Siena Athletics Hall of Fame
Shear is still remembered as one of the top offensive players in Siena’s history, and is part of an exclusive group of former Siena hoopers with retired jerseys. Chosen as a team captain of the freshman squad for the 1969-70 season, he led the team with 22.5 points per-game and would go on to fins similar success during the next three years on the varsity squad. Shear would lead the team in scoring during two of the next three years, averaging about 20 points per-game in each season, and also led Siena in rebounding his senior year. He went from being named an Honorable Mention All-State selection his sophomore season to a two-time Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection in each of his finial two seasons. He also received honors from the ECAC (Two-time Sophomore of the Week, 1973 All-East Team), MECAA (1972 All-League), and was a three-time Capital City Tournament All-Tournament Team selection.
Shear completed his career at Siena during the 1972-73 season and did so in great fashion. He led the team in scoring with an average of 20.3 points per game. With that, he also held individual highs for the season with 34 points against Utica, by making 14 field goals, a season high for the team. Shear didn't only lead the team in scoring, but also in rebounds with a total of 167 on the season. Shear finished his career with 1,400 varsity points and was the team’s all-time leading scorer at graduation, remaining so for the next 14 years. He also set new program marks for single season points (1970-71) and field goals (1970-71) and accomplished all of his feats without the three-point line or being able to play varsity basketball as a freshman.
Shear became the fourth Siena Basketball player to have his jersey number retired, when his number 50 was sent into the rafters on December 29, 2012. He is also a member of the Waterford-Halfmoon High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Ustate New York Basketball Hall of Fame (2010), and the MAAC Hall of Fame Honor Roll (2015).
