AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College Athletic Department will welcome back alumnus Brian Pettit '99, one of the College's all-time great student-athletes, as part of the Hometown Heroes celebration planned in conjunction with the Wildcats' men's and women's basketball doubleheader this Friday, February 5 versus Dowling College. The event aims to raise awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, while honoring current and former members of our nation's military. Tip-off for the women's game is slated for 5 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 7 p.m.

Pettit's story is unique to say the least. A native of Buffalo, N.Y. and a graduate of McKinley High School, Pettit joined the United States Army prior to beginning his collegiate pursuits, training as combat field medic at Fort Riley, Kansas. Pettit ultimately served in the Army from 1990-94, a portion of which he spent on the frontlines of Operation Desert Storm, liberating the people of Kuwait from the invading forces of Saddam Hussein-led Iraq.

Following his discharge from the military, Pettit chose Daemen College in hopes of attaining a degree in Physical Therapy (which he ultimately achieved). Pettit, who grew seven inches to a height of 6-foot-7 after graduating from McKinley, also made the Daemen basketball team as a walk-on, this after playing just one year of varsity basketball as a high school student. He went on to compete for the then-Daemen Warriors, from 1994-97 and again for the 1998-99 season. In that time, he earned an athletic scholarship, was a two-time team captain (1996-97, 1998-99), a team M.V.P. (1998-99), a two-time first-team all-conference selection (1996-97, 1998-99) and a two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) honorable-mention All-American (1996-97, 1998-99). He concluded his career with 1,414 points, 982 rebounds and 144 blocks, and still ranks among Daemen's all-time leaders in those categories. Upon his graduation, he was inducted into the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame.

Pettit will be joined by his family, including his wife Jamie (a 2000 Daemen graduate; they got engaged in room 244 of Duns-Scotus Hall on campus in 2001), children Trevor, Delaney and Tiernan, the couple's foster children Amanda and Steven, and they'll be joined in spirit by their late son Drake who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of four. Pettit will be on hand for a ceremonial jump ball prior to the men's game that evening, along with members of both teams and members of The College at Brockport's ROTC program.

Throughout the games that evening, raffles will be conducted and donations collected with proceeds going to the afore-mentioned Wounded Warrior Project. Several of Daemen's student veterans are also expected to be in attendance, and any active or reserve military or veterans who present valid military identification will be offered free admission to Friday's doubleheader.

"We are very happy to be welcoming Brian and his family back to campus, as well as our student veterans and those active military folks and veterans from the local community," said men's basketball head coach Mike MacDonald. "Like so many of our vets, Brian's example of self-sacrifice followed by a driven pursuit of his goals offers an inspirational story to share with our current team. We are forever indebted for the service that he and our entire military provides, and for us to be able to give something back in this small way seemed all too appropriate."