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Guard
All-American, 1931
Captain of the Basketball Team, 1931
Recipient of the Phi Kappa Chi Award
USF Career Years: 1928-1931
Birthdate: December 27, 1907
Hometown: San Francisco
Rene Bareilles was born on December 27, 1907 in San Francisco. He played college basketball for the then Saint Ignatius College from 1928 to 1931, earning a letter four times during the Saint Ignatius transition to USF. At that time, all athletic programs were called the Grey Fog, until they were renamed the Dons in November of 1931. He also played football for Saint Ignatius College and was one of the first thirty members inducted into the USF Hall of Fame.
Bareilles was named captain of the Grey Fog team for the 1930-1931 season, the same year they outscored their opponents 507-394. He was a hold-over from the Pacific Coast Championship teams of 1928 and 1929, playing with fellow teammates and future Hall of Fame players Jay Hale, Cameron Wallace and Raymond Maloney.
Following his final varsity game against Santa Clara, The Ignatian lamented the loss of Bareilles: “the season’s end brings the loss of Captain Rene Bareilles, a player which every Ignatian feels is the best all-around basketball man has ever seen on the Pacific Coast." The Ignatian stated: “Captain Rene Bareilles, after four years of stellar playing, not only in basketball, but in baseball and in football as well, bids good-bye to Ignatius teams. Always he will be remembered as the dashing guard of the basketball court.” Bareilles’ career had been an excellent one: for four consecutive years, he earned a place on Pacific Coast Honor teams and was named an All-American at the Kansas City Tournament.
Under Coach Needles, there was something about his playing that demanded immediate interest. He was popular with court-followers and was expected to initiate the attack. A flashy player, most plays centered around him and fans were always assured of a thrill when the ball was in his possession. Dangerous to his opponents, his knowledge of the game demanded respect. He was decisive in tight spots, a master at dribbling and had a cool, steady deliberate manner that aggravated his opposition. He set traps for his opponents and capitalized on their mistakes. He often would lead a last-minute rally, dribbling past the entire defense to tie the game in a heated contest.
As captain of the team, he had the utmost confidence of his teammates and they never doubted his abilities. He inspired them with his fight-to-the-end persistence and always played to win. It was obvious to coaches, teammates and opponents alike that he loved the game.
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