Elected in 1986 … graduated from Clarkstown H.S. in 1972 … one of the greatest players ever to grace a basketball court in Rockland … 6-foot-7, 230-lb. center … from his first game as a seventh grader to his final game as a senior, his teams never lost to a Rockland opponent, a streak of 82 games, including 56 varsity games … he led the talented Clarkstown teams to four straight Rockland PSAL titles, and the Section 9 Class A championship in 1972 … at one time Mathias held no fewer than 13 Rockland basketball records, including points in a game (54), season (526) and career (1,427); rebounds in a game (33), season (298) and career (439); highest career scoring average per game (28.8) and rebounding average in a season (21.3); most times scoring more than 30 points in a season, 10; several records for field goals and free throws … he was first-team All-County his junior and senior years, and was named to several All-America teams his senior year … he earned a full basketball scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he played as an undersized center with teammates like Alex English, Brian Winters and Kevin Joyce … as a center, he battled with such notable players as Maurice Lucas, Kent Benson, John Shumate and Alvan Adams … he played four years on the varsity at South Carolina under Coach Frank McGuire … Mathias was named the “Best Ever” male athlete at Clarkstown/Clarkstown North by readers of the Rockland Journal-News in 1988.