For the better part of the last century, the Westchester Community College Men's Basketball program has been synonymous with success, not only within the New York City Metropolitan area, but on a national level as well. In November of 2021, Rico Dos Anjos became the 11th Westchester CC Sports Hall of Fame inductee with ties to Vikings Men's Basketball.
Dos Anjos was a perfect example of a local athletic superstar, who stayed close to home to begin his college career, and the decision paid major long-term dividends. While a member of the famed Archbishop Stepinac basketball program, Dos Anjos enjoyed a Hall of Fame career, serving as Team Captain in 1959, while leading the team in scoring as a senior. He then enrolled at Westchester Community College, where he served as a co-captain, leading the team in scoring in 1961, and earning All-East honors.
From there, Dos Anjos earned an opportunity to play Division I Basketball at Long Island University. There, in 1962, he earned Team MVP and All-Metropolitan honors, while leading the team in scoring. After graduating from LIU with a degree in Accounting, Dos Anjos played in the Eastern Pennsylvania Professional Basketball League.
While embarking on a career as a Finance Executive at IBM, Dos Anjos continued his athletic pursuits, particularly in the field of Martial Arts. In 1978, he became the World Tae Kwon Do Association Madison Square Garden Sparring Champion. In 2008, Dos Anjos became an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and in 2009 was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He spent 52 years as a Tae Kwon Do instructor at schools all across Westchester County, teaching more than 4,000 students.
