24 Reasons Why Romeo Travis' #24 Should Become an Akron Zips Honored Jersey
It's been 30 years since the last Akron Zips player who an Honored Jersey took the court for our storied program. Today, we present to you 24 reasons why Romeo Travis' #24 should join then in receiving that honor.
1. Travis is 7th all-time in scoring with 1,491 points scored.
2. Travis is 9th all-time in rebounding with 783 career boards.
3. Romeo is 2nd all-time in blocked shots with 165 swats in his four years. Only Zeke Marshall blocked more.
4. Upon graduation, Romeo was also 10th all-time in steals.
5. As a Senior, Travis was named an Associated Press All-American.
6. Travis is one of only 13 Zips players to ever receive that honor.
7. Romeo was one of only four Akron players to be named an AP All-American while the Zips were a Division I program.
8. As a Senior, Travis was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.
9. Romeo was named to the All-MAC 1st Team twice in his career, while being selected All-MAC 2nd Team once as well.
10. Travis is one of two Zips to be named to be an All-MAC selection in 3 of his 4 years.
11. In 2005-2006, Travis led the Zips to their first 20+ win season in 17 years.
12. In 2006-2007, the Travis-led Zips finished with 26 wins, tied for most in a season in program history. Remarkably, this was without a postseason game (this was long before the CBI, CIT, etc).
13. That 2006-2007 Travis-led team is also tied for 10th all-time in Zips program history for team winning percentage.
14. Travis' 2005-2006 Zips team notched the first ever NIT victory in Zips program history, upsetting Temple.
15. Travis has is currently in his 10th year as a professional basketball player. During that time, he was a BIBL Champion in 2012, won PBA Best Import of the Conference in 2015, and won the French Cup in 2016.
16. Travis has been named All-Israeli League Player of the Year, All-Israeli League Forward of the Year, All-Israeli League 1st Team, Israeli League All-Imports Team, All-Balkan League Forward of the Year, All-Balkan League First Team, and All-Balkans League All-Imports Team by Eurobasket.com for the 2012 season.
17. Travis was a star player in high school too, playing for Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary. Travis averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds during his prep career, spanning his sophomore, junior, and senior years. The Irish were Division III Ohio state champions in his sophomore year, and in his senior year they won the Division II state championship as well as the national championship.
18. Travis, along with players such as Dru Joyce, Nick Dials, Jeremiah Wood, and Cedrick Middleton, helped transform Akron into the winning program that it is today. Prior to their arrival, the Zips had only had 3 winning seasons since joining the Mid-American Conference.
19. Travis' Zips team was the first to win a MAC Tournament game.
20. Romeo's team was also the first to reach the MAC Championship game (and did it twice).
21. Romeo was the first Akron Zip to ever be selected to the All-MAC Tournament team (2007).
22. Travis is one of five Zips players to be named to the NABC All-District Team, and one or two to be selected twice.
23. Romeo Travis was born in Akron, helped put his Akron high school team on the map, helped put his hometown University of Akron on the map, and continues to be an ambassador for Akron, Ohio.
24. The last Zips player awarded a Honored Jersey was Eric McLaughlin, who last played in 1989. Considering Akron basketball's achievements over the past two decades, it's far overdue to honor some of the program's very best. Travis, one of the greatest Zips of all-time, is the best place to start.
Think Romeo Travis' #24 should join the Akron Zips Honored Jerseys? Share your thoughts with our Head Coach John Groce (akronhoops@uakron.edu), our Athletic Director Larry Williams (krex@uakron.edu), and our President Matthew Wilson (mjwilson@uakron.edu) to let them know!
Also, share your thoughts using the hashtag #RomeToTheRafters on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
1. Travis is 7th all-time in scoring with 1,491 points scored.
2. Travis is 9th all-time in rebounding with 783 career boards.
3. Romeo is 2nd all-time in blocked shots with 165 swats in his four years. Only Zeke Marshall blocked more.
4. Upon graduation, Romeo was also 10th all-time in steals.
5. As a Senior, Travis was named an Associated Press All-American.
6. Travis is one of only 13 Zips players to ever receive that honor.
7. Romeo was one of only four Akron players to be named an AP All-American while the Zips were a Division I program.
8. As a Senior, Travis was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.
9. Romeo was named to the All-MAC 1st Team twice in his career, while being selected All-MAC 2nd Team once as well.
10. Travis is one of two Zips to be named to be an All-MAC selection in 3 of his 4 years.
11. In 2005-2006, Travis led the Zips to their first 20+ win season in 17 years.
12. In 2006-2007, the Travis-led Zips finished with 26 wins, tied for most in a season in program history. Remarkably, this was without a postseason game (this was long before the CBI, CIT, etc).
13. That 2006-2007 Travis-led team is also tied for 10th all-time in Zips program history for team winning percentage.
14. Travis' 2005-2006 Zips team notched the first ever NIT victory in Zips program history, upsetting Temple.
15. Travis has is currently in his 10th year as a professional basketball player. During that time, he was a BIBL Champion in 2012, won PBA Best Import of the Conference in 2015, and won the French Cup in 2016.
16. Travis has been named All-Israeli League Player of the Year, All-Israeli League Forward of the Year, All-Israeli League 1st Team, Israeli League All-Imports Team, All-Balkan League Forward of the Year, All-Balkan League First Team, and All-Balkans League All-Imports Team by Eurobasket.com for the 2012 season.
17. Travis was a star player in high school too, playing for Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary. Travis averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds during his prep career, spanning his sophomore, junior, and senior years. The Irish were Division III Ohio state champions in his sophomore year, and in his senior year they won the Division II state championship as well as the national championship.
18. Travis, along with players such as Dru Joyce, Nick Dials, Jeremiah Wood, and Cedrick Middleton, helped transform Akron into the winning program that it is today. Prior to their arrival, the Zips had only had 3 winning seasons since joining the Mid-American Conference.
19. Travis' Zips team was the first to win a MAC Tournament game.
20. Romeo's team was also the first to reach the MAC Championship game (and did it twice).
21. Romeo was the first Akron Zip to ever be selected to the All-MAC Tournament team (2007).
22. Travis is one of five Zips players to be named to the NABC All-District Team, and one or two to be selected twice.
23. Romeo Travis was born in Akron, helped put his Akron high school team on the map, helped put his hometown University of Akron on the map, and continues to be an ambassador for Akron, Ohio.
24. The last Zips player awarded a Honored Jersey was Eric McLaughlin, who last played in 1989. Considering Akron basketball's achievements over the past two decades, it's far overdue to honor some of the program's very best. Travis, one of the greatest Zips of all-time, is the best place to start.
Think Romeo Travis' #24 should join the Akron Zips Honored Jerseys? Share your thoughts with our Head Coach John Groce (akronhoops@uakron.edu), our Athletic Director Larry Williams (krex@uakron.edu), and our President Matthew Wilson (mjwilson@uakron.edu) to let them know!
Also, share your thoughts using the hashtag #RomeToTheRafters on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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