Boston College retires Duxbury legend Curley’s jersey
Duxbury’s Billy Curley salutes the crowd during halftime Sunday night. Boston College retired his jersey as part of a long-awaited ceremony, and Curley thanked the fans for all their support over the years. Photos by Trevor Hass
Duxbury High School and Boston College basketball fans are accustomed to seeing Bill Curley raise his left hand high in the air.
The most iconic and lasting image is the March 28, 1994, Sports Illustrated cover, where he’s famously pictured celebrating the ninth-seeded Eagles’ stunning NCAA Tournament victory over No. 1 overall seed North Carolina.
Another recollection – a more all-encompassing one that fueled that Elite Eight run – is Curley’s trademark lefty hook shot. It signified the frustrating moment every basketball player has experienced, where the defender has a hunch what’s coming but has absolutely no clue how to stop it.
Curley’s left hand helped him launch an NBA career, but all elite players turn to their opposite hand every once in a while, and it was Curley’s right hand that spoke volumes Sunday night at Conte Forum.
The 6’9 skyscraper spent many nights occupying center stage at Boston College’s arena, but this was unchartered territory. Curley became the seventh player in Boston College men’s basketball history to have his jersey retired and raised to the rafters. As he finished addressing an appreciative crowd, Curley raised that right hand in the air, pumped his fist and delivered one final remark.
Duxbury’s Billy Curley was thrilled to have so many people he cares about there with him at Conte Forum as the Eagles retired his jersey.
“We couldn’t have done this without all of you,” Curley reminded the fans. “Your enthusiasm and support made Conte Forum a great place to play, and we will be forever grateful for you. Thank you, God bless BC.” Then came the fist pump. “Go Eagles!”
Curley, who grew up in Duxbury, still lives in town and is without question the best basketball player in school history, got his start at DHS. The lasting memory is that 1989 state title his junior year, but Curley notes there was a lot more to his career than one championship.
He garnered plenty of attention from top-level colleges, but he pointed out that the outside noise never distracted him from the experience of competing alongside his best friends. Curley said many of the players on that team were elite athletes who also played other sports, and the Dragons relied on an up-tempo brand of basketball.
Bill Curley used Sunday’s ceremony as a chance to catch up with his old teammates.
“Billy put DHS basketball on the map,” then junior varsity and current varsity coach Gordon Cushing said. “If you ever got to see him play, you better come two hours before game time, because they turned people away at the door one hour before tip due to a sellout.”
Curley, who was a McDonald’s All-American in 1990, could have played just about anywhere he wanted. He mulled over his options, but he decided to stay close to home. Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan called him the most important recruit in BC’s history.
The legendary upset over the Tar Heels was the pinnacle of success for the Eagles, but it didn’t happen by accident. Boston College sputtered to an 11-19 season his freshman year, yet Curley earned Big East Rookie of the Year honors in the process.
Billy Curley and his teammates find it hard to believe it’s been 25 years since they shocked the world in 1994.
BC made back-to-back trips to the National Invitation Tournament in 1992 and 1993, continuing to generate momentum for one final surge. The Eagles – guided by Curley, Howard Eisley and freshman phenom Danya Abrams – finished 23-11 and 11-7 in the venerated Big East, as Curley put up a monster stat line of 20 points, nine rebounds and 1.6 assists during the season.
“Everyone looks at Curls saying that he’s (6’9) and a lefty with a hook shot, but no one would outwork him, even the guards,” Abrams told the Clipper. “You can ask anyone. He was the hardest-working guy on that team.”
The Eagles struggled in the Big East Tournament, but they found a way to regroup and ultimately shock the Tar Heels en route to the Elite Eight.
“I remember growing up getting Sports Illustrateds and looking at them all, checking out the cover and reading what’s inside,” Curley told the Clipper. “I think I had like a million copies, almost like baseball cards you collect them. For us to be able to get on it was an incredible feat. We were in the right place at the right time.”
Moments after addressing the crowd, Bill Curley stands behind his jersey with his wife, Kim.
Curley said he didn’t realize they made so many copies, and he dutifully signed dozens that came his way. After dominating at Duxbury, where winning was the expectation, Curley enjoyed the grind of making BC feel the same way.
He said it was a gratifying process to start from scratch and collectively work their way up to a trip to the Elite Eight.
“To be able to grow up and get your butt whooped pretty good, especially coming from Duxbury where you’re used to winning all the time, then you come here and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ It was an uphill battle, but we stuck together,” Curley said. “We were able to put together a competitive team and move this program in the right direction.”
The Eagles honored that 1994 team late in the first half of BC’s win 64-57 win over Miami on Sunday, just before Curley’s individual ceremony at halftime. Curley, who is currently the head coach at Emerson College, said he and his former teammates still keep in touch, particularly when coach Jim O’Brien is back in town looking to play a round of golf.
Boston College honored its 1993-94 men’s hoops team Sunday shortly before halftime of the Eagles’ game against Miami.
Curley, 46, enjoys reminiscing and joking around with his old pals, though he insists his golf game isn’t quite as crisp as some of theirs.
“I’m a hack,” Curley said. “I get killed. I just like to hit the ball. I’m a better shooter.”
BC fans would likely agree, and they showered him with applause as he spoke during the halftime ceremony. When his jersey was finally raised to the rafters, the consensus among those close to him was that it was long overdue.
BC fans would likely agree, and they showered him with applause as he spoke during the halftime ceremony. When his jersey was finally raised to the rafters, the consensus among those close to him was that it was long overdue.
He’ll forever be one of the most iconic athletes – not just basketball players – in Duxbury and Boston College history, and his family and friends were beaming with pride as they witnessed his latest accomplishment.
“My brothers and I have heard all the stories about his time at BC and how hard he worked,” DHS senior and Curley’s daughter, Caroline, said, “but to be there and see his old teammates and know how humbled he was to receive such an honor was really special. I know our whole family is so proud of him.”
