Pictured L-R: Alumni Development Director Craig Katinas ’93, Joseph Dunleavy ’75, President Richard Karsten ’81, and JV Basketball Coach Chris Murphy ’87.
On February 8, 2021 Archbishop Molloy High School and the sports world mourned the passing of legendary basketball scout Tom Konchalski ‘64. The renowned talent evaluator passed away at the age of 74 after a courageous battle with cancer.
For decades, Mr. Konchalski established himself as an authority on the evaluation of high school basketball players in New York City and throughout the east coast. He scouted countless collegiate and pro players, from NCAA Champ Russ Smith ‘09 and NBA/International player Sundiata Gaines ‘04, to NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson ‘89 and two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith ‘83. In recent years, Mr. Konchalski scouted a trio of exceptional Molloy players, Khalid Moore ‘18, Moses Brown ‘18, and Cole Anthony. Moore is currently attending Anderson’s alma mater, Georgia Tech, while Brown and Anthony have both made it to the NBA.
Mr. Konchalski was also well known for his High School Basketball Illustrated (HSBI) Report, a comprehensive, print-only publication circulated among coaches near and far. The HSBI Report featured expert analysis and rankings of hundreds of high school basketball prospects, and it positively impacted the lives of countless young men scouted by Mr. Konchalski. After Mr. Konchalski’s passing, his Swintec typewriter was procured by a close friend, Joseph Dunleavy ’75, for safekeeping. Dunleavy, who works in sales at American Paper and Supply Co., knew that the typewriter represented decades of Mr. Konchalski’s work, and he did not want to risk it being discarded.
Pictured Right Middle: Closer view of Mr. Konchalski’s Swintec typewriter. Pictured Right Bottom: Joseph Dunleavy points to a reflection Mr. Konchalski published in his HSBI Report shortly after the passing of Coach Jack Curran in 2013. Click images to enlarge.
Some time later, Dunleavy connected with the Stanner Alumni Center, offering to donate the typewriter for display to honor the legendary scout at his alma mater. The only condition was that the typewriter be donated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame if they request it. Molloy happily agree, recognizing the weight of Mr. Konchalski’s contributions to the sport. The typewriter currently sits atop Jack Curran’s old desk as Molloy arranges to prominently display it for all to see. Molloy is excited to create a memorial for Mr. Konchalski, an amazing man whom we were all better for knowing.
Special thanks to Joseph Dunleavy for his kindness. Click the button below to read continued coverage of Joseph Dunleavy’s donation in The Tablet, by way of a wonderful article written by Jim Mancari (free account required).
