The news of Breland's passing was first reported by Syracuse.com.
Breland, who was named a Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction in 1994, was believed to be the first African-American basketball player to earn an athletic scholarship at the school.Â
A three-year letterman at Syracuse, Breland was a member of the program's first NCAA Tournament team. The 1956-57 unit coached by Marc Guley posted an 18-7 record and reached the NCAA Regionals. He was the leading scorer on the 1952-53 freshman team (freshmen were not eligible for varsity play at the time) and joined the varsity the following season. He averaged 9.8 and then 9.7 points per game in 1953-54 and 1954-55, respectively. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis during the summer of 1955 and was forced to miss the basketball season because of it. Breland returned for the 1956-57 campaign and averaged 6.3 points per game.
He logged 64 games and accumulated 538 points in three years of play with the varsity.
Breland went on to a distinguished career in scholastic education, serving in the Syracuse School District as a teacher, vice principal and principal for 31 years before retiring in 1991. He also coached basketball for a time at Central Tech and led the program to Section III titles in 1968 and 1971.
Breland grew up in Syracuse and attended Syracuse Central Tech High School, where he was a celebrated basketball performer. He earned first-team all-city recognition multiple times.
He was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2005, Breland was presented with the Fighting Spirit Award by the American Cancer Society.
The news of Breland's passing was first reported by Syracuse.com.
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