College of Staten Island Athletics

The CSI men’s basketball program had few players that made an impact that resonated as loudly as backcourt ace John Cali.  Trading power and size for speed and finesse, few echoed the confidence and leadership of the two-time CUNYAC Champion, and still fewer dominated the backcourt over the stretch of their careers than Cali.

His impact was felt early, when the freshman appeared in 24 games, enough to give him the foundation for a breakout sophomore campaign, one that saw him average 16.1 points while dishing out 155 assists, good for 5.5 per game, the 7th-highest total in school history to that point.  The Dolphins barreled through a 22-6 season, complete with a CUNYAC Championship and All-Tournament MVP selection for Cali.  The sharp-shooter led CSI to another 20-win season and a run to the ECAC Championship the following year, earning another CUNYAC All-Star laurel.  Cali then missed the entire 1997-98 season due to an injury, but steadfast to rehabilitate and get back on the court, Cali returned for a fifth college year and a senior year for the ages.  The quarterback of the hardwood started and finished every game his senior year, rarely missing a minute, and posting a career high 17.7 point-per-game average.  His 187 assists that season remain the most in CSI history, and after another impeccable playoff run, Cali was awarded CUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, complete with another resounding championship and trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

Cali closed his career as the team’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,517 points, and remains the team’s most prolific three-point shooter, canning 241 career three-pointers.  His 548 career assists rank third in school history, as do his 190 career steals.  He is a part of three other Top 5 single season records.

Upon graduation, Cali continued to donate his time to basketball, serving a youth mentor and most recently, an assistant coach with the Tottenville High School varsity boy’s program beginning in 2008.  He doubles as a New York City Port Authority Police Officer, where he also plays for the company basketball squad.