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Syracuse University Athletics is mourning the passing of Emanuel "Manny" Breland '57, a former men's basketball standout who went on to a long career in education in the Central New York community.
Breland, who was named a Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction in 1994, was believed to be the first African-American basketball player to earn an athletic scholarship at the school.
A three-year letterman at Syracuse, Breland was a member of the program's first NCAA Tournament team. The 1956-57 unit coached by Marc Guley posted an 18-7 record and reached the NCAA Regionals. He was the leading scorer on the 1952-53 freshman team (freshmen were not eligible for varsity play at the time) and joined the varsity the following season.