🏀 A Hawk’s new heights | Sports Daily Newsletter

Jameer Nelson was the consensus national player of the year in 2004 when he led the St. Joseph’s Hawks to the Elite Eight.

Erik Reynolds II just outdid the legendary guard from Chester High. Reynolds passed Nelson as St. Joe’s all-time leading scorer Wednesday night when he sank a three-pointer a few feet away from Nelson’s seat in the front row at Hagan Arena.

Reynolds now has 2,114 points for the Hawks, a remarkable achievement in these days of name, image, and likeness deals when players can transfer to greener pastures on a whim. Just lasting four years with the same school is an accomplishment these days.

St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange appreciates the loyalty of Reynolds, who has built a special bond with the man who recruited him. “To have that kid stay here for four years, at the level of player he is, it just says everything about who he is as a person,” Lange says.

The Hawks have won 20 games for the second straight season as the Atlantic 10 tournament and a chance at an NCAA berth approach. Jeff Neiburg tells the story of Reynolds and how much he means to his coach.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, [email protected].

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The NHL trade deadline arrives today at 3 p.m., and Scott Laughton admits that he cannot ignore the rumors that have swirled around him. The forward has spent 12 years with the Flyers, but the chatter seems louder than ever this year.

" I’m pretty aware of it,” Laughton says. “I think it’s nice to be aware of it, and to know what’s out there, even if they are just rumors, just to know where you’re at. It’s your life at the end of the day.”

On the ice, the Flyers looked disjointed in their 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Rookie Matvei Michkov was the lone bright spot for the Orange and Black, scoring his 20th goal of the season.

The Sixers entered the offseason with a plan to place veterans on short-term contracts around their Big Three of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. After injuries and inconsistencies plagued those stars and their supporting role players, the team has reversed course.

At the NBA trade deadline, that about-face materialized in trades to acquire Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler. The Sixers subsequently signed Lonnie Walker IV. Early indications point to the acquisition of Grimes as a success. Time will tell about Walker, but Butler has not appeared to work out as the team had hoped. The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey looks at all three players and what their additions could mean for the Sixers’ future.

As the injuries continue to pile up for the Sixers, so do the losses. This time, the Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum’s 35 points, handed the Sixers their 14th loss in the last 16 games.

Leaving the only organization he has ever known since he was 17 wasn’t easy for Max Kepler, but he was excited — albeit a little nervous — to arrive in Clearwater, Fla., and join the Phillies. Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos have made that transition easier for the 32-year-old outfielder. Hitting coach Kevin Long has made the transition easier, too, by trying to simplify Kepler’s swing and regain the power he displayed during his best season.

Aaron Nola worked on his most important pitch — his curveball — and dominated the Rays.

Next: The Phillies hit the road to take on the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. today (MLB Network, Phillies audio feed). Cristopher Sánchez is scheduled to start against Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones.

In the Season 5 debut of unCovering the Birds, Jeff McLane takes you inside the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Listen here.

The Eagles are keeping Zack Baun in the nest, but free agents Milton Williams and Josh Sweat are likely to sign elsewhere and the team has released Darius Slay. The Birds are likely to need their young defensive players to be ready to make the next jump in their careers in 2025. Jeff McLane discusses the prospects for Cooper DeJean, Moro Ojomo, Jalyx Hunt, and Sydney Brown, among others.

Fifty years ago, the Philadelphia Wings patterned themselves after the Broad Street Bullies as a tough-and-tumble entry in the National Lacrosse League. They even had a former Flyer, Doug Favell, on their roster. Matt Breen tells the story of a popular team that did not last long.

Here are our Philly fan photos for this week. Want to be included? Submit photos with a Philly sports theme here for the opportunity to be featured.

We asked you: Who’s an athlete you think is an inspiration? Among your responses:

My pick is Saquon Barkley. The consummate player and teammate, full of energy and nothing but kindness from him. He is grateful for being in Philly and all that goes with that and it shows. I just love him. — Kathy T.

Fran Dunphy, coach of La Salle. — Simon

Throughout my long life as a sports fan I have always been inspired by the stories of our athletic stars and coaches who overcame poverty, or racial prejudice, or lack of support from family or coaches or community, or who were limited physically, but overcame all the obstacles to reach stardom or in many cases just to make it to a college or professional level. — Everett S.

What a Run! traces the remarkable journey that was the 2024 campaign, from Saquon Barkley’s 2,000-yard breakout season in his first year in Philly to Vic Fangio’s formidable defense to the exhilarating playoff wins against the Packers, Rams, and Commanders that paved the way for revenge against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Featuring electrifying stories and photos from The Inquirer, this commemorative book takes fans from Week 1 in São Paulo, all the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans. What a Run! is available at Barnes & Noble, on Amazon, and at other retail outlets. Or you can order your copy here.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Gabriela Carroll, Jackie Spiegel, Jeff McLane, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Alex Coffey, Matt Breen, Lochlahn March, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Paulie Loscalzo, and Mia Messina.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

That’s all for another week of Sports Daily. Have a great weekend. — Jim