As the many and varied legion of Syracuse University basketball fans hold their breath and count down to today’s men’s NCAA Tournament second-round game against West Virginia, the city’s well-known impresario has presented an idea that would allow a quartet of players that have forever advanced the notion of hard work, devotion and talent to remind urban citizens of their deep mark on Syracuse history and, yes, national horizons.

“Syracuse is, and has always been, an amazing small to medium-sized market. A market whose unparalleled accomplishments have always far exceeded and transcended her size and population. In truth, very few of the nation’s larger first tier cities can boast of similar achievements in Athletics, Arts & Culture, and of the major role Syracuse has played advancing the causes of Civil Rights, Racial & Social Justice and Gender Equity. While are accomplishments are many, our story has been under told. We need to tell it,” Malfitano said.

His idea is the Syracuse Trailblazer, the first mural in his Downtown Syracuse Mural Project of which is depicted in artist Jonas Never’s irendering above featuring Manny Breland, Earl Lloyd Jr., Breanna Stewart and Dolph Shayes. The quartet played for Syracuse University, the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA, and Cicero-North Syracuse High School, the U.S. Olympic team and Seattle Storm of the WNBA. They have brought honor and respect to Syracuse, then and now.

Malfitano said there are still more funds to be made and more murals to accomplish around Syracuse.

Above is an example of Never’s work on a city’s wall in Los Angeles.

Malfitano, the man who founded the Syracuse Area Music Awards and the Syracuse Jazz Fest, is excited about this next important venture.