Feb 13, 2024 By John Sacco 5 min read

The goal was set the moment they stepped foot on campus.

Washington and Jefferson College’s version of the “Fab 5” – Terry Wilkins, twin brothers Matt and Mark Johnson, Kenyon Bonner and the late Charles Taylor — reached their zenith during the 1993-94 season.

The hopes and dreams of these five talented basketball players centered on making the NCAA Division III tournament. They forged bonds and lasting friendships along the way.

The Presidents, led by first-year coach Tom Reiter, went 23-3 overall. They won three NCAA tournament games, defeating Otterbein University, Kenyon College and Illinois Wesleyan to advance to the Elite 8 before losing to Wittenberg.

W&J went undefeated to win a third consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship and their only regular-season losses came against NAIA Point Park and Division I Princeton University (N.J.).

After the 1992-1993 season, long-time coach John Unice stepped down after 17 seasons at the helm and two straight PAC titles. Unice won three conference crowns in his career. He recruited W&J’s “Fab Five.”

Tom Reiter was brought in by John Luckhardt, who then was the athletic director at W&J. Reiter was an assistant at Purdue under legendary coach Gene Keady.

He brought a recently graduated Boilermakers’ player, Matt Painter – currently Purdue’s head coach – with him to be an assistant.

Reiter has since passed away, but he made his mark at W&J, and that first season was more than special.

“There was not any indication that we would have a great season,” Painter said. “We had growing pains in the pre-season. We got beat in both of our scrimmage games. In one of them, Kenyon beat us by 20 at home. We ended up beating them at their place in the NCAA tourney.

“I had just finished playing at Purdue.

“I took the job and the next week turned 23. So, I still played pick up with the players from time-to-time. I kept telling Coach Reiter that we had pretty good players. I just did not have a gauge yet on the competition. When we lost those scrimmage games, it made me feel that I did not know what I was talking about. But, in the end, I obviously did because we had an incredible season.”

Wilkins was the local, having been a standout at Washington High School and for the Presidents in prior seasons. The Johnsons were talented players. Bonner played center for W&J and was wildly athletic. Taylor, who just recently passed away, was the sixth man who brought a variety of skills and personality. The point guard was Greg Colbert.

The Johnsons were from Elyria, Ohio. Bonner and Taylor came from Cleveland. Colbert, a Montour graduate, was the lone first-year starter. He averaged around 10 points per game, four assists, and handled the ball well.

“The most special part of the season is that these guys had had some success in the past but not sustained success,” Painter said. “The journey through the season to see them experience winning is always the best to be a part of as a player or a coach.

Wilkins said the journey became the focal point.

“We came to W&J together and we grew up as basketball players and men together,” Wilkins said. “As you get older, you appreciate that journey even more.

“It was so much fun. We all had a great respect for Coach Unice and Coach Reiter made an immediate impression.”

Time spent together was just part of the magical season, according to the Johnsons.

“We fought and played hard,” Mark Johnson said. “We wanted to prove ourselves to the country. It was motivating and brought us together.”

Said Matt Johnson: “We didn’t want to see it end. We had fun and we had worked for a common goal.”

Shortly before his death, Taylor said the locker room after the playoff loss was difficult. Their journey was over.

“We wouldn’t be playing a real game as a group again.” Taylor said. “It was sad and an empty feeling. But we were still proud of what we accomplished and how far we came. We got to the tournament and that will never be taken away from that team.”

Wilkins was the key. He had a local following and he led the way in performance and hard work.

He scored 25 points against Kenyon. He made the game-winning shot against Otterbein. Wilkins was large in the postseason.

“Like any great team, when the best player works hard and is unselfish, everything falls in line,” Painter said. “Terry Wilkins was just that. He could beat you in a lot of ways. Greg Colbert was a quintessential point guard who had toughness and could shoot. Matt Johnson was a good athlete who could slash and really defend. Mark Johnson could flat out score — great shooter. Kenyon Bonner was a good athlete with a nice shot — a good defender. Chuck Taylor was really our sixth starter. He gave us another ball handler who could break down the defense.

“We were the last team to be included in the field that was an at-large bid. We (coaches) did not listen to the (NCAA conference) call with the team. We listened to it as a staff and then we let them know. Everyone in our program was very excited. It was an honor to be playing in the NCAA tourney.

“Coach Reiter realized we had a pretty special group as the season progressed and we kept piling up the wins. He did a great job of keeping them motivated and on ‘edge.’ Reflecting, it is cool to be a small part of the greatest season in school history.”