St. John's Hosts Successful Carnesecca & Mullin Golf Classic

From right, Chris Mullin, Lou Carnesecca, and honoree Brian J. Baker - @StJohnsBball.

Current team members, alumni, and supporters of the St. John’s men’s basketball program gathered on Thursday, June 14 for the annual Lou Carnesecca & Chris Mullin Golf Classic, held at North Hempstead Country Club and the Village Club of Sands Point.

The annual event, which celebrates the proud history and bright future of the program, serves as one of the primary fundraisers for the St. John’s men’s basketball team.


The outing honored the contributions of Brian J. Baker ’87CBA, a managing director and Global Head of Commercial Mortgages and Real Estate Special Opportunities within the Corporate and Investment Bank at J.P. Morgan. A mainstay at J.P. Morgan since 1995, the Brooklyn native came to St. John’s from Nazareth High School, where he was a four-year member of the basketball team and served as a captain his senior year.
Following a cocktail hour and silent auction, the evening’s official program began with a welcome from emcee Vin Parise, a FOX Sports College Basketball analyst who is an instrumental part of the network’s BIG EAST coverage.
Parise then handed the microphone over to Father Richard Rock, C.M., Campus Minster for Athletics, who delivered an invocation.
Following a recognition of the evening’s key donors and organizers, the assembled crowd enjoyed dinner before a live auction moderated by Parise generated nearly $30,000 for the program.
Baker was then introduced by Terence Mullin, brother of Chris and Vice President, Account Executive for Fidelity National Title’s New York National Commercial Services operation. Baker took to the podium and graciously addressed those in attendance.
“To all the people in the room that helped us out with support and came to the dinner, I’m hugely grateful,” said Baker. “It’s all to help the guys on the team carry on the tradition and get this program back to where it needs to be.”
Chris Mullin then took the microphone and offered kind words on Baker before recognizing the two titans of St. John’s athletics in the room, Lou Carnesecca and Jack Kaiser. Mullin then called the members of his team to the front of the room and introduced the new-look roster to the supporters in attendance.