Aaron Bracy

INSIDE SCOOP: Remembering covering draft pick Chase Utley at his first Phillies press conference

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 01:25:23 GMT

Chase Utley speaks during his Wall of Fame induction ceremony at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, August 7, 2026. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

August 7, 2026

The Phillies inducted Chase Utley into the club’s Wall of Fame on Friday night. The ceremony was typically great from an organization which really does these things well.

Utley, not one who said much as a player, spoke longer than likely anyone expected and from the heart. It was truly a special evening for Phillies fans.

I was not at the ballpark on Friday night but watched from home. I covered many games of Utley’s career and always admired the way he played. He was always accommodating to the media but never seemed to enjoy that part of his job, which is fine. There was the personable Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, or Shane Victorino to fill up your notebook, as reporters say.

One of the cool things I remember is being a young reporter covering a midsummer Phillies game at Veterans Stadium when the club introduced a recent first-round draft pick named Chase Utley. I don’t think anyone had any idea that a future likely Hall of Famer was in front of us that July day.

Shortly after last night’s ceremony, I dug into the Trenton Times archives and pulled out the following from my story on July 29, 2000.

Here is what I reported:

UTLEY SIGNING: The Phillies introduced its first-round pick from last month’s amateur draft, Chase Utley, prior to last night’s game against Los Angeles.

Utley, the 15th overall pick, hit .345 with 52 home runs and 172 RBIs in 177 career games at UCLA. The second baseman received a signing bonus of $1,780,000 and will report to single-A Batavia Monday, announced Phillies director of scouting Mike Arbuckle.

Utley was pleased to get the signing process over, and is looking forward to playing baseball.

‘’This has been my lifelong dream,’‘ he said. ‘’I’m not to familiar with Philadelphia, or the Phillies, because I’m from California, but I’m very happy and excited to be here. I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can and see what happens. I’m going to try and get to the major leagues as fast as I can.’‘

One adjustment for Utley will be the transition to the wood bat from the aluminum one he used in college.

‘’It will definitely be an adjustment to the wood bat, but I hit with it the last two summers in the Cape Cod League and I’m comfortable with it,’‘ Utley said.

Utley was scheduled to take batting practice before the game last night, but his flight from Los Angeles was delayed. He will take batting practice and grounders today and tomorrow before leaving for Batavia Sunday night.

—

Aaron Bracy has covered sports in Philadelphia for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. His first book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), can be ordered HERE. His second book, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline) is scheduled to be published in February 2027. You can preorder it HERE. Follow Bracy on social media HERE. Contact him at bracymedia@gmail.com.

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INSIDE LOOK: Scoring baseball games by hand is fun, and here is how I do it

Aaron Bracy — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:14:09 GMT

Here is a look at my box score and scoring notes from the Phillies’ 11-4 win over the Yankees on July 26, 2026, in Philadelphia.

By AARON BRACY

August 3, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

Last Sunday, the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep by the Yankees with an 11-4 rout at Citizens Bank Park. I was there in the press box covering the game for the Associated Press.

You can read the story I filed at the final out by clicking HERE.

But I am not here today to talk about the story I wrote that day but the box score I took by hand.

Scoring baseball games is not quite a lost art, but it seems headed that way. Anyone who scores baseball games likely will agree that it is a shame that more people do not score games by hand.

For me, the practice of scoring a game is both peaceful and exciting. It is relaxing and challenging. Most of all, it is fun.

“If you are scoring at home”

Anyone, like me, who grew up listening to Harry Kalas calling Phillies games on the radio surely heard the following words when Kalas read the starting lineups, “If you are scoring at home.” There likely were many, like me, who actually were scoring at home. I still do this today from time to time and scored the first three innings of the Phillies’ 8-0 win over Baltimore on Sunday. But I don’t hear the words If you are scoring at home anymore because, I’d guess, there are very few scoring at home.

The reasons, like many things today, are probably largely related to technology. But if you are looking for some digital detox, scoring a baseball game by hand is a great option.

Some Scoring By Hand Basics

One of the cool—and fun—things about baseball scoring by hand is that there is no one correct way to do it. Everyone puts their own little spin on it. The bottom line is that whatever you put in the boxes should make sense to you.

There are a few important basics that most scorers follow. Many (all?) reading this likely know but just in case, every position on the field has a corresponding number:

1-pitcher, 2-catcher, 3-first baseman, 4-second baseman, 5-third baseman, 6-shortstop, 7-left fielder, 8-center fielder, 9-right fielder.

Some other common abbreviations:

Strikeout-K, Walk-BB, Sacrifice Fly-SF, Single-1B, Double-2B, Triple-3B, Home run-HR. And there are many, many more.

How Do I Score By Hand?

While some scorers use lines to indicate what happens on a play, I prefer drawing a diamond (to match the shape of the field) in my box score.

Let’s take a look at the first three innings for Phillies batters last Sunday.

First Inning

-Trea Turner led off with a triple. I drew a three-quarter diamond and wrote 3B at the top. If you look really closely at the picture, I also marked where Turner hit the ball. There is a dot right above the “B,” showing that it was a triple to right-center field.

-Kyle Schwarber hit a sacrifice fly to right field that I marked SF9 with a dot to the right to indicate an RBI. I completed Turner’s diamond to show that he scored. I also make a note in my reporter’s notebook for all scoring plays, using abbreviations.

It looks like this in my notebook: Bot 1 (underlined) 1-0 Phils (boxed) TT loff 3B r-c scores on KS SF9

It means this: Bottom of the first inning, 1-0 Phillies. Trea Turner leads off with a triple to right-center field and scores on Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Continuing with the first-inning box score…

-Bryce Harper strikes out swinging. While many scorers (most?) use a forward K to indicate a strikeout swinging and a backwards K to indicate a strikeout looking, I make all of my K’s forward and put an S for swinging or L for looking. I also circle all K’s so they are easily visible on my box score.

-Brandon Marsh grounds out to the second baseman (4), who threw the ball to the first baseman (3) for the out.

Second Inning

-Alec Bohm struck out swinging. (K-S)

-Bryson Stott homered to right field. You can see the HR above the diamond, the top dot to indicate it was to right field, and the bottom dot to indicate it resulted in one RBI, telling me it was a solo homer.

—

It looks like this in my notebook: Bot 2 (underlined) 2-0 Phils

1-0 94 mph 4seam

1out BStott solo homer liner rt

It means this: Bottom of second inning, 2-0 Phillies. Bryson Stott hit a one-out solo home run on a line drive to right. It came on a 1-0 pitch that was a four-seam, 94-mph fastball.

—

Continuing with the second-inning box score…

-J.T. Realmuto struck out looking. (K-L)

-Gabriel Rincones Jr. struck out swinging. (K-S). You’ll also notice a 2-3 under the K-S, indicating that the catcher (2) threw to the first baseman (3) for the out after it was a dropped third strike.

Third Inning

-Justin Crawford led off by grounding out to the second baseman (4), who threw to the first baseman (3) for the out.

-Turner struck out swinging. (K-S)

-Schwarber walked. (bb)

-Harper doubled to right field. (2B). Look at the dot telling me where the ball was hit.

-Marsh was intentionally walked. (Int-bb)

-Bohm hit a bases-clearing double. (2B). Notice the dot is missing. I forgot to put the placement. But you will see three dots at the bottom, telling me this was three RBIs (and reminding me today that it was a bases-clearing double).

It looks like this in my notebook: Bot 3 (underlined) 5-0 Phils

b loaded – 2 outs

KS bb, BH 2B, BM Int bb

AB 3-run 2B l-c 9 pitch at-bat

It means this: Bottom of the third inning, 5-0 Phillies. The bases were loaded with two outs. Here is who was on base and how they got there: Kyle Schwarber walked, Bryce Harper doubled, and Brandon Marsh was intentionally walked. Alec Bohm then hit a three-run double to left-center field (this was the dot I forgot to place) to finish a nine-pitch at-bat.

Continuing with the third-inning box score…

-Stott then hit an RBI single to right field. (1B). You can see the top dot indicates it was to right field and the bottom dot tells me it was one RBI.

It looks like this in my notebook: 6-0

AB scores on BS RBI 1B rt

It means this: 6-0 Phillies. Alec Bohm scores on Bryson Stott’s RBI single to right field.

Continuing with the third-inning box score…

-Realmuto grounded out to the second baseman (4), who threw to the first baseman (3) for the final out. (4-3)

Notes Come in Handy

My scoring notes came in handy when I was writing the AP story.

Here is the fifth paragraph of the story. The italics are mine for the purposes of this newsletter.

Philadelphia jumped out to a 6-0 lead against Will Warren (7-5). Bohm’s bases-loaded double that ended a nine-pitch at-bat made it 5-0 in the third. It became a six-run advantage when Bohm scored on Stott’s single.

A Three-Hitter

As mentioned, scoring is fun. It’s also challenging. You need to be locked into the game to avoid scoring errors. Even when locked in, sometimes there are unforced errors. For instance, if the official scorer deems a ball in play a single (1B) but then later changes it to an error on the shortstop (E-6), it requires a change to your box score.

There are also mistakes, like me forgetting to put the dot in left field for Bohm’s third-inning, bases-clearing double. In this box score, I also had to write over Cristopher Sánchez’s pitching line because I wrongly assumed that interim manager Don Mattingly was going to end Sánchez’s day after five innings. You can see how I had to write over the innings pitched (changing the 5 to 6) and hits (changing the 2 to 5) and the total pitches. (I don’t remember what I had written there before.)

Overall, though, this was a really good scoring day for me. I would give myself a three-hitter. My late, great friend Jack Scheuer would score games by hand sitting next to me for countless Phillies games. We would try to score a perfect game, and he would often remind me how hard a perfect scoring game is. Nonetheless, it is a fun challenge.

Learn More?

If you are still reading to this point, you might find scoring by hand interesting. Maybe you would like to learn more. There is a lot more to my box score than what I shared above. I would be happy to answer any questions about my box score if you have them.

Also, I would love to do a meet-up for a Phillies road game at a local establishment where we could score a game together. If you already know how to score, we could just compare our own unique styles. If you don’t know how to score but would like to learn, I could show you more of my method.

Is anyone interested? Email me and we can figure out the details: bracymedia@gmail.com.

Final Word

This has been fun to share. Easier said, I’d describe my experience writing this as an HR.

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INSIDE THE BIG 5: Nova Knicks NBA title having a direct impact on Villanova recruiting

Aaron Bracy — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:56:40 GMT

Villanova players huddle up before Monday’s practice at Finneran Pavilion. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

July 27, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

(Author’s Note: You can also read this story at Big5Hoops.com by clicking HERE.)

VILLANOVA, Pa. – With three national championships, Villanova has the pedigree to attract some of the best college basketball players in the country. But the NBA title by New York Knicks and Villanova alums Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Josh Hart has helped even more, coach Kevin Willard said.

“It’s everything,” Willard said on Monday prior to Villanova’s summer practice at Finneran Pavilion in front of about 300 Wildcats supporters. “Not only them winning the championship, but how they did it, how well they represented this university, how much they talked about it, the way they won it as a team, playing unselfish and playing hard. I think every aspect of what those three guys did, not just for our program but for the university, I think those guys were unbelievable.”

The Nova Knicks helped to put Willard’s program in the eyes and ears of potential recruits. Current high school seniors, as Willard pointed out, were still in elementary school when the Wildcats won their most recent NCAA title in 2018.

“I think it really inspired this generation of kids,” Willard said.

Where’s Suigo?

Prized recruit Luigi Suigo, the 7-foot-3 native of Italy who pulled out of the NBA draft to attend Villanova, was not present at Monday’s practice. The visa process has kept Suigo away from the Main Line, but Willard said he could arrive as early as Tuesday night.

How’s Hodge?

Sophomore Matt Hodge was at Monday’s session but off to the side while still recovering from a torn right ACL that ended his season prematurely last year. Hodge had surgery on March 6 after getting injured against St. John’s last February 28.

Willard said Hodge could be back as early as October or into January, depending on how the 6-foot-8 Belgium native feels.

“Matt’s timetable will be whenever Matty gets confident,” Willard said. “Could that be October? Yes. Could that be January? Yes.”

You can hear from Hodge by clicking HERE to read my story at Big5Hoops.com from last month.

Villanova players get ready for Monday’s practice. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

Summer Breeze?

Willard said he has changed his approach to summer workouts with the explosion of NIL money, preferring to do individual work and 3-on-3 workouts rather than full-fledged 5-on-5’s.

“Now that we’re paying them so much, I’m really probably a little bit lighter in the summer than I used to be,” he said.

However, much like La Salle’s open session in front of public in Sea Isle City last Thursday, the Wildcats did entertain their fans with a 5-on-5 scrimmage on Monday.

You can read my story about La Salle’s summer session in Sea Isle City by clicking HERE.

Teaching Tradition

Besides just another chance to get in some shots and work together as a team, Monday’s session was an important one for the Wildcats, the coach said, to help them further understand the school’s tradition.

The players not only met with fans and supporters but with former players from as early as the 1960’s.

“This is a program that has great tradition, great pride,” Willard said. “Today is about those guys understanding that wearing that Villanova is much, much bigger than they can ever imagine.”

Schedule Strength

While some Power-5 conference schools prefer to pad their nonconference slates with buy games against weaker opponents, Willard has done the opposite in his second season on the Main Line. Among the Wildcats’ contests before Big East play are Notre Dame in Rome on November 1; at Kansas on November 27; and versus Wisconsin on December 12 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Wildcats also will host Michigan and play at Pitt, along with Big 5 games against La Salle at home and at Temple, in addition to the Big 5 Classic on December 5. As of Monday, those dates have not been finalized.

Willard said he went back through the last 10 national champions and noticed how highly each ranked with strength of schedule.

“I think it’s really important to test yourself on the road,” Willard said. “I think teams should get rewarded for scheduling hard. I think scheduling is one of those things you really have to be aggressive nowadays.”

There also is a financial aspect to the decision, as Villanova can increase revenue with an attractive opponent at a packed Xfinity Mobile Arena, thus helping to offset the rising cost of its roster.

Feeling Positive

Although Suigo has not engaged in a single practice yet and Hodge remains sidelined, Willard likes what he has seen this summer.

“It’s a great group,” he said. “They work hard, get along great. It’s been a really productive summer.”

—

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INSIDE SCOOP: How did 76ers media react to the LeBron James news?

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:36:28 GMT

By AARON BRACY

July 25, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

The LeBron James to the 76ers news rocked Philadelphia on Friday in a way that very few announcements have in the city’s sports history.

Pairing the 41-year-old James with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown instantly makes the 76ers a contender. Off the court, the 76ers now will certainly be the biggest story in the NBA and, probably, in all of sports.

James has been drawing attention for more than two decades. I can remember the excitement in Trenton back in February 2003 when his St. Vincent-St. Mary High School played Carmelo Anthony and Oak Hill in the Prime Time Shootout. I was working for the Trenton Times then. I went back into the newspaper’s archives on Friday and realized I had reported the news of James’ coming to Trenton.

That story, written in August 11, 2002, was a 150-word brief in the sports pages.

Friday’s announcement here in Philly took up a just a little more space on media outlets.

Since James came to Trenton, I have been in several media scrums during his various trips to Philadelphia to play the 76ers. In my experience, I have found him to be very accommodating to media. He certainly will be the center of attention in town for the duration of the reported two-year deal with the 76ers.

What does that mean for reporters?

The good news for those covering the 76ers is that James’ presence will help to create more interest, thus helping with all-important clicks that drive the bottom line for many outlets. There also will be a level of demand and interest unlike anything anyone has been through here. And that is saying a lot with Embiid as the previous center of attention for all of these years. In short, that means that James’ presence will require constant attention from those covering the 76ers. Where maybe a practice or pregame press conference could be missed in the past, that will not be the case now.

How did 76ers media react?

I was curious how those covering the 76ers reacted to Friday’s news and reached out to several who cover the team. Below are some of their thoughts in reply, listed alphabetically, which have been slightly edited for style and space.

-Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire: LeBron James changes everything for the Sixers. He’s like the Queen piece on the chessboard as he can do everything on the floor. On those nights when Joel Embiid can’t play, the Sixers can slide James over to the 5 in some lineups and move Dean Wade or Anfernee Simons into the starting lineup, depending on what Nick Nurse and his staff are thinking on any given night. The Sixers now have star power, depth, and a real leader to lean on when times get tough. Both he and Jaylen Brown offer the championship moxie and know-how to get this team over the hump in what should be a tough Eastern Conference.

-Zach Ciavolella, Metro Philadelphia: I honestly thought the Sixers had a real shot at LeBron once they landed Jaylen Brown. At my most optimistic, I put it around 20 percent, which, considering the teams involved, felt like a legitimate chance. Still, when the notification hit—of all days while I was home sick on the couch—I just kind of sat there. Even now, it doesn’t totally feel real. On paper, it’s a pretty clean fit, despite some legitimate concerns. There’s going to be an adjustment period, and the chemistry won’t appear overnight. But opportunities like this don’t come around often, not for this franchise, and not for this city. The ceiling here is as high as it’s been since Moses Malone, more than a decade before I was born.

-Marcus Hayes, Philadelphia Inquirer: I don’t know whether LeBron chose Philadelphia because he believes it’s his best chance to win, or because a stint in Philly will enhance his brand and his retirement documentary, or because he just wanted to try something new. I do know that, selfishly, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to observe and to cover one of the greatest athletes of all time, even if it is in the autumn of his career. Finally, I think LeBron’s presence will be tremendously helpful for Joel Embiid, who can observe LeBron’s professionalism and maturity; Tyrese Maxey, who was going to benefit from Jaylen Brown’s arrival but whose offensive load now has been further lightened; and Brown as well, since the presence of LeBron lightens his load, too.

-Paul Hudrick, Liberty Ballers: This is one the biggest days in Philadelphia sports history. One of the greatest players of all time, who is still playing at a very high level and is a perfect fit for this roster, chose the Sixers. It’s astonishing when you consider where this organization was less than a month ago. The games still need to be played, but Mike Gansey has turned in one of the greatest offseasons any executive has ever had in this city—in his first year ever running a team! After the Jaylen Brown trade I always believed they had a chance. With that said, it’s still stunning to witness.

-Rhea Hughes, WIP (94.1-FM), via Instagram: It’s stunning. It’s shocking. And it’s gonna be a great time for the city of Philadelphia.

-Gordie Jones, Liberty Ballers: Obviously this is the Sixers’ most significant veteran addition since Moses, and obviously they now are as talented as any team in franchise history. I think that despite everything, it still comes down to Embiid. How much will he play, and how effective will he be? As devalued as the center position is nowadays, you’ve still gotta have a capable big.

-Tony Jones, The Athletic: Stunned. I knew there was a chance that he chose Philly, but him actually choosing Philly still has me stunned. The Sixers are getting a global icon, and now have a chance to win a championship. It’s hard to beat an offseason as successful as this one.

-Noah Levick, NBC Sports Philadelphia: I didn’t expect to be stunned, but it was personally a bit jarring for the first few minutes. We all knew for weeks this might happen and were ready to go. Covering the Sixers, you also become numb to plenty of strange developments and major breaking news. But so many people around the world care intensely about LeBron James. For a ton of reasons, it’s just a different category than other Philadelphia sports news I can remember. As far as how things will work on the court, I think it’s clear the Sixers should be a much better offensive team than last year. I think James’ passing and general knack for dissecting defenses will be especially valuable. We’ll see how everything shakes out and whether the Sixers can finally avoid horrible health luck. I’m sure it’ll be an adventure to cover.

-Jacob Moreno, OnSI: I had 97.5 on and heard Ray Dunne say, “The Sixers signed LeBron to a two-year deal.” And the words didn’t register at first. Once they did, it was a mix of excitement, shock, and overstimulation in the best way.

-Mike Sielski, Philadelphia Inquirer, via his column: Get ready for a journey no one here has taken before. Get ready, win or lose with LeBron James, for the wildest ride you can imagine.

What is my reaction?

I am extremely surprised. I thought LeBron would return to his home roots of Cleveland to end his career. It is exciting for the city, the 76ers, and Philadelphia’s passionate sports fans, and I join in that excitement. I am looking forward to covering LeBron’s two seasons in Philadelphia.

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INSIDE THE BIG 5: Summer 5-on-5 session shines optimism on La Salle

Aaron Bracy — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:29:53 GMT

Members of the La Salle Explorers men’s basketball team pose for a photo at the Sea Isle City beach before a 5-on-5 session on Thursday. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

July 24, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

(Author's Note: You can also read this story at Big5Hoops.com by clicking HERE.)

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. – It was a picture-perfect day at the Jersey Shore on Thursday, the kind you just savor and want to bottle and save for a cold, dreary winter afternoon.

The weather was not the only nice thing in Sea Isle City, either. La Salle’s men’s basketball team was looking good, too.

The Explorers spent the afternoon here, first shooting around on the outdoor courts near Central Avenue, then strolling to the beach for a team photo before finally playing 5-on-5 in front of about 50 La Salle supporters inside of the beautiful Sea Isle Community Center.

“It’s good, just getting them out of Philly for a little bit, getting them into a different environment,” said La Salle head coach Darris Nichols, who watched from the stands with his staff as the players ran their own scrimmage and called their own fouls. “I like to get them in front of a crowd before we get in front of crowds where it means something to see how they will react. And getting them in front of some of our most passionate fans, I still feel like they played the right way.”

There was a lot to like. Here are my observations from courtside.

The Explorers huddle before Thursday’s practice at the Sea Isle Community Center. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

Dockery, Finkley Expanding Games

In Rob Dockery and Anthony Finkley, La Salle has a pair of players who have proven to be quality Atlantic 10 players.

Dockery averaged 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 18 league games last season in his first year at La Salle after transferring from Texas A&M. Finkley was highly efficient off the bench at Saint Joseph’s two seasons ago, averaging 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per contest while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range, before struggling last season following the coaching transition from Billy Lange to Steve Donahue.

Both have areas they would like to work on this summer.

Among those for Dockery is improving his long-range shooting after averaging 25 percent from deep in 2025–26. (Click HERE to read my recent feature story on Dockery.) He showed good form while draining a deep three-pointer from the top of the key on Thursday. A good sign for La Salle.

Finkley looked to be in great shape, something he said would be a focus of his offseason after transferring from Hawk Hill. (Click HERE to read my story on Finkley’s reasons for transferring.) Nichols said this spring that he would like to see Finkley get to the free-throw line more, and the Philadelphia native displayed aggressiveness attacking the rim here on Thursday.

There is more work to do for both, but these are great signs for La Salle. If both Dockery and Finkley can expand their games and play at high levels, the Explorers could be a really tough out in the A-10 this season.

That said, neither Dockery nor Finkley surprised me. They played how I expected them to play. But the following three Explorers’ performances were eye-openers.

The Explorers pose for a photo on the outdoor court near Central Avenue before Thursday’s practice inside the Sea Isle Community Center. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

Burton Bombs from Long Range

La Salle was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country last season. The Explorers made just 5.3 three-pointers per contest and connected on only 29.8 percent from deep to rank 352nd and 353rd, respectively, out of 365 Division I teams. It is almost impossible to win playing that way in any era and especially in today’s game where long-range shooting is expected and high-scoring the norm.

Enter Kam Burton.

Nichols placed an emphasis on recruiting players from the transfer portal who could make jumpers from beyond the arc, and Burton fits the mold. (Click HERE to read my story at Big5Hoops.com on La Salle’s incoming transfers.) At Stephen F. Austin last season, the Houston native made 76 total three-pointers at an impressive 42.5 percent clip.

He wasted little time showing everyone here on Thursday how well he can shoot, draining a pair of triples in the first few possessions. I was not keeping track of every point and every shot, but I would estimate that he finished the day with eight three-pointers. There was one stellar sequence where he nailed a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the corner on one possession and followed that on the next possession with a transition three-pointer off the dribble. Impressive stuff.

Burton’s mere presence is going to require opponents to guard him closely. Without even making a jumper, he is going to have a positive impact on the La Salle offense by opening up more space for the likes of Finkley and Dockery to operate. Watching Burton had me thinking about something former Saint Joseph’s assistant coach Matt Brady told me for my book on the 2003–04 Hawks. An assistant on Phil Martelli’s staff, Brady helped transform Delonte West and Tyrone Barley into very good three-point shooters. Here’s what he told me, which can be found on page 48 of A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline). (Click HERE to order on Amazon.)

“Being able to stretch the defense with a significant jump shot unlocks everybody’s power,” Brady said. “It helps every individual player, and then it creates the space everybody needs to play in when you want to drive [to the basket].”

This is something that Burton recognizes. He said he can help the Explorers with his scoring and shooting but also, “If I can just sit in a corner and all my teammates can get off, I’m all about everybody just winning,” he said.

Burton aided a turnaround at Stephen F. Austin, which went 28-6 overall and 20-2 in the Southland Conference last season when he started all 34 games and averaged 7.9 points in 18.5 minutes. The Lumberjacks were 14-17 the season prior. He is feeling optimistic about the Explorers’ chances this season.

“I’m all about winning,” he said. “That’s the culture that’s built inside of me. I feel like I’ll bring a lot of energy to the team. I just bring that togetherness.”

“This team can be really good once everybody knows their role and everybody is all in on one page, we can go a long way,” he added. “And this can turn around quick. I’ve done it before. I can come over here and I can do it again.”

Noah Collier goes in for a layup at Thursday’s practice. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

Collier Healthy Again

Noah Collier was a big-time recruit out of Pennsylvania prep powerhouse Westtown School. After a couple of seasons at Pitt, the Mullica Hill, N.J., native transferred to William & Mary. When healthy, he excelled for the Tribe. Collier was putting up big numbers for W&M two seasons ago, averaging 12.2 points and shooting 63.2 percent from the field, before an Achilles’ injury ended his season in early February 2025. He tried to come back last season but still felt lingering effects of the injury and managed to enter just three games for the Explorers and was a shell of the player he can be.

Now healthy, Collier was dominant inside at the Sea Isle Community Center. He grabbed what seemed like every rebound when he was on the court and displayed the athleticism that made him so coveted out of high school with several strong finishes at the rim.

“I feel great,” Collier said. “It’s a blessing. I am just happy to be where I am at right now.”

Last season was not easy for Collier, especially when he felt like he could help the Explorers. But he listened to his body, remained patient, and waited for his turn.

“It was definitely difficult,” he said. “I fought back, tried my best to get back on the court as quick as I could. It just wasn’t in God’s plans necessarily. I had to stay down, go through the process. I knew that I could help the team, but it just wasn’t time yet.”

If Thursday is any indication, this season could be the 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward’s time to shine. He is ready to do whatever it takes to help the Explorers.

“I think I can just bring leadership, toughness, experience and just overall energy,” Collier said. “I think I’m a big energy guy and have a high motor. So that’s going to help us a lot.”

Nichols and staff like what they have seen from Collier and think the overall talent improvement of the Explorers will only help.

“When you have guys around him who can put pressure on the rim, I think it makes his job easy,” Nichols said. “He’s athletic, he’s healthy again. So, he can just catch and finish and make plays around the rim.”

Devin Booker makes a steal and dunk during Thursday’s practice in Sea Isle City. (Video: Aaron Bracy)

Booker Back Home

Devin Booker was a prolific scorer at Cristo Rey, where he set the school’s scoring record with 1,962 career points. He averaged 24.1 points per contest as a senior two seasons ago. The North Philadelphia native played last season at George Mason, getting few opportunities on a very good Patriots program.

Still, he saw it as a positive experience.

“Coming from a winning program like that, it teaches you the foundation of winning, basically,” Booker, who averaged 1.7 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.5 minutes while playing 25 games for George Mason, said. “And what they do over there is defense, so being able to learn the basics of defense and how to play hard every possession.”

Defense is one of the things that Nichols really likes about Booker, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard. But the thing that jumped out to me is the pressure he puts on the rim, playing a downhill style of basketball that can create all kinds of opportunities, whether scoring, getting to the free-throw line, or setting up big guys, like Collier, for offensive putbacks. Booker also showed the ability to score at all three levels, something that is going to keep defenses honest when he drives the lane.

“I feel like I can bring a little bit of everything, scoring, defending, a little bit of passing, overall, just bringing energy to the team,” he said.

Something else that Nichols likes about Booker is his work ethic.

“If you go in the gym and hear a ball bouncing, it’s usually him,” the coach said.

Booker said he has made visits to his family since returning to Philly, but you usually can find him in the gym.

“I’ve really just been locking in,” Booker said. “I usually just stay in the gym, keep tunnel vision and get ready for the season.”

Jaden Johnson goes in for a layup on Thursday. (Video: Aaron Bracy)

What Does This Summer Session Mean?

The offseason, for any team in any sport, is all about optimism. The 5-on-5 here on Thursday was a summer run. Players were playing hard, but no one was trying to get hurt. Fouls were called, but no one was getting hammered on the way to the basket. Defense was played but not with the intensity you will see during the season.

This was a summer scrimmage. That, of course, is an important caveat for everything written above.

But there were definitely real signs for hope for the Explorers. Nichols and staff bring a certain energy and an aura of belief in what they are doing. Dockery and Finkley are legit A-10 players. Burton can shoot. A healthy Collier can be a force in this league. Booker is a proven scorer who is hungry and looking for an opportunity. Summer, or not, all of this is true.

Longtime observers of the program believe this La Salle team can be really good. Outsiders likely will need more convincing.

So, what can the Explorers be this season? While it likely is unrealistic to believe La Salle could return to the NCAA tournament, a postseason berth of some sort, perhaps an NIT bid, is a goal that is not unreasonable. That was the feeling here, anyway, after watching a few eye-opening performances inside of a gym that seemed as good as the weather outside of it.

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Saint Joseph’s Rasheer Fleming, Drexel’s Amari Williams shine in Las Vegas NBA Summer League

Aaron Bracy — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:20:04 GMT

Former Saint Joseph’s standout Rasheer Fleming, pictured at his camp at Camden High last month, averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in four games for the Suns in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

July 20, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

Rasheer Fleming expected to be more comfortable in his second stint in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, and that definitely proved to be the case.

Fleming, the former Saint Joseph’s standout who was drafted No. 31 overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft, excelled in four games for the Suns in the just-completed Summer League. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per contest. Fleming also shot the ball extremely well, hitting 47.4 percent (18 of 38) from the field, including 42.1 percent (8 of 19) from three-point range.

“Just reps with playing in general will help me,” Fleming told me last month at his camp at Camden High when I asked his approach to this year’s Summer League. “I should be more comfortable out there, just doing a bunch of different things. While I’m out there, I want to do things that make me feel uncomfortable so I can kind of get used to it.”

In his rookie season last year with the Suns, Fleming averaged 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes while playing in 55 games. He is in a good spot in Phoenix, having reportedly been guaranteed a three-year contract with another year, in 2028–29, being a club option. The deal reportedly is for $8.7 million, per Basketball-Reference.com.

Amari Williams Plays Well

Former Drexel standout Amari Williams had a strong showing for the Celtics in Las Vegas. The three-time Coastal Athletic Association defensive player of the year while playing for the Dragons, Williams played in four of Boston’s five contests and averaged 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 25.2 minutes. He shot 63.2 percent (12 of 19) from the field.

Like Fleming, Williams was a 2025 second-round pick (No. 46 overall). He appeared in 22 games last season for the Celtics, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes. He reportedly signed a two-way deal with the Celtics for this season, meaning he could bounce between Boston’s G League team in Maine and the NBA’s Celtics.

Final Former Big 5 Statistics

Here is an alphabetical look at how the 12 former Big 5 players rostered in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League did by averages.

-Devin Askew (Villanova), Phoenix Suns: Played in 4 of 5 games, 11.3 minutes, 5.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 36.4% FG (4 of 11), 33.3% 3PT FG (3 of 9)

-TJ Bamba (Villanova), Denver Nuggets: Played in 3 of 5 games, 12.8 minutes, 4.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 23.8% FG (5 of 21), 18.1% 3PT FG (2 of 11)

-Duke Brennan (Villanova), Brooklyn Nets: Played in 3 of 5 games, 7.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 50% FG (4 of 8)

-Tyler Burton (Villanova), Memphis Grizzlies: Played in 6 of 6 games, 9.3 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 47.1% FG (8 of 17), 44.4% 3PT FG (4 of 9)

-Jack Clark (La Salle), Golden State Warriors: Played in 2 of 6 games, 6.9 minutes, 1.5 pgg, 1.0 rpg, 25% FG (1 of 4), 33.3% 3PT FG (1 of 3)

-Eric Dixon (Villanova), Utah Jazz: Played in 3 of 5 games, 19.2 minutes, 4.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 25% FG (6 of 24), 0% 3PT FG (0 of 9)

-Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s), Phoenix Suns: Played in 4 of 5 games, 26.5 minutes, 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 47.4% FG (18 of 38), 42.1% 3PT FG (8 of 19)

-Brendan Hausen (Villanova), Memphis Grizzlies: Played in 2 of 6 games, 10.7 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 70% FG (7 of 10), 75% 3PT FG (6 of 8)

-Nick Jourdain (Temple), New York Knicks: Played in all 5 games, 20.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 53.8% FG (7 of 13), 28.6% 3PT FG (2 of 7)

-Erik Reynolds II (Saint Joseph’s), New York Knicks: Played in 3 of 5 games, 5.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 25% FG (2 of 8), 33.3% 3PT FG (2 of 6)

-Jordan Riley (Temple), New Orleans Pelicans: Played in 2 of 5 games, 15.6 minutes, 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 20% FG (2 of 10), 0% 3PT FG (0 of 3)

-Amari Williams (Drexel), Boston Celtics: Played in 4 of 5 games, 25.2 minutes, 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 63.2% FG (12 of 19)

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INSIDE THE BIG 5: After roller coaster last season, Temple eyeing improvement in 2026–27

Aaron Bracy — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:22:41 GMT

Gavin Griffiths (far right) played well for coach Adam Fisher last season at Temple. Derrian Ford (far left) led the Owls in scoring. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

July 17, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

(Author’s Note: You can also read this story at Big5Hoops.com by clicking HERE.)

Last season was like a roller coaster for coach Adam Fisher and Temple.

There was the high of a seven-game winning streak that had the Owls at 11-5 overall and 3-0 in The American conference following a 75-67 home win over ECU on January 7. At the time, Temple seemed like a contender for the conference title and a possible NCAA tournament bid.

But that did not materialize, as the Owls lost 11 of their final 16 games to end the season with a 16-16 record overall and 8-10 mark in The American.

On the court, the low point was the finish when Temple lost seven of is final eight contests, including six in a row. Off the court, the Owls grappled with the sudden death of assistant coach Bill Courtney on January 12. On a human level, it was an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved with Temple program. On an obviously less-important basketball level, the Owls lost a coach who was integral to everything they were doing.

“It was a lot to deal with, a lot to handle,” said Fisher, who counted Courtney not just as a member of his staff but as one of his great friends in coaching.

Temple enters the fourth season under Fisher looking to get back in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth as a contender in The American. The Owls have made the Big Dance just twice in the last 13 seasons and not since 2019. As is commonplace in today’s era of college basketball, Fisher has revamped the roster. Below is a look at who’s back, who’s gone, who’s new, and what’s next for Temple.

Who’s Back?

Of the four players returning, 6-foot-7 senior guard Gavin Griffiths had the biggest impact last season. A former five-star recruit who could not find his form in previous stops at Rutgers and Nebraska, Griffiths played well on North Broad Street under Fisher last season. He averaged 10.1 points and led the Owls in both rebounding (4.9 rebounds per game) and blocks (54 total blocks). Griffiths also connected on 63 three-pointers, hitting at a 33.5 percent clip.

“He came in with an opportunity and open mind to work, and he seized it,” Fisher said.

They talked prior to the season about regaining the confidence that ascended Griffiths into such a highly sought-after recruit. Then, with the help of Fisher and his staff, Griffiths did the rest.

“Hey, let’s get back to that, let’s have some confidence,” Fisher said of his message to Griffiths last summer. “And he just worked all summer and got back to the player he hoped he could become. He did a lot of things that impact the game. I’m excited for what he can do this upcoming year.”

In addition to Griffiths, Temple is returning Olin Chamberlain Jr., Cam Wallace, and Mo Keita. Of the group, Wallace could make the biggest jump this season after averaging 2.1 points in 6.5 minutes per game a year ago.

Who’s Gone?

Of the players who are no longer with the program, the greatest impact will be felt by the losses of last season’s leading scorer, Derrian Ford, and second-leading scorer, Aiden Tobiason. That is more than 33 points per game Temple will need to replace.

Tobiason transferred to Syracuse after two solid seasons at Temple, most recently averaging 15.3 points and 3.7 rebounds last season. He was not a heralded recruit when Fisher signed him out of Delaware’s St. Elizabeth High School. Tobiason’s signing and development stand out as one of the highlights of Fisher’s tenure on North Broad.

“I’m just really happy for the year he had,” Fisher said. “Really, it’s a testament to him. He just worked and worked. Would you like to have him back? Absolutely. But it’s a new day and age; it’s a new world.”

In this world, a player of Tobiason’s stature commands an NIL price tag that a power conference roster accommodates. There are no hard feelings from Fisher.

“He’s someone I expect to stay in touch with for a long time,” the coach said.

Who’s New?

Temple brought in nine players through the transfer portal, with an apparent emphasis on experience. Here is a snapshot look at each with Fisher’s comments on players I asked about.

-Christian Beam, 7-foot-1, 255 pounds, senior, center: Woodland, Alabama native averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds for Georgia State last season.

-Dallis Dillard, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, grad, guard: Harlem native played at renowned St. Raymond in high school and lit up Division II competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania last season. He averaged 20.1 points and had four 30-point games in 2025–26. Fisher expects him to successfully make the jump to Division I.

Fisher says: “Older, very mature. We’re really excited to see him. We’ve seen some guys in our league have great years who have come from Division Two. We’re excited for what he’ll bring to our team.”

-Jason “Deuce” Drake, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, senior, guard: Drake sat out last season at Indiana University with a toe injury after a breakout junior year at Drexel in 2023–24 when he averaged 11.1 points and 3.1 assists while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range for coach Zach Spiker.

Fisher says: “Really good floor general. Can really shoot the basketball. Coach Spiker did a great job with him.”

-Sir Isaac Herron, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, grad, forward: Houston native played three seasons at Oral Roberts after a one-year stint at Louisiana Tech. He contributed 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 27 games for Oral Roberts last season.

Fisher says: “Great size. Older. Very mature. We love his ability to defend, rebound, and run.”

-Jordan Marsh, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, senior, guard: One of two incoming 1,000-point career scorers, Marsh is transferring from USC, where he averaged 7.3 points in 28 games last season. He shined at UNC-Asheville in 2023–24, scoring 18.8 points per contest.

Fisher says: “He’s electric. He’s super fast.”

-Baboucarr Njie, 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, junior, forward: Temple fans likely will remember Njie, who dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds on the Owls in a game last season while playing for UTSA. Fisher helped recruit Babocarr’s brother, Kebba, to Penn State.

Fisher says: “He brings a different element. A guy who can guard any position. He can really rebound. Plays really hard. We love his versatility. His versatility, defensive ability, ability to score—we’ve seen it first-hand—he’s an all-around player.”

-Cam Scott, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds, sophomore, wing: A two-time Gatorade player of the year in South Carolina, Scott did not find his niche at the University of South Carolina. The former four-star recruit redshirted last season after averaging 2.5 points in 26 games the prior season. Much like Ford, who excelled at Temple after leaving his home state of Arkansas as a heralded high school player, Fisher thinks the change of scenery will benefit Scott.

Fisher says: “We love his size, ability to shoot, attack the paint, his length. We’re hoping he has a great year and gets an opportunity to showcase it.”

-Edwin Suarez Jr., 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, senior, forward: The Reading native played at Muhlenberg High School and had a strong campaign last season at Weber State, averaging 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds.

-Dez White, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, senior, guard: Has scored 1,002 career points and will be playing at his fourth school in four years. Averaged 9.7 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range last season at Oregon State.

Fisher says: “He shoots the lights out. Great family. Older, mature and we think he’s going to be really good for us in our system.”

Another player to keep an eye on is 6-foot-4 freshman guard Derrick Morton-Rivera, who left Father Judge as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,468 points) while helping the Crusaders to back-to-back Philadelphia Catholic League titles.

What’s Next?

Fisher enters his fourth season after going 49-51 overall and 22-32 in the conference so far on North Broad Street. On paper, this looks like the best roster he has assembled. The Owls made a surprise run to the conference tournament finals in the coach’s first season. It seems reasonable to expect Temple to contend in The American this season and be in play for the conference’s automatic NCAA bid. The Owls will be looking for their first berth in the Big Dance in eight years.

To have any shot at the postseason, building chemistry, as with any team today in college basketball, will be key. The men’s basketball social media account has shown the Owls bonding on and off the court, including down the shore, at the All-Star home run derby, playing miniature golf, and hanging out together.

“We kind of know what we need to do to keep getting better and keep improving and get where we want to go,” Fisher said.

—

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INSIDE LOOK: Here is the process for returning edited manuscript for my second book

Aaron Bracy — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:17:07 GMT

I took this picture after completing the manuscript back in April. Last week the publisher returned the manuscript to me following a review by editors.

By AARON BRACY

July 13, 2026

bracymedia@gmail.com

I have never run a marathon, but I imagine the experience might be similar to writing a book.

Long, lonely hours of preparation—training for a marathon; research and interviews for a book.

Long, lonely hours of the race—running for a marathon; writing and revising for a book.

For both, feelings of exhaustion and exhilaration; pain and persistence; discouragement and determination; and so much more.

My second book—my second “marathon”—is nearly complete. I have almost reached the finish line for Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline). It is scheduled to be published on February 19, 2027. There are just a few more tasks before I can officially cross the tape, before I can officially exhale and celebrate.

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**You can preorder the book right now on Amazon by clicking HERE.**

Inching Closer

I inched a little closer to the finish line this weekend when I returned the edited manuscript to my publisher, Brookline. I had submitted the manuscript to the publisher back in April. Although that felt like crossing the finish line, it was close but not quite all the way there.

Brookline’s talented team reviewed the manuscript and then assigned it to a copy editor, who did a subsequent review of it. Then, they sent the manuscript back to me last week for review.

Before sharing my review process, a word about copy editors: Copy editors are invaluable for any writer. I have been on both ends of these roles, and one of my most important experiences in journalism was working as a sports copy editor at the Courier-Post from November 2002–February 2007. I would compare a copy editor to an offensive lineman in football. Both are vitally important to a team’s success, but neither gets credit for the success.

In that vein, I am extremely grateful for the editors who reviewed my manuscript.

The Process (No, not that Process)

Here is a look at how my process went:

Step 1) I reviewed a PDF that captured in tracked changes any edits made by the Brookline editors. Mostly, these were minor changes, such as aligning what I submitted to Brookline’s style guide.

Step 2) I went back into the manuscript and, using tracked changes, made any edits based on the PDF review. For instance, for numbers associated with statistics we decided over email to spell out numerals less than 10 and use the numeral for greater than nine. This is in line with AP Style and what I am accustomed to doing whenever I write a sports story.

Step 3) Once Step 2 was complete, which was a somewhat lengthy process, I dived into the Microsoft Word version that was returned to me. Here, there were more tracked changes and many comments/questions to review from the copy editor. These were very thoughtful, and I am so grateful for this process. The editors, the first of whom is my wife, are not the biggest sports fans (at least from what I can tell), and this is a really good thing because I want this book, as with my first book on the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks, to be appealing to non-sports fans in addition to sports fans. Many of the comments allowed me to take a closer look at certain parts of the book to ensure there would be no confusion on the part of readers who might not be as in-tuned to sports as I am (and, probably, many of you reading this are).

Step 4) I used tracked changes to make any revisions/edits based on the copy editor’s feedback. A small, but important example was a reference to a four-game road trip in which the 76ers went 0-4 without Allen Iverson. I listed the teams on the trip by city with the exception of the Clippers, which I wrote as “Clippers” rather than “Los Angeles” to distinguish them from the Lakers. But the sentence left the copy editor a bit confused, and I revised it by including city and nickname (i.e. Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, etc.) for each reference.

Step 5) I renamed the file with an underscore and my initials (“_ab”) and sent it back to the publisher.

Almost There

That was an exciting email to send and probably similar to the marathon runner rounding the final curve with the finish line in sight. Like the runner, I am almost there. After the changes are made, I am expecting to receive a revised version of the manuscript within the next few weeks. I am hopeful that after one final read of that manuscript, I will officially—and very happily—be able to lean across the finish line and say two words that a book author and, surely, a marathoner covet:

I finished!

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Rasheer Fleming hopes his camp inspires Camden kids

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 20:12:37 GMT

Former Camden High star Dajuan Wagner (left) poses with Rasheer Fleming and Fleming's mom, Dana White, at Fleming's basketball camp on Saturday. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

June 27, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

[Author’s Note: This story also appears at Big5Hoops.com. Click HERE to read it there.]

CAMDEN, N.J. – Rasheer Fleming returned to Camden High School on Saturday for a basketball camp—and for much more.

Fleming, the Camden native and Saint Joseph’s product who just completed his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns, wants the kids here to learn more than just driving, dribbling, and dunking. He wants them to be inspired, too.

“Let them know, ‘Look, they can do the same thing that I did.’”, Fleming said prior to the five-hour session that featured about 60 youngsters ages 10 through 16. “We all want to pursue the same goals. Just keep trusting in your work. Just keep trusting in God. At the end of the day, His plans for you will prosper.”

Sponsored by the Rasheer Fleming Foundation, the camp featured some of the area’s best youth and high school coaches. Also on hand were Camden legend Dajuan Wagner, 76ers reserve Justin Edwards, former Hawks teammate Anthony Finkley and assistant coach Chris Flegler, and many others. Fleming’s mom, Dana White, who oversees the foundation, and father, Rashee Fleming, proudly looked on.

“It feels good,” Fleming said of being back in Camden. “Just coming back home in general and being able to see my family and people I grew up around, it’s always a good feeling to come back.”

A Late Bloomer

Unlike Wagner, who is New Jersey’s all-time leading high school scorer with 3,462 career points, Fleming was not earmarked for stardom while playing on the court here. He transferred to Camden High from nearby Gloucester High for his final two high school seasons. After COVID-19 washed out his junior season, Fleming was just a reserve as a senior on a strong Camden team that was coached by Rick Brunson and starred Wagner’s son, Dajuan Jr.

The Hawks recruited Fleming on Brunson’s word and were convinced to offer him just by seeing him in a layup line, Flegler said.

Fleming went to Saint Joseph’s with a chip on his shoulder, his father said, eager to prove that he was more than a benchwarmer.

“That chip on his shoulder was everything,” Rashee Fleming said.

Wagner saw that determination when Fleming played on the AAU circuit with the NJ Scholars, a program in which Wagner was heavily involved.

“He put in all the work,” Wagner said. “He’s a great kid. He wanted it. He was a worker.”

Prospering on Hawk Hill

Flegler said the Hawks recruited Fleming with the thought of redshirting him for his first season, only to quickly change course when watching the talented, but raw prospect during summer workouts. Flegler described one memorable play where Fleming made a closeout block on a three-point shooter, going from the lane to the three-point line with ease and quickness.

Fleming showed promise as a freshman in 2022–23, averaging 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds. But he needed some work on his shooting after hitting just 29.7 percent from long range. Always confident, in part because he drilled as a guard with his dad from the time he was four years old, the Hawks staff helped Fleming develop more consistent footwork and an elbow-high release on his long-range jumper. And Fleming’s intense work ethic took over from there.

He prospered as a sophomore and junior, improving in each season. He averaged 10.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and hit 32.4 percent from long range as a sophomore. Pro scouts were even more encouraged when Fleming averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and made 39.0 percent as a junior in 2024–25. At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds and with an elite wing span of 7-foot, 5 1/4-inches, along with high character and the necessary NBA athleticism, Fleming was selected No. 31 overall in the 2025 NBA draft.

A Solid NBA Start

Playing on a very good Suns team that would finish 45-37 and make the playoffs, minutes were limited for Fleming. But he made the most of the time he got. In 12.2 minutes per contest over 55 games, Fleming averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks in his first NBA season. Though most of his rookie highlight reel features dunks and chase-down blocks, Fleming displayed the ability to connect from the NBA three-point line, making 34.6 percent (45 of 130) from long range.

“I think it went pretty well for the amount I played,” Fleming said of his rookie season. “I think obviously I can better. Excited for the next season to see how things are going to go. Overall, I think it went well.”

Secure with a four-year, $8.7 million deal that includes about $6 million guaranteed, Fleming appears to be in a good spot with a good organization to build on his first season. Asked what he wants to improve, he responded, “Literally everything.”

He did not have plans to stay in Camden for long, as Fleming was returning to Phoenix to prepare to play for the Suns’ summer league team for the second consecutive season. He wants to use this time to continue to get NBA-level reps while working on areas of his game that he wants to improve.

“Just reps with playing in general will help me,” he said. “I should be more comfortable out there, just doing a bunch of different things. While I’m out there, I want to do things that make me feel uncomfortable so I can kind of get used to it.”

Giving Back to Camden

Fleming intends to make the basketball camp an annual event in Camden. It is a chance not only to give back to the community but also recognize the support of everyone who helped him get to this point. That includes Mo Clark, who began training Fleming when he was 14 years old.

“Just trying to be a strong male figure in his life,” Clark said. “He’s already a great human being. Being the high-quality person that he is. He carries himself in the right, correct light as a good Christian. He’s just a phenomenal human being. He’s quiet and reserved. Once you get to know him, you see that vibrant person, that vibrant human being.”

Clark, like Fleming, hopes the camp can inspire kids from Camden and the surrounding South Jersey area.

“You’re trying to give these kids another outlet, another source to fall in love with the game and build strong core values as a person,” he said.

Wagner also sees the camp as an opportunity to positively influence youngsters.

“Show them they can be him,” Wagner said of the camp’s importance.

More than Basketball

The camp is more than just basketball, too.

White, Fleming’s mom, is a breast cancer survivor and is happy that the camp and the foundation help to support breast cancer awareness. Fleming and his family also want the foundation to impact beyond basketball. To that end, they awarded a pair of $1,000 college scholarships to two Camden teens who are talented musicians. Janiyah Whitfield, 18, attended Creative Arts High School in Camden and will be attending Berklee College of Music in the fall. Fatima Dickerson, 18, is headed to Tuskegee University after also prepping at Creative Arts.

“It was a huge surprise,” Dickerson said. “I am extremely grateful.”

Gratitude seemed to be an overwhelming theme here on Saturday, both for the campers, Fleming’s friends and family, and Fleming himself.

Fleming always has been a grounded individual with a strong faith, something a year in the NBA clearly has not changed. White said much of that comes from Fleming’s upbringing and some challenges that the family had to overcome. In addition to surviving breast cancer, White, a military veteran, came home safely after serving overseas.

“He’s seen what God can do,” she said.

Now, Fleming is passing along his gifts to the next generation.

“I’m so excited,” Rashee Fleming, his father, said, “because of the kids.”

—

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INSIDE THE BIG 5: Get to know the players La Salle added through the transfer portal

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:44:12 GMT

Second-year La Salle coach Darris Nichols emphasized toughness and three-point shooting with La Salle's transfer portal additions. (Photo: La Salle Athletics)

By AARON BRACY

June 20, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

[Author’s Note: This story also appears at Big5Hoops.com. Click HERE to read it there.]

In the first season under head coach Darris Nichols, the La Salle Explorers showed opponents that they would be a tough out. Now, Nichols and Company want to take the next step in the win/loss column.

Hindered by a slew of injuries that limited La Salle to eight healthy scholarship players by season’s end, the Explorers finished 2025–26 with a 9-23 overall record and 5-13 mark in the Atlantic 10. That followed three seasons in which Big 5 Hall of Famer Fran Dunphy averaged 15 wins per season.

Just as in the three seasons under Dunphy, the Explorers were picked to finish last in the Atlantic 10 in Nichols’s first season. And, just like under Dunphy, they did not place at the bottom of the conference standings. That was a small victory for Nichols and Company. There also was a big one on the court, the Explorers’ 67-64 home win over Dayton on January 21 at Glaser Arena. But the biggest win for the Explorers last season came off the court, with Nichols establishing how his teams would play, emphasizing defense, rebounding, and, most importantly, toughness.

“When you watch our games, when you talk to other coaches, they understand that,” Nichols recently told me of how hard La Salle played. “Now, when you add more talent to that, then you have something.”

Recruiting Emphasis

Nichols set out to build a roster for the upcoming season with two things in mind: shooting and toughness.

The Explorers were one of the worst teams in Division I last season from long range. They hit just 5.3 three-pointers per contest while connecting on just 29.8 percent from beyond the arc to rank 352nd and 353rd, respectively, out of 365 programs.

Most importantly, Nichols wants players who are tough. He starts any conversation about a potential Explorer with that question.

“You make a call and say, ‘Is so and so tough?’” Nichols said. “[If they say] he’s not soft, but … we’re done.”

Unlike in his first season when Nichols had to scramble a bit to fill the roster through the transfer portal while not really knowing the lay of the land at La Salle, he and the Explorers staff had more time and more understanding of the environment to find players who fit the system and the surroundings.

Transfer Portal Additions

La Salle added seven players through the transfer portal. Below is a look at each, along with some information and Nichols’s take on players I asked about during our conversation before the entire roster had taken shape.

-Devin Booker (George Mason), 6-4, 180 pounds, sophomore, guard: Philadelphia native averaged 1.7 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.5 minutes as a freshman at George Mason last season. … Was a big-time scorer at Cristo Rey, where he tallied 24.1 points per contest as a senior. … Nichols believes Booker can provide defensive versatility and strong rebounding from the guard spot.

Nichols: “He’s a big-time athlete. If you have more opportunity, I think he can be a big-time contributor for us. We need his size at that position.”

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-Kam Burton (Stephen F. Austin), 6-3, 200 pounds, senior, guard: Houston native averaged 7.9 points in 18.5 minutes while starting all 34 games for Stephen F. Austin last season. He hit 42.5 percent of his three-point tries, making a total of 76. … Adds shooting that the Explorers lacked last season. … Nichols also likes that Burton is the son of a coach.

Nichols: “He’s physical, he’s tough, he’s big. He’s used to winning.”

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-Anthony Finkley (Saint Joseph’s), 6-7, 235 pounds, senior, forward: Was one of best reserves in the Atlantic 10 two seasons ago, averaging 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range (44 of 111). … In 2025–26, following the Hawks’ coaching change from Billy Lange to Steve Donahue, those numbers slipped to 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 19.0 minutes while dipping to 28.8 percent from three-point range (32 of 111). … Finkley is looking forward to a fresh start at La Salle. (You can read my story with Finkley explaining his decision to transfer by clicking HERE.)

Nichols: “He fits how we want to play. He can play the four. You can move him around. He can really shoot it. My goal with him is to get him to the free throw line a little bit more. … I think Anthony Finkley is the four we need to get.”

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-Jamison Lynam (Arcadia), 5-10, 165 pounds, junior, guard: Put up big numbers at Division III Arcadia as a sophomore last season, averaging 17.7 points and hitting 42.3 percent from long range. … Scored 16 points at Saint Joseph’s last December 28. … Grandson of former Hawks and 76ers coach Jim Lynam.

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-Trey Moss (George Washington), 6-3, 200 pounds, redshirt senior, guard: Playing at his fourth school in six years. … Sat out last season at George Washington due to turf toe. … Averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 29 games two seasons ago for GW. … Best season came in 2023–24 at William & Mary when he averaged 13.5 points and hit 41.3 percent from three-point range while starting 32 games. … Brings athleticism to the guard position.

Nichols: “He can make threes, but he’s better putting pressure on the rim. We needed another guy who can do that. I think he can because he’s a big-time athlete.”

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-Eunique Rink (Hampton), 6-10, 240 pounds, junior, forward: In 11.8 minutes last season at Hampton averaged 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds. … As a freshman there, he averaged 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 7.4 minutes. … Teammate of former La Salle guard Deuce Jones at College Achieve Asbury Park.

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-Vice Zanki (Niagara), 6-8, 215 pounds, senior, forward: Croatia native scored 8.1 points and grabbed 2.4 rebounds in 21.1 minutes for Niagara last season. … Can step outside and knock down a three-pointer, making 42 total shots from long range at 38.5 percent last season.

Nichols: “Has size, versatility, and can shoot threes. Stretch four.”

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INSIDE LOOK: Something surprised me about covering the World Cup

Aaron Bracy — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:53:06 GMT

A pregame photo of me in the Linc press box prior to the World Cup match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador on June 14, 2026.

By AARON BRACY

June 17, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

My first paid sportswriting assignment came in 1997 via the Associated Press. Nearly 30 years later, I am still plugging away. Sportswriting is a side hustle for me these days, and it is something that I still truly love.

Whether for the AP, Big5Hoops, or someone else, or doing legwork for my books, I still look forward to every opportunity to enter a press box, continuing to live out a dream that I imagined while reading Bill Lyon’s columns in the Philadelphia Inquirer with my morning cereal as a teenager. That said, I have covered so many games over the last three decades that they sometimes blend together.

My routine for each assignment is similar: research in advance, catch up on anything new upon arrival, pay attention to the game in front of me and commentary on social media, blend everything into a deadline story, get quotes, update the story, and maybe put out a video or two on social media. Rinse and repeat. I have done this well into the thousands of times.

When the opportunity to cover the World Cup in Philadelphia was presented to me last fall, I looked forward to it in much the same way I do any other assignment. Midweek last week, the AP informed me that I would be writing the main story for the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match this past Sunday night at the Linc. Not long after, I started feeling a heightened level of excitement from what I am accustomed. That excitement just grew and grew as the match got closer.

I recall feeling similarly about covering the World Series in 2022 when the Phillies played the Astros. After covering so many Phillies games, probably close to a thousand of them, I was surprised then by how excited I felt for the Fall Classic. Likewise, I was surprised by how excited I was for the World Cup. And, just like the World Series, I am glad and grateful that I got the opportunity to cover it.

Click HERE to read my final story from Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador for the AP. Feel free to read now, or save it until the end of this newsletter.

Below is a behind-the-scenes look at how I covered the match.

Research

This is a vital part of any of my assignments. For my books, the research took the most time. When I cover a typical Phillies game, like Monday night against the Marlins for the AP, I might do 30 minutes to an hour of research. I like to write everything out on paper.

For the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match, I spent several hours in preparation over several nights last week. Besides getting to know both teams, I needed to understand this match in the larger picture of the World Cup. In addition to my hand-written notes, I started a Google doc with notes, something that I did for both books but is rare for most assignments. Specifically, I copied the name of each player into the Google doc, being sure to correctly capture accent marks that would be hard to find on the keyboard. I then looked up each player individually and took a few notes.

Both the background research on the teams and the individual players proved hugely helpful during the match.

Here you can see my hand-written notes and jottings about the players on the roster. (Note: My Google doc had all of the accent marks; this printout does not.)

My pregame notes for Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the World Cup on June 14, 2026.

My roster notes for Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the World Cup on June 14, 2026.

In-game Coverage

During the match, as per usual, I wrote down observations in my reporter’s notebook. I prefer taking notes by hand. For example, whenever I cover a Phillies game, I write down every scoring play in my notebook for reference later. It is an old-school approach, I know, but it works for me.

For the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match, I had five pages of notes. This page was particularly important because it featured two shots that hit the crossbar and three yellow cards. One thing you might notice below is that these notes might look sloppy and unreadable, but they mean something to me.

My in-game notes for Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in the World Cup on June 14, 2026.

Deadline Story

My assignment for the AP was to write a 300-word story at the final whistle and then come back with a write-thru of 500 or so words as soon as possible. The write-thru would include quotes from the participants and would have a little more feature-like of a lede and any necessary added details.

Although I have a lot of experience and have done this probably more than a thousand times, I would not consider writing a story that needs to be filed as soon as the game ends easy. Some sports, like baseball and football, tend to be easier. Basketball, with games often not decided until the final seconds, tends to be the most challenging. At least for me. The biggest challenge always is if the game is undecided entering the waning moments.

The challenge facing me with the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match was that the game was scoreless deep into the second half. As many (every?) sportswriter will tell you, we do not root for the teams; we root for ourselves. I was rooting for a goal early in the second half so I could craft a story. That goal did not come, unfortunately.

Meantime, I had not written a single word with the game about to enter the 70th minute. This is something I learned early in my career, to be patient. I vividly recall Chris Sheridan, the former AP national NBA writer, lifting his screen at a 76ers game and showing me what he had done so far as the contest entered the late stages. It was a blank screen. A good lesson for a young sportswriter.

In this case, I knew I could not wait much longer if I was going to get that story to the AP at the final whistle, so in the 70th minute I started writing a story as if Ivory Coast and Ecuador ended in a scoreless draw. I was very pleased with the finished story as the match was just about to enter stoppage time when I had to quickly change course.

Amad Diallo, Ivory Coast’s talented striker, scored a beautiful goal in the 90th minute. Well, scrap the scoreless draw story. There were seven minutes of stoppage time. No timeouts or commercials in soccer. I had less than 10 minutes to rewrite the story. This was not new ground, but it was still a challenge. This is where all of the research paid off. I quickly consulted my hand-written notes, both in my notebook and copy paper, and used them to help craft a story that highlighted what happened in the match while also acknowledging the bigger picture of what the victory means for Ivory Coast and what the defeat means for Ecuador.

Postgame

As I always do, I went into the press conference prepared with questions that would help my story. For Ivory Coast, I wanted to learn more about the goal and also wanted to ask about the impact of the side’s physical style of play. There was also the wonderful play of Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande that interested me. For Ecuador, I wanted to ask about the effect of two scoring attempts hitting off the crossbar. I also wondered about the reaction to the obvious disappointment of the loss, particularly in front of a partisan Ecuador crowd.

I did ask questions to both managers. In a first for me, I used the FIFA translation app, which allowed me to listen to the coaches’ French and Spanish answers in English and allowed them to hear my English questions in their native language. This was really cool! The only downside was that I could not record their answers while listening on my headphones. (Maybe I could but, try as I might, sometimes technology eludes me.) The good news is, I have developed a short-hand for recording answers in my notebook. There is no science to it, and I can’t really explain it, other than to say I seriously abbreviate a lot of words. It might look like gibberish. Most importantly, I understand it.

Here are a couple of pages from the Ecuador manager. You might even be able to make out some of this. LOL!

Some hand-written postgame quotes in my notebook from Ecuador manager Sebastián Beccacece.

Write-thru Story

The final step on this night was to take the quotes and update the story I filed at the final whistle. I asked the questions that I hoped would work in the story, and the managers’ answers really fit like a glove. I got the idea for the reworked lede from something Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé said during his postgame remarks.

It did take a while for the press conferences to begin, so I did not get back to the press box until more than an hour after the final whistle. Generally, the AP is looking for a write-thru no more than an hour after the buzzer. In this case, I could not control how long the press conferences took. I quickly typed the quotes into my story, reworked the lede, and filed. It took no more than 10 minutes.

I sent a confirmation message in Slack, took a deep, relaxing breath, and smiled at what had been a wonderfully exciting experience.

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INSIDE THE BIG 5: Will Villanova’s only two returning players be ready for next season following surgeries?

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:54:23 GMT

Matt Hodge (left) and Tyler Perkins (right) speak, along with coach Kevin Willard, at a press conference after Villanova’s 73-63 loss to UConn on February 21, 2026.

By AARON BRACY

June 13, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

[Author’s Note: You can also read this article at Big5Hoops.com by clicking HERE.]

It was a drive to the basket that Matt Hodge had done thousands of times. This time, though, early in the second half against St. John’s this past February 28, at Madison Square Garden, Hodge went down and immediately knew something was not right. The injury, sadly, would end Hodge’s season after being diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Tyler Perkins was at practice running hard, as he always does, through a screen when his right shoulder crashed into a teammate’s body. The discomfort persisted throughout the remainder of the season, not enough to sideline the lefty-shooting Perkins but enough to get an MRI when the season was over. Perkins was diagnosed with a posterior labral tear in his right shoulder.

Both Hodge and Perkins, the only two players back for Villanova after a successful 24-9 campaign that finished with an NCAA tournament berth, had surgeries following the season. I recently spoke to both about how their rehab is going and their timelines for a full return to the court.

Ready To Go

Perkins expects to be ready to go when the Wildcats tip off the 2026–27 season against Notre Dame in Rome on November 1, 2026.

“It’s healing well,” he told me last month. “I’m getting better every day. I definitely think I’ll be ready to go come November.”

Perkins had a strong junior season in 2025–26 for the Wildcats, averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 29.8 minutes while starting all 33 games. He was named the Big East’s Most Improved Player. Look out for more on Perkins in this space soon.

Step By Step

Hodge’s return to the court is not as clear as Perkins. A typical back-to-action timeline for an ACL tear of Hodge’s significance is 9 to 12 months, or longer. Hodge had surgery on March 6. An early December return would be optimistic, though possible. A 12-month return would put Hodge back on the court in early March 2027. Taking a medical redshirt could be a possibility. Right now, though, Hodge is more focused on a step-by-step approach.

His first hurdle was to get off crutches, then out of a brace in late April. He is now working on getting back to jogging and jumping, followed by on-court, non-contact drills.

“Step by step,” he said.

A Good Support System

Hodge has leaned on Villanova assistants JayVaughn Pinkston and Ashley Howard, as well as the Wildcats’ medical team for support. He also has frequent calls with his younger brother, Jayden, who unfortunately also tore his ACL a month prior to his big brother’s injury.

“I’ve been seeing his progress before it was happening to me,” Hodge said. “Really helpful.”

Just getting back on the court for some basic ballhandling skills while seated in a chair or shooting drills with a straight leg with the likes of Howard nearby has been hugely helpful for Hodge.

“It just keeps me mentally positive, being on the court alone,” he said. “Feeling the ball, feeling the ball go through the net, it helps me to stay positive.”

Howard has been in Hodge’s ear with examples of players who have returned from his injury even better. Pinkston, himself, went through an ACL tear and has lent support.

“Hearing stories and saying everyone came back better is a positive thing and helped me stay positive,” Hodge said.

“I’ve got a good support system,” he added.

A Freak Injury

After having to sit out the 2024–25 season due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues, Hodge was having an excellent first season on the Main Line before going down against St. John’s.

“It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, just a drive I’ve done maybe a thousand times,” he said. “Just this one time I planted my foot, and it felt wrong from the moment I planted it. I knew it right away when I fell down on the floor.”

Hodge’s season ended with him averaging 9.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27.6 minutes while starting all 29 games he played. He made 36.8 percent (50 of 136) from three-point range. The absence of the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, particularly on defense and the backboard, was apparent in Villanova’s final four contests. After beating DePaul and Xavier to close the regular season, the Wildcats lost to Georgetown in their Big East tournament opener before falling to Utah State in their first game of the NCAA tournament.

‘I Want to Get Back on the Court’

A healthy Hodge certainly will benefit Villanova in coach Kevin Willard’s second season. And Hodge is doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible. At the same time, he understands that the rehab process is indeed a process. Having to sit out his first season, as tough as that was, also has been helpful.

“I’ve been through it before,” Hodge said of being sidelined. “That patience and not rushing anything and really just letting my knee heal.”

Obviously, he is hopeful that happens sooner than later. He certainly is doing everything he can to help the healing process along.

“It all depends on how my recovery goes, and it’s up to me how hard I go into this,” he said, when asked about a timeline. “I want to get back on the court.”

When that is, only time will tell.

“It all depends on how the tests I have to pass before I can get back on the court playing in games,” he said. “When it comes to that time, we’re all going to be able to sit down and come up with the right thing to do.”

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INSIDE SCOOP: Zach Spiker, Darris Nichols praise new 76ers executive Mike Gansey

Aaron Bracy — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:48:45 GMT

Drexel coach Zach Spiker (left) and La Salle coach Darris Nichols (right) pose with new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey on Monday. (Photo: Drexel Athletics)

By AARON BRACY

June 10, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

Mike Gansey shouted out his West Virginia family during his introductory press conference as the 76ers’ new president of basketball operations on Monday morning in Camden, N.J.

There to support Gansey were Drexel coach Zach Spiker and La Salle coach Darris Nichols, both of whom got to know Gansey during his time with the Mountaineers from 2004–06 after transferring from St. Bonaventure. Spiker was on head coach John Beilein’s staff from 2002–04 and helped to recruit Gansey to Morgantown. Nichols played his first two seasons alongside Gansey when WVU won 46 combined games and made a pair of NCAA tournament berths in 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Both Spiker and Nichols spoke highly of Gansey.

“He’s a connector,” Spiker told me yesterday. “Just a consistent grinder and connector. He’s going to figure things out. He’s always found ways to do things. I’m super confident.”

Said Nichols via text last week after reports of Gansey’s hiring, “Gansey is one of my favorite teammates. Everyone in the organization will feel his energy, work ethic, and humility from day one!!!”

FOUNTAINS, NOT DRAINS

Gansey kept his cards mostly close to his vest during his first meeting with the Philadelphia media at the 76ers’ training facility. He mentioned how character, work ethic, accountability, and teamwork are going to be hallmarks of his tenure. He also twice said he wants “fountains, not drains” in the building.

“I can lead,” Gansey said.

He also mentioned that working with Jameer Nelson was “a sticking point” during the interview process, and Nelson was promoted to the No. 2 basketball decision maker. As I wrote last week in this space, Nelson’s leadership skills are one-of-a-kind.

On paper, at least, it seems that the Gansey–Nelson pairing could be a formidable one. Of course, whether Joel Embiid can play consistently likely will have a lot to do with any formidability on the court—at least in the short term.

GANSEY vs. NELSON

Gansey and Nelson are no strangers, as the pair squared off four times in Atlantic 10 matchups during Gansey’s two seasons with the Bonnies against Nelson’s Saint Joseph’s Hawks.

For fun, I looked up the results and the box scores of each matchup. Thanks to the Courier-Post archives—I was working there as a sports copy editor during this time, by the way—I was able to find three of the box scores and some information about the final matchup.

Here you go:

January 13, 2002, Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, Philadelphia

Saint Joseph’s 93, St. Bonaventure 87

Nelson: 9 points, 5 assists (4-11 FG, 1-6 3PT)

Gansey: 8 points (3-3 FG, 2-2 FT) fouled out

February 28, 2002, Reilly Center, Olean, N.Y.

Saint Joseph’s 91, St. Bonaventure 84

Nelson: 23 points, 4 assists (8-15 FG, 7-11 FT, 0-2 3PT)

Gansey: 12 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT)

January 8, 2003, Reilly Center, Olean, N.Y.

Saint Joseph’s 75, St. Bonaventure 58

Nelson: 11 points, 9 rebounds (4-10 FG, 1-2 FT, 2-7 3PT)

Gansey: 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-2 FT, 2-6 3PT)

February 22, 2003, Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, Philadelphia

Saint Joseph’s 76, St. Bonaventure 72

Nelson: 25 points, 9 rebounds

Gansey: 18 points

*Box score not available

NELSON ON HIS SIDE

So, there you have it. Nelson played four times against Gansey’s Bonnies teams and won all four.

Gansey pointed out on Monday that he is winning now “because I have him [Nelson] on my side.”

There certainly is no shame in losing to those Saint Joseph’s teams. Those were some really, really good Hawks teams which were building up to the great 2003–04 squad, which I wrote about extensively.

In case you would like to learn more about that team, you can pick up a copy of my book: A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline). You can order a copy of the book at Amazon, Brookline, or directly through me via Big5Hoops.

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INSIDE SCOOP: On Jameer Nelson’s elite leadership skills

Aaron Bracy — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:23:33 GMT

Jameer Nelson, pictured with Phil Martelli during his Saint Joseph’s days, displayed his elite leadership skills on Hawk Hill. (Photo: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos)

By AARON BRACY

June 4, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

Monté Ross was enamored with Jameer Nelson the first time he saw him play. It was Nelson’s court vision and floor generalship that so impressed Ross, a former Saint Joseph’s assistant coach, when he watched Nelson as a sophomore at Chester High School.

What Ross would later learn is that Nelson’s off-court leadership might have been even greater than what he brought on the court. And that is really saying a lot.

Nelson, of course, went on to star at Saint Joseph’s, leading the Hawks to a No. 1 overall ranking in the 2003–04 season, before a 14-year NBA career that included one All-Star appearance in 2009. Since retiring as a player in 2018, Nelson has quickly risen in NBA front-office ranks, beginning as a scout and assistant general manager with the 76ers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, in 2020. He was promoted to Blue Coats general manager in 2023 and became the 76ers’ assistant general manager two years later.

Though nothing has become official as of this typing, Mike Gansey reportedly is going to be the 76ers’ next president of basketball operations. Nelson could become the club’s general manager. Again, no announcement has been made as of now. Whether with the 76ers, or someone else, Nelson will bring elite leadership to whatever role he assumes.

Here’s what I quote-Tweeted in response to Adam Aaronson’s Tweet about Nelson’s role with the 76ers.

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In my reporting and writing for A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), Ross and others shared what made Nelson such a great leader.

Below are three examples from the book.

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If you would like to learn more, I will be signing copies of A Soaring Season from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Sunday, June 7, at Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop, 2206 South Street, Philadelphia. Alternatively, you can order a copy of the book at Amazon, Brookline, or directly through me via Big5Hoops.

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1. Lead by Example: The underdog Hawks became a team in the truest sense, with each player getting the most out of his abilities. A huge reason was the practice habits. And Nelson set the example for everyone with how things were going to be during practice. Even as a senior, after accomplishing so much that he nearly left Hawk Hill for the NBA following his junior season, Nelson treated each practice as if he were trying out for the team.

Here is an excerpt from pages 93–94 in Chapter 18 of A Soaring Season:

Nelson practiced like he was trying out for the team and expected everyone to have that mindset. If sessions didn’t go as well as planned, the Hawks’ leader let his teammates know. It didn’t matter how many preseason accolades, newspaper headlines, or compliments from Martelli or others Nelson got. He acted like just another guy trying to keep his spot in the lineup. If teammates didn’t bring that mentality, he let them know about it.

“Phil brings everybody in at the end of practice and before Phil could say anything, Jameer said, ‘Look, I want y’all to know we’re all fighting for spots here,’” assistant coach Monté Ross remembered about one subpar practice. “Like, ‘Nobody has no spots. We need to be working our tails off because we’re fighting for spots.’ You’re talking about a guy who’s ‘Preseason Whatever’ and ‘All Everything.’ That’s the type of leadership he brought to the program.”

2. Lead by Encouragement: Nelson inspired confidence in his teammates in many ways and knew just the right time and just the right words to pick when encouraging them to give whatever the team needed. A great example of that came in the Hawks’ seventh game of that memorable season on December 14, 2003, when Saint Joseph’s was engaged in a tight first-half tussle with a tough, Bruiser Flint-coached Drexel squad. Into the game entered Chet Stachitas, a talented reserve more known for doing the little things important to winning than for scoring. But Nelson knew St. Joe’s needed a scoring lift right then and there, and he imbued confidence in Stachitas to provide it.

Here is an excerpt from page 69 in Chapter 12 of A Soaring Season:

Stachitas himself wasn’t planning to come in and do much damage right away, either. But Jameer Nelson had other plans for him. Nelson knew St. Joe’s needed an offensive spark in the tight contest, and he pressed Stachitas to provide one for the Hawks, though Stachitas was a little surprised by this request.

“We’re waiting for the TV timeout to come back, and I’m going to inbound to Jameer,” Stachitas said. “We’re just chatting before the play resumes, and he told me, ‘Alright, we need you to come in and score and shoot.’ I remember saying, ‘Jameer, can I just run up and down the court first?’ He’s like, ‘No, we need you to score now.’ That was the confidence he would instill in other people. Like, ‘No, we don’t have time for you to run up and down the court. We need you to shoot the ball.’”

Stachitas would follow Nelson’s words by hitting four three-pointers in a 3 1/2-minute span during a 19-2 run that erased any prospects of a Dragons upset.

3. Lead by Words: Elite leaders like Nelson lift others around them up, often seeing what others can do and believing in them in ways that the people themselves might not have been able to see or believe. This, perhaps, is Nelson’s greatest quality and why, besides his God-given athletic gifts, he has been so successful in team settings and will continue to be.

This is probably my favorite example of Nelson’s leadership from the book. It is truly powerful. It was told to me by Dave Mallon, another important reserve on that Hawks team. Mallon battled injuries throughout his Hawks career but always gave what he could, in large part because of Nelson. Listen to what Mallon said.

Here is an excerpt from pages 28–29 in Chapter 4 of A Soaring Season:

“Jameer had an attitude that if I can do it, you can do it,” Mallon said. “If I can shoot five thousand jumpers after practice, you can. If I can go get six rebounds, you can go get six rebounds. He had this way of carrying himself but also bringing his teammates with him. He never acted better, or on a pedestal, or anything. His thing was, ‘I give it my all, I need you to give your all.’”

Farther down the page, I told the story that Mallon recounted to me of how he has used Jameer’s can-do inspiration throughout his post-basketball career. You can pick up the book to read that part, but I can assure you it’s really powerful stuff. (It’s even more powerful when Mallon tells the story, something he has graciously done at several book talks with me.)

Those are just three examples of Nelson’s elite leadership from A Soaring Season. There are lots more in the book. And, certainly, there are many, many more examples out there and more to be written in Nelson’s story, whether with the 76ers or another NBA front office.

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Inside the Big 5: Penn’s TJ Power on last season: ‘I felt smooth again’

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 30 May 2026 10:15:38 GMT

Penn’s TJ Power and coach Fran McCaffery speak at a press conference after defeating Drexel 84-68 on November 21, 2025. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)

By AARON BRACY

May 30, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

(Author’s Note: Click HERE to read this story at Big5Hoops.com)

A 6-foot-9 forward with a silky outside shooting touch, it was no surprise that TJ Power chose Duke over North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, Notre Dame after a standout prep career at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts.

Once in Durham, North Carolina, though, Power did not experience the on-court success for which he was accustomed, averaging just 2.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in 26 games as a freshman in 2023–24. While good buddy and fellow Blue Devils rookie Jared McCain followed that season by being selected No. 16 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the 76ers, Power was searching for his next move. With limited minutes in his one season there and Duke about to usher in a pair of heralded prospects in Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, Power transferred to Virginia for his sophomore season.

Things did not go well in Charlottesville, either, beginning with the surprise retirement of head coach Tony Bennett less than a month before the start of the season. Power appeared in 24 games for the Cavaliers, averaging a mere 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds. The former five-star recruit’s confidence was shaken after two unexpectedly disappointing college experiences. It was time for another fresh start.

Third Time a Charm

Like many college coaches, Fran McCaffery had coveted Power out of high school. Then at Iowa, McCaffery unsuccessfully sold his free-flowing offensive system to Power. Hired at his alma mater Penn in March 2025 after being let go by Iowa, McCaffery needed players after the Quakers combined for just seven conference wins the previous two seasons. And Power needed a team.

This time, Power was sold on McCaffery. It did not take long for the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, native to feel like coming to Philadelphia was a great decision. In spite of an elbow injury that slowed him some during last preseason, Power steadily began to feel like himself again, his confidence and his game starting to return. He was comfortable in McCaffery’s wide-open attack. More than that, though, McCaffery helped to free Power’s mind.

Click HERE to read my story on why Anthony Finkley transferred from Saint Joseph’s to La Salle.

“It was just like the mentality he let me have,” Power told me recently in a phone interview. “I can be as aggressive as I need to be and not have to think about if I’m coming out of the game, or if I’m doing something right or wrong. I think he just wanted me to trust myself. That was the biggest part where I was able to tap into a big part of my game.”

Smooth Again

Through three games to open last season, Power produced in ways he had not in his previous two seasons. But it was in the Quakers’ fourth contest of 2025–26, at home against Saint Joseph’s in a Big 5 matchup on Monday, November 17, 2025, that he finally felt like himself once again. By halftime, Power had 18 points and seven rebounds. Before, he was so caught up in not making a mistake that he never was able to take in the moment. Now, though, he was reacting to the fans’ cheers, chest-bumping with his teammates, and taking in every single bit of the joy of competing that had been lost for two seasons. Power ended up with 23 points and 15 rebounds in the Quakers’ impressive 83-74 win.

“It kind of felt like up to that point, I was in fight or flight mode on the court sometimes, where I was really trying not to mess up, and it was hard for me to take in the moment,” Power said. “That game, especially in the first half, I was flowing. I was able to just like get lost in the game.

“It was like the first time I felt comfortable on the court in my college basketball career. I was able to enjoy the moment and the crowd and the competition level. I felt smooth again.”

Buoyed by the performance, Power continued to play well. With McCain seated behind Penn’s bench, Power had 18 points to help the Quakers beat Drexel at a packed DAC on November 21, leading Penn to the Big 5 Classic title game against Villanova. While the Quakers lost the game—and took a big blow when leading scorer Ethan Roberts suffered a concussion that would bother him all season—Penn was on its way to regaining its footing as a factor in the Ivy League.

“I was able to enjoy the moment and the crowd and the competition level. I felt smooth again.”

A Power-ful Performance

Prognosticators did not expect much of Penn last season, picking the Quakers to finish seventh of eight teams in the Ivy League. That was not a surprise considering Penn had placed second-from-the-bottom in each of the prior two seasons. But the proud program rebounded behind Power, Roberts, and McCaffery, qualifying as one of the top four teams for the league’s postseason tournament, Ivy Madness.

After upsetting Harvard in the semifinal without Roberts, Penn was tasked with trying to take down league favorite Yale, once again without Roberts, in the conference tournament title game. A berth in the NCAA tournament was on the line when the teams tipped off on March 15, 2026, in Ithaca, New York.

What happened next will be remembered by Power and Penn fans for forever. Power played the game of his life, accumulating 44 points and 14 rebounds in the Quakers’ shocking 88-84 overtime win. He produced one of college basketball’s season highlights by draining a game-tying three-pointer at the regulation buzzer to lift Penn into the extra session.

Power had come a long way from averaging roughly two points per game at Duke and Virginia.

“I always felt like I had performances like that in the tank,” Power said. “For it to come out in that stage was poetic for me and my family.”

“I think I was so lost in competing, kind of like what I talked about with St. Joe’s,” he added. “Yale was like that on a much higher level. It was like nothing else in the world mattered except trying to win that game.”

With Roberts out, Power knew he would need to provide more scoring. Not even missing his first two three-pointers deterred him from continuing to fire. It was not a selfish approach, but one he knew the Quakers needed at that time.

“Our team got really close over that year, and we kind of pushed each other to the point where it was ultra-competitive, super selfless, we’re giving everything we have to each other,” he said. “When Ethan went out, me giving myself to the team meant I had to be a little bit more aggressive.”

Power also credits his faith for the game of a lifetime.

“Another piece in that is I put a lot of trust in God, especially leading into that weekend,” he said. “I wasn’t really attached to winning or losing. Obviously, I wanted to win. I wanted to just give everything I had and put my trust in the Lord and let the results take care of themselves. It was cool to see Him come through in that way.”

A Shot for the Ages

As good as Power had been, Penn still trailed 75-72 with 5.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Power caught the inbounds pass near the Quakers’ free-throw line, needed just three dribbles to reach the three-point line on the right wing, pulled up and perfectly swished a shot for the ages to force overtime.

“Every kid always thinks about hitting the game-winner, or whatever,” Power said. “Honestly, I didn’t think they would let me get the ball. And then when they let me get the ball, I thought they were going to foul. When those two things didn’t happen, I just kind of took off. Once I got close to the three-point line, I was in a really good state of mind. I was like, ‘If I get one off, it’s probably going in here.’”

Yale’s Casey Simmons was seemingly within inches of blocking the shot with his left hand.

Click HERE to learn more about Aaron Bracy’s book on the 2001 76ers and HERE to preorder a copy of Are You Kidding Me?

“Great defender and really athletic,” Power said of Simmons. “He jumped and he was in the air. I kind of had to pause for a second in mid-air and let him pass me by. And I had to put a ton of arc on the shot. When it went in, I honestly didn’t even celebrate. I was so locked in to that moment and I knew we had to go to overtime. When I watch it back, my hands get sweaty and stuff because it’s like still a crazy moment for me.”

NBA Still the Goal

While Power was lighting up Yale, former Duke teammates McCain, Tyrese Proctor, and Kyle Filipowski were establishing themselves in the NBA. Meantime, Flagg and Knueppel were starring in the league in which Power always has dreamed of playing. And that is still his apsiration.

“It’s a thousand percent still my goal,” Power said of the NBA. “Nothing’s changed.”

NBA scouts certainly loved what they saw against Yale. Power’s season averages of 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds and, especially, his knockdown rate of 43.2 percent (79 of 183) from three-point range surely impressed those tasked with evaluating college prospects. There is the question about the level of Ivy competition, though. Some might point to the NCAA tournament when Power struggled to six points and one rebound in Penn’s 105-70 loss to eventual Final Four entrant Illinois in the first round as evidence. However, Power had been stricken with a severe stomach virus that had him laid up in the hotel room for two days, taking IVs just to be able to get on the court. He had not picked up a basketball in days and clearly was not himself against a very tough Illini squad.

Program-wise, playing in March Madness was huge for the Quakers.

“It was cool for these guys to realize how much their work really means, and just to have something tangible to look back on and we worked toward a goal all year long,” Power said. “Then we got to that moment to experience that together. It was super cool.”

On a personal level, it was not the most memorable for Power.

Click HERE to learn more about Aaron Bracy’s book on the 2004 Saint Joseph’s Hawks and HERE to order a copy of A Soaring Season.

“I was just kind of grateful to get on the floor and be out there,” he said. “But I was real foggy and stuff.”

No Limits

This summer, Power is focusing on building muscle and improving his ballhandling and strengthening already strong areas of his game.

“I love being in the gym; that’s my favorite part of basketball, development,” he said. “There are a lot of ways I want to get stronger physically. My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA. I need to fit that prototype and get stronger, faster, more athletic. And just build on that so I have a good base for the season.”

He knows opponents will be keying in on him even more next season at Penn, and he plans to be ready.

“I want to be more consistent with my three-point shot,” he said. “I think that’s my best skill. I want to be able to get it off quick and in different scenarios. I think I’ll have a lot more attention, so I’ll need to be able to get to my spots and be efficient with those.”

Power will be leading a Penn team in 2026–27 that will need to replace Roberts’s scoring and Cam Thrower’s playmaking. But he believes the Quakers have the talent to be good again. Winning the Ivy League title again will be something that Power and Company will be eyeing, but it will not be a goal. That would be too limiting.

“I don’t want to put any limits on our team,” he said. “We can do anything that any other college team can do. These teams we’re trying to beat, like Illinois, they have big goals. Why not? Why can’t we have these goals, too? At least striving for them is how we grow the most. Obviously, we want to repeat. I just want us to be as best as we can. Even if we repeat as champions and that’s our goal, then once we accomplish that we’re going to feel like a sense of complacency. No, we can push through that even more and make some history here.”

And Power has the same thing in mind for himself.

“I don’t want any limits on our team, and I don’t want any limits on myself,” Power said. “I can accomplish anything I want to here, and that’s kind of the mindset I have for this next year. I have so many limits that other people have placed on me, and I just want to push through those in a big way this year. That’s kind of my plan.”

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INSIDE LOOK: On my love of reading and two men who nourished it

Aaron Bracy — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:19:57 GMT

Martin Perrotta (far left) and Paul Bracy (far right) are pictured with me and my brother Andy at a birthday celebration a few summers ago.

By AARON BRACY

May 22, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

Last week, I spent a wonderful evening reading for pleasure at my local library. It had been too long since I had visited one of my favorite places.

Before settling in to Luke Epplin’s excellent book, Moses and the Doctor, I gandered over to the card catalog and typed, “A Soaring Season Aaron Bracy.” Though I knew the book was in the library’s collection, I had never actually seen it on the shelves before. The search told me the book was available. I just needed to find: 796.3236 BRACY. Cool!

Sure enough, it was right there. My smile at seeing it grew even wider when I noticed what else was right there on that shelf. Three books over to the right was John Feinstein’s The Back Roads to March. Two more over was Jeff Pearlman’s Three-Ring Circus. And at the other end was Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger.

Bracy … Feinstein … Pearlman … Bissinger.

Pretty cool, for sure.

I always thought that if I wanted to be a sportswriter that I needed to learn from the best and read the best sports books. There are probably one or two Feinstein books I have not read, but I have devoured most of them. Bissinger’s book on Texas high school football is a must for any up-and-coming writer. And Pearlman’s tale of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers was one I thoroughly enjoyed during a family vacation to the Jersey Shore, with me happily reading under a shady tree while everyone was at the beach.

A Soaring Season on the shelf at my local library and next to Feinstein, Pearlman, and Bissinger.

These three authors, and many more, have helped me as a sportswriter. They helped to inspire me to achieve a dream by becoming a published author. And there have been many others who have contributed to my passion for books, notably the awesome teachers in the Willingboro public school system. But two men, above all, have nourished my love of reading:

Paul Bracy and Martin Perrotta.

It is funny the way some things work, isn’t it? Like, I can’t remember what T-shirt I wore yesterday, but I can vividly remember Paul Bracy reading to me decades ago when I was 5 years old. These are wonderful memories, but also painful. I tear up, like now, when I think about it. At that time, Paul Bracy lived with me. Read to me. Took me to the library. Taught me at an early age the importance of an education. After all, he was an educator. A damn good one, too, for a special education population that others might not have wanted to deal with. Paul Bracy wanted no one else in his classroom.

Paul Bracy, my Dad, continued to impart the value of education, continued to take me to the library as I grew older. But things were different from about when I was 6 years old on following Mom and Dad’s divorce. Those were on scheduled visits, sometimes after school, sometimes every other weekend. I know that happened, him reading to me and taking me to the library, but I don’t recall those times as vividly as when I was 5 years old. Go figure.

I met Martin Perrotta sometime just before middle school, as I recall. Soon, he was living with us. Later, he would marry my Mom, officially becoming my stepfather. That word doesn’t seem to fit, though. There is something diminishing about “step”father. Marty was another father for me. It was tricky at times for me as a kid, torn up at times emotionally, as I am sure others reading this who grew up similarly can relate. There were differences between Paul Bracy and Martin Perrotta, many of them. But one thing that was similar was how much both valued reading. And how much they loved me.

Like Paul Bracy, Martin Perrotta passed on his love of reading and writing to me. I don’t think I’ve met a smarter person than Marty, his expansive knowledge of literature, poetry, music, law, current events, and more so enviable. Whenever I had a question in high school about one of those classics in the English curriculum, Marty was right there to help. I mean, a simple question about The Catcher in the Rye could be a conversation well into the evening.

I certainly would not be where I am today without Paul Bracy and Martin Perrotta. And, without them, I don’t think I would have published A Soaring Season and, soon, Are You Kidding Me? I am sure they both would have gotten a kick at seeing A Soaring Season on the library shelf. Sadly, they did not. Paul Bracy died unexpectedly and suddenly in December 2022. Nine months later, Martin Perrotta also died, not as unexpectedly after a courageous battle with cancer but still painfully. I struggled emotionally in the aftermath of their passings, two men who were very different but whose love for me was very similar.

Then, it hit me. Life is short, I thought. It’s precious. Now is the time to live your best life. What is it that I want to do while I still can, I thought. Of course, write a book. About sixteen months after having that thought, A Soaring Season was published. Hitting bookstores on February 19, 2027 will be Are You Kidding Me?

And when you open that book on the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers and get past the title page, you will come to a dedication page that reads like this:

Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers is dedicated to Paul Bracy, who loved Allen Iverson and the 76ers, and Martin Perrotta, who loved reading and writing. Both greatly valued education. I learned so much from them. I love and miss both of them dearly.

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INSIDE SCOOP: Story behind the title of my 2001 76ers book

Aaron Bracy — Sat, 09 May 2026 10:05:04 GMT

The title of my book on Allen Iverson and the 2001 76ers was inspired by the words of radio play-by-play broadcaster Tom McGinnis. Cover photo: Scott W Anderson Photography. Cover Design: Declan Ingram/Casemate.

By AARON BRACY

May 9, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

Before I typed a single word or did a minute of research, I had the title for the book I wanted to write about the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers:

Are You Kidding Me?

Those words, as anyone around during that magical season would recall, were synonymous with that memorable 2001 team and the historic run to the NBA Finals thanks to 76ers radio play-by-play broadcaster Tom McGinnis.

McGinnis told me during one of my first interviews for the book, which is scheduled to be published on February 19, 2027, last summer that he never set out to come up with a catchphrase as a broadcaster. But those words have become just that for McGinnis, though it happened naturally. McGinnis recalled starting to say it while watching Allen Iverson throw alley-oop passes for slam dunks to Larry Hughes during the lockout-shortened 1999 season. It was out of his sheer enthusiasm and almost disbelief for the incredible athletic feats he was describing on the court that the catchphrase arose.

During the 2000–01 season, McGinnis broke out the words a lot to describe many amazing Iverson feats–though his iconic call of Iverson’s stepover of Tyronn Lue during Game 1 against the Lakers in the Finals was, “He’s way too good!”

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For the title of the book, I knew I wanted to use: Are You Kidding Me? This was both because McGinnis’s calls were such a part of that season and also because the words themselves almost perfectly describe what Iverson and a bunch of blue-collar role players were able to accomplish that season, especially when factoring in all of the injuries in which they had to overcome.

Over the years, I have said hello to McGinnis at 76ers games, but I didn’t know him very well. That changed this season. He was a fantastic interview for the book. That happened over the phone. Subsequently, we started speaking more in person at games.

A few weeks into the season after we had become more friendly, I asked McGinnis if I could discuss the title of the book with him. It was, after all, his catchphrase. It also was the only title I wanted for the book. In passing during our phone interview, he had told me that he didn’t have a patent on the saying. So, I knew I could use it. Still, I felt it was the right thing to do to ask for his permission to use it for the book title.

Our conversation went something like this:

Aaron: Tom, I want to talk to you about the title I have been thinking about for the book. There is really only one title–

(McGinnis, as I recall, didn’t even wait for me to finish.)

Tom: You mean, Are You Kidding Me?

He knew right away. And his smile told me, without him even having to say anything, exactly what I wanted to hear. Not only was McGinnis cool with me using it for the title of the book, but he actually was excited, I felt, that it would be the title. While I was on a roll, I went ahead and asked him if he could unveil the title as only he can.

The sound quality and the lighting of the recording isn’t the best (my fault), but it was a huge thrill for McGinnis to announce the title of the book. You can watch it on YouTube HERE.

I am so happy that McGinnis agreed, and so excited for the book to come out with the cover splashed with:

Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline).

You can learn more about the book, and preorder a copy by clicking HERE.

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WEEK REWIND

Here are some links in case you missed them.

-On Monday, I kicked off this newsletter with a welcome post.

-On Wednesday, I published a Bracy Sports Media EXCLUSIVE on why Anthony Finkley transferred from Saint Joseph’s to La Salle.

-Also on Wednesday, I published Episode 63 of the Bracy Sports Media podcast, which featured an interview with author Paul Knepper, author of Moses Malone: The Life of a Basketball Prophet (University of Nebraska Press). The book was fantastic. I learned so much about Malone that I did not know. I would highly recommend it.

-I also had a busy week in press boxes, covering the Phillies-A’s series for the Associated Press. I also was courtside for Game 3 of the 76ers-Knicks on Friday night.

-On Friday, I dusted off my Big5Hoops website for a story on Steve Donahue and Saint Joseph’s. There is a ton here in my Inside the Big 5 column.

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WEEK AHEAD

-The next Bracy Sports Media Newsletter will drop on Wednesday. It will be another EXCLUSIVE that you won’t want to miss.

This time, unlike with this Inside Look article and the Finkley EXCLUSIVE, you will need to be a subscriber to read it. It still will be free, but only for Bracy Sports Media Newsletter subscribers.

Thank you in advance for helping to spread the word about the newsletter!

You can share the Bracy Sports Media Newsletter with this link, or with the button below.

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SUPPORT MY WORK

The Bracy Sports Media Newsletter is free! However, we would be grateful for your support in the following ways:

1. Preorder a copy of Aaron Bracy’s book, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline). Publication date: February 19, 2027.

Preorder here: Amazon, Big5Hoops, Barnes & Noble

2. Order a copy of Aaron Bracy’s book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline). Publication date: March 1, 2025.

Order here: Amazon, Big5Hoops, Barnes & Noble, Brookline

3. Follow Aaron Bracy on social media:

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4. Subscribe to the Bracy Sports Media podcast:

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EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Finkley reveals why he transferred from Saint Joseph's to La Salle

Aaron Bracy — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:05:52 GMT

Anthony Finkley is excited to be joining the La Salle Explorers (Photo: IG)

By AARON BRACY

May 6, 2026

Bracy Sports Media Newsletter

When Anthony Finkley came to Saint Joseph’s in the fall of 2023, it was like joining an extended family on Hawk Hill. Just three short years later, that familiar feeling had vanished.

Finkley came to Saint Joseph’s along with high school teammate and good friend Xzayvier Brown after both helped Roman Catholic to the Philadelphia Catholic League title the previous season. On the Hawks bench was Brown’s stepfather, assistant coach Justin Scott, whom Finkley considers an uncle. Leading the Hawks was head coach Billy Lange, with whom Finkley has had a long, strong relationship.

Brown and Scott departed St. Joe’s for Oklahoma after the 2025 season. Lange surprisingly resigned just two months before last season for a job with the New York Knicks. Suddenly, Hawk Hill did not feel the same way for Finkley as it did when he arrived. And the results showed on the court.

After a solid sophomore season in which he finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 in three-point shooting, Finkley struggled mightily as a junior last season. That was especially the case in the first half of the season before Deuce Jones departed the team.

Finkley decided to enter the transfer portal following the season and has found a home at La Salle, which eagerly recruited the 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward. So, why was he so eager to leave Saint Joseph’s?

“Honestly, I didn’t know it was real, but I feel like I went through mental health problems last year,” Finkley told me in a phone interview. “Everybody I came into it [with] is just not here anymore, like everything don’t feel right.”

The Explorers wasted no time recruiting Finkley. He said the coaches contacted him shortly after he entered his name into the transfer portal.

“The whole coaching staff did a great job of recruiting me,” he said. “They texted me every day, like three times a day. It felt like the hottest thing in the street how they was coming.”

Finkley consulted family and friends and looked into the situation at La Salle. He liked the toughness with which the Explorers played and was impressed with coach Darris Nichols.

“Just how they played,” he said of what he liked. “From where I’m from, North Philly, I’m used to people who play like that: fast, get up under you, gritty. I feel like I’ll fit right into that.”

Most importantly, the move to La Salle is a physical and mental reset for Finkley.

“Just getting a fresh start, still being home, family can see me every day,” he said. “And just like a clean slate was something I feel like I needed, and La Salle is a good fit for me in doing that.”

The Explorers are excited to have him, and the coaches believe they can help get Finkley back to the player he was as a sophomore in 2024–25 when he averaged 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range (44 of 111). In 2025–26, those numbers slipped to 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 19.0 minutes while dipping to 28.8 percent from three-point range (32 of 111).

“I don’t think he forgot how to play basketball,” Nichols told me. “He was eighth in offensive rating overall two years ago. I think about it like this: Everybody is not for everybody. There are some players who may not vibe well with me; that’s fine. But that’s what the transfer portal does. He signed up to play for Billy Lange. He could’ve left [last season], but who leaves in the fall.

“For him, I think it was a combination of a lot of things making him uncomfortable. Now, it’s his decision. When it’s the player’s decision, sometimes you get a different level of player. He’s a good player. He fits how we want to play. He can play the four. You can move him around. He can really shoot it. My goal with him is to get him to the free throw line a little bit more. … I think Anthony Finkley is the four we need to get.”

Finkley will spend part of this summer working on his shooting stroke while getting into optimal condition.

“My body is probably the most important thing to me,” he said. “I’m definitely going to try to get in tip-top shape.”

He also will hone his midrange game, something that was not much a part of St. Joe’s offense during Finkley’s three seasons but will be at La Salle, Finkley said. The biggest thing is that the excitement is back in Finkley’s voice after a trying season, on and off the court.

He cannot wait to get started with the Explorers.

“I think it’s the right fit for me,” Finkley said. “My mom is happy. I’m excited.”

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Welcome to Aaron Bracy's Bracy Sports Media Newsletter!

Aaron Bracy — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:51:14 GMT

Aaron Bracy has covered sports in the Philadelphia region for nearly three decades.

-What is the Bracy Sports Media Newsletter? The Bracy Sports Media Newsletter provides exclusive content on Philadelphia sports, with an emphasis on the Big 5, as well as updates on Aaron Bracy's books and his coverage of the Phillies, 76ers, Flyers, Eagles, and college basketball.

-Who is Aaron Bracy? Aaron Bracy has covered sports in the Philadelphia region for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. Bracy has written one book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), and has another coming out on February 19, 2027, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline). In 2023, Bracy started Big5Hoops.com, his second iteration of a website dedicated to covering the Philadelphia Big 5.

-What about Big5Hoops.com? The website is not going anywhere! Bracy still will publish my his Inside the Big 5 Column at Big5Hoops.com and will update in-season schedule and results there at the Schedule link during the season. You can also learn more about his books and order a copy on the homepages for A Soaring Season and Are You Kidding Me?

-What if I have questions? Email Aaron at bracymedia@gmail.com with any questions and/or comments.

-Support: The Bracy Sports Media Newsletter is free! However, we would be grateful for your support in the following ways:

Preorder here: Amazon, Big5Hoops, Barnes & Noble

2. Order a copy of Aaron Bracy’s book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline). Publication date: March 1, 2025.