Rick Suder

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Rick Suder

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number =

| position =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb =

| league =

| team =

| birth_date = c. {{birth year and age|1964}}

| birth_place =

|career_number =

| high_school = Central Valley
(Center Township, Pennsylvania)

| college = Duquesne (1982–1986)

| draft_year = 1986

| highlights =

AP Honorable Mention All-American (1986)
First-team All-Atlantic 10 (1986)
Second-team All-Atlantic 10 (1985)

}}

Rick Suder Jr. (born c. 1964) is an American retired athlete who played college basketball for Duquesne of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) from 1982 to 1986. He holds the Duquesne single-season and career free throw percentage records as well as the A-10 career free throw percentage record. Suder formerly held the school single-game assists record. He led the A-10 in scoring and free throw percentage for the 1985–86 season. Suder graduated from Center High School before attending college locally at Duquesne. Following his basketball career, he had a career in business and became a financial advisor. Suder is the grandson of Major League Baseball infielder Pete Suder.

Early life

Rick Suder attended a basketball camp at Robert Morris University where he learned free throw shooting from Calvin Murphy who emphasized making the shot one motion. Suder is from Center Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2020/06/19/2022-guard-peter-suder-son-of-former-duquesne-great-gets-call-from-dukes/|title=2022 Guard Peter Suder, Son of Former Duquesne Great, Gets Call From Dukes|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=June 19, 2020|publisher=Pittsburgh Sports Now|author=Vukovcan, Mike}} He attended Center High School in Monaca, Pennsylvania— which merged into Central Valley High School in 2010—{{cite web|url=https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/2010/02/09/another-look-1982-center-monaca/18388779007/|title=Another Look: 1982 Center, Monaca basketball|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=February 8, 2010|work=The Beaver County Times|author=Barrickman, Bob}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/276303909|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|276303909}}|title=THE MERGER A CASE OF HELLO, GOODBYE "THE KIDS ARE STARTING TO GET VERY EXCITED ABOUT THINGS."|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette;|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=May 14, 2010|page=C.1|author=Emert, Rich}} before matriculating to Duquesne, where he would earn the nickname "Suder the Shooter". He committed to Duquesne on April 18, 1982.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/391166204|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|391166204}}|title=[ (Past sports highlights in the PG West area, April 17–23)... ]: [WEST Edition]|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette;|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=April 17, 2002|pages=W–8 }} Suder was a 1982 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 selection from the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) and the Pittsburgh Public Schools.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2387966407|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2387966407}}|title=Introducing the 'all-time' boys basketball Fab 5|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette; TCA Regional News|author=White, Mike|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=April 10, 2020}} According to the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, he was also an (All-Area, Pittsburgh) first team selection by the Pittsburgh Press.{{cite web|url=https://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/suder2002.htm|title=Rick Suder: Basketball ∙ Center|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=2002|publisher=Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame}}

College career

When Suder tallied 11 assists on February 11, 1984, as a sophomore against {{cbb link|1983|sex=men|team=Saint Joseph's Hawks|school=Saint Joseph's University|title=Saint Joseph's}}, it tied Andy Sisinni's single-game school record set two months earlier on December 10, 1983. The record was surpassed by Brian Shanahan on December 14, 1986.

=Junior season=

In January 1985, a rape trial commenced involving four suspended players on the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1823013041|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1823013041}}|title=COURTING TROUBLE: 4 DUQUESNE BASKETBALL PLAYERS GO ON DEFENSE IN RAPE TRIAL|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=January 23, 1985|page=86}} Suder's first 30-point game occurred when he scored 30 points in the opening round of the 1985 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament against {{cbb link|1984|sex=men|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|school=Penn State University|title=Penn State}} on March 6, 1985.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/391334971|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|391334971}}|title=SPORTS: [REGION Edition]|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette|accessdate=April 20, 2023|date=March 1, 2000|page=W-8|quote=Rick Suder connected on 10 of 15 shots from the floor and scored a career-high 30 points, leading the Duquesne University men's basketball team (11-17) to a 78-64 win over Penn State in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1823014617|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1823014617}}|title=BONNIES STRUGGLE BUT GAIN|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=April 20, 2023|date=March 7, 1985|page=B4|author=Hofmann, Rich|quote=Duquesne overcame a 10-point lead in the first half by Penn State and pulled away for a 78-64 win. As a result, the Dukes get to play West Virginia, the tournament's No. 1 seed, tonight. The leading scorer for Duquesne was junior guard Rick Suder, who had 30 points.}} He led Duquesne in both free throw percentage and scoring as a junior. Suder was a 1985 second team All-A-10 selection when his 17.7 points per game was third in the conference. During the offseason, Duquesne basketball went through two player expulsions and two additional suspensions following the rape trial,{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1826781838|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1826781838}}|title=TWO MORE AT DUQUESNE DISCIPLINED AFTER TRIAL|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=June 21, 1985|page=C.7|quote=One day after two Duquesne basketball players were expelled despite being cleared of rape charges, the other two players in the case were suspended from the team for engaging in "physical abuse and lewd behavior," according to university officials.}} which hampered the team with cascading effects.

=Senior season=

Prior to his senior season Suder was a selection for the media's preseason first team All A-10 team, along with Maurice Martin, Rod Blake, Nate Blackwell and Dale Blaney.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1827400779|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1827400779}}|title=LITTLEPAGE SEES LONG DAYS AHEAD TRYING TO REBUILD|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=November 8, 1985|author=Weiss, Dick|page=128}} Suder scored 34 points against {{cbb link|1985|sex=men|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|school=Penn State University|title=Penn State}} on January 11, 1986.{{cite web|url=https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/things-go-from-bad-to-worse-for-cagers/article_2032c4b7-d1f0-58a6-b7e8-093839fd227e.html|title=Things go from bad to worse for cagers|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=January 13, 1986|publisher=Daily Collegian|author=Loder, Chris}} He was a 1986 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American honorable mention selection by the Associated Press,{{Cite news|title=AP ALL-AMERICA|publisher=The Indianapolis Star|date=March 12, 1986|page=58}}{{cite news|last=Zieralski|first=Ed|title=WAC Player of Year: Watson calls honor 'highest tribute'|date=March 11, 1986|newspaper=The Evening Tribune|location=San Diego, California|page=C-1|quote=Also named today as an Associated Press honorable mention All-American, Watson finished his career with a school record 702 field goals, and he's now second in SDSU history in scoring with 1,735 points and fifth in career free throws with 331.}} after being among the 1985–86 NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Suder led Duquesne in steals, free throw percentage and scoring as a senior.{{cite web|url=https://goduquesne.com/documents/2021/8/25/2022_Record_Book_FINAL.pdf|title=2021-22 Duquesne Basketball Record Book|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=2021|publisher=Duquesne Dukes}} Following his senior season, he was a first team All-A-10 selection (with Blaney, Martin, Blake and Barry Mungar) when his 20.5 scoring average and 91.8% free throw percentage both led the conference. The 91.8% ranked second among A-10 single-season free throw percentages but fell to fourth by the time of the A-10 2019–20 Media Guide. Although Duquesne was eliminated in the semi-finals, Suder was a member of the All-tournament team for the 1986 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament.

=Legacy=

According to the A-10 2019–20 Media Guide records, Suder is the A-10 career free throw percentage leader (342–390 87.69%, 1983–86, min 2.5 FT/game).{{cite web|url=https://atlantic10.com/sports/2019/11/4/MBB_1920MediaGiude.aspx|title=2019–20 Media Guide|accessdate=March 15, 2023|date=Fall 2019|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference}} Suder's career percentage was listed among the top 25 in the NCAA Division I record book until the 2006 edition.{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2006/2006RB.pdf|title=Official 2006 NCAA® Men's Basketball Records Book|accessdate=March 20, 2023|page=23|date=2006|publisher=NCAA}} In the 2007 edition JJ Redick (662–726=91.2%) and Gerry McNamara (435–490=88.8%) displaced him from the list.{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2007/2007RB.pdf|page=24|title=OFFICIAL 2007 NCAA® MEN'S BASKETBALL RECORDS BOOK|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=2007|publisher=NCAA}} Suder's 1985–86 (135–147=91.8%) and 1984–85 (139–157=88.5%) single-season free throw percentages rank first and second in Duquesne basketball history.

Suder was inducted into the Duquesne's Sports Hall of Fame on January 13, 1995.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/391974961|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|391974961}}|title=Seahawks to name Erickson as coach: [SOONER Edition]|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette;|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=January 12, 1995|page=D-8}} He was a class of 2002 inductee into the Beaver County, Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/391147093|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|391147093}}|title=FIGHT MOVED TO SEPTEMBER: [REGION Edition]|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette;|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=April 13, 2002|page=C-11}} The Beaver County Times noted that he was a 2017 inductee into the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2017/01/26/hoops-primer/18584000007/|title=Five local teams playing in Pittsburgh High School Classic|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=January 25, 2017|work=The Beaver County Times|author=Bires, Mike}}

Professional career

=Basketball=

Suder was invited to the July 1986 Philadelphia 76ers three-day rookie and free-agent training camp hosted by St. Joseph's University. The camp had 7 rookies, 8 veteran free agents and 4 other veterans. Although practices were not open, daily scrimmages with 10-minute quarters were open to the paying public.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1830677444|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1830677444}}|title=AT SIXERS' ROOKIE CAMP, A LOOK AT THE LONG SHOTS|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Carchidi, Sam|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=July 24, 1986|page=C1}} In the final day scrimmage, Suder had 18 points. Roster cuts were made that evening paring the 19 attendees down to 10 or 11 (including the 4 veterans).{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1830684027|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1830684027}}|title=BARKLEY TAKES CHARGE DURING SIXERS' CAMP|work=Philadelphia Daily News|author=Silary, Ted|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=July 26, 1986|page=38}} In September 1986, Suder signed with the Cincinnati Slammers of the Continental Basketball Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/384965095|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|384965095}}|title=DUQUESNE STAR SIGNS WITH CBA SLAMMERS: [SUNDAY Edition]|work=Seattle Times|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=September 21, 1986|page=G16}}

=Business=

In 1988, Suder and business partner Gary Sullivan acquired a 50% stake in the Hader Hardware chain of the Cincinnati metropolitan and Northern Kentucky region. In 1993, they acquired the remaining 50%. By the time of a 1996 acquisition of the chain, it had 15 locations and 200 employees.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/429470322|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|429470322}}|title=Hader sale won't change stores|work=Cincinnati Post|author=Larkin, Patrick|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=October 16, 1996|page=B6}}

In 2001, Suder was one of three agents of Worldwide Financial Management Group LLC, which reached a consent decree with the Indiana Securities Divisions following allegations of numerous securities law violations. The agents each agreed to become licensed before serving as investment advisers and the LLC, which is a financial advisory service provider to professional athletes, would forgo reinstatement of its investment adviser license for three years.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/240367743|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|240367743}}|title=In Brief Business|work=Indianapolis Star|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=April 4, 2001|page=C.2}} At that time he was managing a mortgage company and facilitating smooth immigration for Eastern European athletes into the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/391035623|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|391035623}}|title=[ Duquesne University basketball fans in the mid 1980s called him "Suder the... ]: [FIVE STAR Edition]|work=Pittsburgh Post - Gazette|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=March 20, 2003|page=D-2}}

Suder became a professional investment advisor. In 2009, he was a named defendant in Predrag Danilović's federal complaint in Danilovic v. Worldwide Associates, LLC et al, which was filed February 9, and was also sued by Dejan Bodiroga and Zeljko Rebraca on April 9. All three litigants were 1990s NBA draftees from Serbia, with two having playing experience in the National Basketball Association. Both suits were for investment fraud. Suder claimed that poor investment results were due to the 2008 financial crisis.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/19376-former-basketball-players-accuse-firm-of-investment-fraud|title=Former basketball players accuse firm of investment fraud|accessdate=March 20, 2023|date=April 16, 2010|author=Schnitzler, Peter|work=Indianapolis Business Journal}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/230696621|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|230696621}}|title=Basketball players sue Carmel firm, alleging fraud|work=Indianapolis Star|author=Smith, Bruce C.|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=May 1, 2010|page=A.12}}

Personal life

Suder is the grandson of Pete Suder who was a Major League Baseball infielder for the Philadelphia / Kansas City Athletics and is notable for platooning with Nellie Fox as part of a double play record-setting infield.{{cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/pete-suder-dead-at-90/|title=Pete Suder Dead at 90|accessdate=March 19, 2023|date=January 9, 2019|publisher=Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1823014258|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|1823014258}}|title=RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH SOME FOREIGN MATTER|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=January 3, 1985|page=71}} His son, Peter, was a Carmel High School Class of 2022 signee for the Bellarmine Knights men's basketball.{{cite web|url=https://www.wdrb.com/sports/bozich-carmel-star-pete-suder-perfect-fit-for-bellarmine-basketball/article_7ebe0b50-731a-11ec-b68d-8f40637d730d.html|title=Carmel star Pete Suder perfect fit for Bellarmine basketball|accessdate=March 19, 2023|date=January 11, 2022|publisher=WDRB|author=Bozich, Rick}}{{cite web|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2677283890|url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2677283890}}|title=Suder excited about continuing tradition|work=Courier - Journal|accessdate=April 10, 2023|date=June 17, 2022|author=Saxon, Jonathan|page=B.3}} Suder has relatives in Yugoslavia. By March 2003, he had settled in Indianapolis with his wife, Kim, and 16-months-old daughter, Kaitlyn. {{as of|2010|5|1|df=US}}, Suder was living in Indianapolis suburb Carmel, Indiana. His wife's name is Kimberly Ann Suder.