‘Dunk City’ team earns spot in FGCU Athletics Hall of Fame

Florida Gulf Coast University’s 2013 Men’s Basketball Team was honored on Monday night.

The “Dunk City” team marked its place in the school’s Hall of Fame. They were the first 15-seed in the NCAA Tournament to make it to the Sweet 16. That tournament run put FGCU on the map.

For many of the former players, it was the first time they’d seen each other since that historic run in 2013. The 2013 FGCU Men’s Basketball team made “Dunk City” a household name.

This event felt more like a family reunion than a team reunion. This chosen family is forever bonded together in college basketball history. Some even came from as far as Switzerland to be present.

Andy Enfield is the former coach of the team. “It’s a great memory that we all have, and as time goes on, the smiles just keep getting bigger and bigger,” said Enfield.

This team knew what it meant to be first. They were the first FGCU team to make it to the tournament. They were the first 15-seed to make it t the Sweet 16. Now, they’ve become a part of the first class enshrined into the FGCU Athletics Hall of fame.

Brett Comer is a former player. “Everybody around the program made the run special and able to happen,” Comer said.

The memories and moments from that historic season flashed across screens around the ballroom as teammates reunited to reflect on that year. “Our players had such extreme confidence and belief in each other that they were able to compete on the biggest stage,” Enfield said.

They say the secret ingredient to that run was to have fun. “I think the style we did it no one else had done it. We had a lot of fun. We free flowed. We got up the court. We dunked the basketball,” Comer said.

Eddie Murray is another former player. “A lot of us were just guys trying to make it. We went to the mid-major level and think that’s what’s special and inspires other people,” Murray said.

The fun they had together was palpable. Not only did it inspire a nation. It also put the university and Southwest Florida on the map. Ken Kavanaugh is the Athletic Director at FGCU. “The whole profile of the university got elevated. The exposure we got in I don’t know how many of the tens of millions of dollars that we got in free publicity really helped itself in recruiting students to come to the campus,” Kavanaugh said.

“This place will always be special to me, in my heart,” said Comer.