(1989) - The all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of Lowell's men's basketball program with 2,091 points, John Paganetti was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
"Pag" let the Chiefs to a 15-12 record as captain his senior year under first-year head coach Don Doucette, the school's first post-merger basketball team to have a winning record. For its efforts, the 1983-84 team was selected as New England's Most Improved Team in Division II.
Paganetti was named to the All-New England Collegiate Conference and All-ECAC squads his senior year. The 6-1 guard was voted New England Division II Player of the Year by the New England Basketball Coaches Association. He was also voted to the Collegiate Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA) Academic All-America First Team.
In addition to graduating with the career scoring record, Paganetti still holds or shares seven school records including most points in one game (46 vs. New Hampshire College), most points by a freshman (540), most career field goals made and attempted (826 and 1720), and most career free throws made and attempted (439 and 603). At the time of his graduation in 1984, he held or shared 19 school records. Additionally, Paganetti currently ranks among career leaders in assists (541) and steals (200).
An intense competitor on the court, "Pags" started every game he played for the Chiefs over four years and only missed one game due to injury. He played three seasons for Tony Romano (1980-83) and one year for Don Doucette (1983-84). He averaged 19.5 points a game for his career, enjoying three seasons of 500 or more points, four seasons of 100-plus assists, and scored 30 or more points in a game nine times.
John also played baseball his final two years for Jim Stone and was the pitching staff's ace out of the bullpen. A righthanded pitcher, he compiled a 3-0 record and a 3.86 era during his two seasons and was voted the Unsung Hero of the 1984 team that was selected for the NCAA Regional Tournament.
An outstanding student, Paganetti graduated with a degree in Computer Science in 1984 and was presented with the President's Award for having the highest grade point average (3.6) among four-year student-athletes at graduation. He was also voted by the coaching staff to receive the Lester H. Cushing Award as the outstanding male athlete in 1984.
After graduation, he returned to the ULowell athletic department in 1985 as an assistant basketball coach for Doucette and was part of the 1987-88 staff that led the Chiefs to the 1988 NCAA Division II Championship.
