Basketball
Russell was a two-year member of the varsity basketball team while at McClancy. As a junior, he received the McClancy Varsity Coaches Award. Russ served as the team tri-captain his senior year during which time he helped lead the team to the CHSAA city semi-finals. In addition to being named MVP of the 1987 Brother Arnold Memorial Tip-Off Tournament, he received the Msgr. McClancy Offensive Player of the Year Award. Russell was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the MacDonald’s Iolani Prep Classic in Hawaii, the CHSAA All-Division Team and received Third Team All-City honors from the New York Post.
Upon Graduation, Russ was offered a number of Division I basketball scholarships. He chose to attend Manhattan College in Riverdale from which he graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. While at Manhattan, Russell was a three-year starter and senior co-captain. Finishing 15th on the Manhattan College All-Time Scoring List (1,140 career points), he helped lead the Jaspers to their first regular season MAAC Championship with a 25-9 record and to a National Invitation Tournament quarter-finals.
Currently, Russ is a senior sales representative for Jostens, managing numerous scholastic accounts for high schools in the New York metropolitan area. He and Natalie live with their daughter, Tehya, in Bellerose, NY.