Tony Skinn
Encyclopedia
Tony Oludewa Jeffrey Skinn (born February 8, 1983) was a college basketball player who was a starting guard for the George Mason University
Patriots
.
. He scored a season-high 23 points and hit the game-winning three-point shot with 10.8 seconds left, in GMU's ESPN
BracketBusters game against Wichita State
on February 18, 2006.
Controversy followed Skinn, however, after he punched opposing guard Loren Stokes
in the groin with 55 seconds left in GMU's game against Hofstra
in the semifinals of Colonial Athletic Association
conference tournament. GMU lost the game, 58-49 but GMU was awarded the 11th seed in the Washington, D.C.
regional of the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, where Skinn, serving a one-game suspension for the Stokes incident, watched as his teammates upset sixth seed Michigan State
, 75-65.
In GMU's run to the Final Four
, he scored eight points against North Carolina
in the second round, 14 points in a rematch against Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen
, and 10 points against UConn
in the Elite Eight
.
After the game, Skinn told reporters that Coach Jim Larranaga
fired up his players by telling them that UConn's players did not even know what conference the Patriots came from.
"That's a little bit of disrespect," Skinn recounted. "Coach told us the CAA
stands for 'Connecticut Assassin Association."
in France's Pro A League
after he wasn't drafted in the 2006 NBA Draft
.
In July 2007, Skinn was invited to play for the Orlando Magic
summer league team. He played on the same summer league team as former Hofstra University
guard Loren Stokes
whom he had controversies with in the CAA conference tourney in 2006.
He signed on August 5, 2009 with Pistoia Basket (A2) in the Italian Basketball League
On Oct 1st, 2010, Skinn signed with the New Yorker Phantoms of Germany 1st Division.
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
Patriots
George Mason Patriots
The George Mason Patriots are the athletic teams of George Mason University. The school's athletic program includes 22 NCAA Division I varsity sports, consisting of 11 men's and 11 women's teams...
.
College career
In his senior season, Skinn averaged 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. The season was marked by the Patriots' surprising run to the Final FourFinal four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. He scored a season-high 23 points and hit the game-winning three-point shot with 10.8 seconds left, in GMU's ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
BracketBusters game against Wichita State
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
on February 18, 2006.
Controversy followed Skinn, however, after he punched opposing guard Loren Stokes
Loren Stokes
Loren Stokes is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the NBA D-League team Erie BayHawks. He was a combo guard at Hofstra University from the 2003–04 season to 2006–07. He is 6'3" and weighs 175 lbs. Stokes is one of six players in Hofstra Pride history to score at...
in the groin with 55 seconds left in GMU's game against Hofstra
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in the semifinals of Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
conference tournament. GMU lost the game, 58-49 but GMU was awarded the 11th seed in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
regional of the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
, where Skinn, serving a one-game suspension for the Stokes incident, watched as his teammates upset sixth seed Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, 75-65.
In GMU's run to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, he scored eight points against North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in the second round, 14 points in a rematch against Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
, and 10 points against UConn
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
.
After the game, Skinn told reporters that Coach Jim Larranaga
Jim Larranaga
James Larranaga is an American college basketball coach and the head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball program. He was most notably the men's basketball coach of George Mason where he coached the Patriots to 13 consecutive winning seasons and became a media sensation during the...
fired up his players by telling them that UConn's players did not even know what conference the Patriots came from.
"That's a little bit of disrespect," Skinn recounted. "Coach told us the CAA
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
stands for 'Connecticut Assassin Association."
Professional career
In July 2006, Tony signed a contract to play with RoanneChorale Roanne Basket
Chorale Roanne Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Roanne, France. The club plays in the Pro A. Their coach is Jean-Denys Choulet. Their home arena is Halle André Vacheresse...
in France's Pro A League
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
after he wasn't drafted in the 2006 NBA Draft
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
.
In July 2007, Skinn was invited to play for the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
summer league team. He played on the same summer league team as former Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
guard Loren Stokes
Loren Stokes
Loren Stokes is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the NBA D-League team Erie BayHawks. He was a combo guard at Hofstra University from the 2003–04 season to 2006–07. He is 6'3" and weighs 175 lbs. Stokes is one of six players in Hofstra Pride history to score at...
whom he had controversies with in the CAA conference tourney in 2006.
He signed on August 5, 2009 with Pistoia Basket (A2) in the Italian Basketball League
On Oct 1st, 2010, Skinn signed with the New Yorker Phantoms of Germany 1st Division.