March 29, 2024

Kevin Bliss, EPHS Class of 1992: Member of Exclusive Townie Club

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The Reporter reached out to some high scoring basketball heroes of EP's past.

A major goal of most high school and college basketball players is to score 1,000 points over a career. A select few have reached this goal in Rhode Island. One former player achieving that goal just celebrated his 25 year anniversary of this milestone at EPHS. On January 31, 1992, Ep Townie Kevin Bliss scored his 1,000th point in a game against Hendricken. Bliss would go on to score 1,121 points in his storied Townie career.

"It's been nice to be recognized as one of the best scorers to play at EP. Scoring 1,000 pts. is not easy. It's been 25 years since then and although EP has had many great players, I don't think many have done it since," Kevin Bliss told The Reporter. Besides basketball, Bliss, a 1992 graduate, ran track all three years at EPHS and was All-State in the 4x100 his Junior and Senior years. Playing alongside Kevin Bliss was his twin brother Kenny Bliss. "Of course the best point guard I ever played with was my twin brother Kenny," smiled Kevin. Kenny Bliss' career, while great at EPHS, really took off in college. Kenny excelled at Rhode Island College and became a 1,000 point career scorer in college and was inducted into the R.I.C. Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I played with a lot of good athletes and appreciate them to this day. I grew up playing with guys like Quinn Britto, Dion Hazard, Alex Butler and my brother Kenny," said Bliss. "RIP to Coach Bernie Pina who believed in me as soon as he saw me play & gave me the starting point guard position as a Sophomore. I've always been proud that I started every game I played at EP." A particular distinction for Bliss' scoring record is the fact that he did so within a three year career compared to the current four year high schools.

After high school Kevin Bliss played basketball for legendary coach Vin Cullen at C.C.R.I. Bliss was the starting point guard his first year there and was selected 2nd team All-New England. At one point, CCRI became known nationally for its basketball program. "I was proud of that selection because I was always a shooting guard but converted my game to point guard and had a very good year," said Bliss. Bliss earned an associate's degree and went on to work at the then Narragansett Electric, now National Grid. It's a job he has had since 1997. "I work in the CMS dept (Customer Metering Services) & do meter work in the field all over Rhode Island, now entering my 20th year!" Bliss proudly added.

Bliss stays active in East Providence whenever he has the time. After high school he volunteered to coach 4th and 5th graders at Silver Spring School and worked with former Principal David Britto to start a night basketball program at Kent Heights School. "It's important to give back to one's community," said Bliss.

Other Club members are: Kevin Bliss' 1000 point basketball from 1992, Bay View's Lisa B Ercolano, MD, Alex Butler while at RIC, Angie Leonardo and Ball, Michaela Wiggins, Derek LaCroix (30) and EP team mates after LaCroix broke the 1000 point mark in 200, Michaela Wiggins, left, EPHS from 2011, Townies Angela Leonardo after scoring her 1,000th career point for basketball and Kevin Bliss.

(This story attempted to research all players known to have scored 1,000 or more career basketball points for EPHS or BayView. The writer regrets if anyone was overlooked. If you know of any athlete who is missing from this list, please forward that info to bobrodericks@gmail.com. An update will be published!)

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