Former University of Pennsylvania basketball player Keven McDonald, one of the most accomplished players in program history, has died at age 70, his family announced. Funeral arrangements and services are pending.
McDonald, who played at Penn from 1974-78, was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1977-78 and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year in 1976-77. He was Penn's fifth three-time first-team All-Ivy honoree and the third three-time first-team All-Big 5 selection. He graduated as Penn's all-time leader in field-goal percentage and second all-time in points, scoring average and field goals made. McDonald led the Quakers to 1976-77 Big 5 and 1977-78 Ivy League titles, and still holds the Penn record for points in an NCAA Tournament game (37 vs. St. Bonaventure in 1978).
A native of Bloomfield, N.J., McDonald wanted to stay close to home for college. In the recruiting process, he chose Penn over Princeton, Navy and others. He attended Seton Hall Prep for high school, where he was nicknamed 'Mr. Everything.' He went on to score 1,774 career points, a school record that lasted until 2008. In an all-star game against the top players in the country, he went on to outscore future Hall-of-Fame NBA star Moses Malone. By his senior year of high school, McDonald received offers from schools all around the country. Academics and proximity to home factored heavily into his process, and led him to Penn.
He became one of the top players in program history during his time in University City. His 1,644 career points total is fourth on the all-time list (two of those ahead of him had four years of eligibility). He is second in points per game. In 1985, the Big 5 honored him by inducting him into its Hall of Fame. The Ivy League placed McDonald in its 2018 Class of Legends of Ivy League Basketball for his lasting contributions to his basketball program, university and chosen profession. In 2019, Penn inducted McDonald into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
After he left Penn, he declared for the 1978 NBA Draft and was taken in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics. Seattle, which had made the NBA Finals the year before, did not keep any rookies the year he was drafted. He went on to play professionally overseas for two years.
McDonald, who spent some time living in other parts of the country after his basketball career ended, received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School-Newark and worked as a licensed attorney and real estate investor in New Jersey. He owned and operated McDonald Properties, LLC, a real estate investment company.
