Arrigoni Hall of Fame
Rory Grimes ’85 enters the Iona College Goal Club Hall of Fame as one of the top guards in the history of the men’s basketball program.
A four-year standout for the Gaels, Grimes currently ranks 11th on Iona’s all-time scoring list, with 1,440 points. He also tops Iona’s all-time career list in assists, with 558, and steals, recording 241. Third all-time in games played (124), Grimes guided the Gaels during the winningest four-year stretch in team history, winning three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles, while playing in the postseason an unprecedented four times- two NIT, two NCAA. In his first season for the Maroon & Gold, Grimes led the Gaels in both assists (163) and steals (73) - marks that still stand among the best single-season totals in program history. The Most Valuable Player of the Inaugural MAAC Tournament in 1981, Grimes led Iona to a 24-8 overall record and a National Invitation Tournament berth.
As a sophomore, Grimes was again the Gaels’ floor general, pacing the team to its second consecutive trip to the NIT and a 22-9 overall record. His junior year, the 5-9 guard led Iona in steals and tallied double-digits in scoring 19 times, as the 23-7 Gaels earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the 1984 MAAC title.
As a senior, Grimes was a First Team All-MAAC and NABC All-District selection, averaging a career high 16.5 points per game, while also leading the Gaels in assists (142). En route to Iona’s third conference crown in four years- and second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance- Grimes was named to the 1985 MAAC All-Tournament team. He was also a finalist for the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, an honor given annually by the Basketball Hall of Fame, to the top collegiate player in the country under 6’0”.
