Lincoln University is looking for nominations for its 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame Class. The athletic department will induct its second Hall of Fame class on Sept. 27. The class will be introduced during halftime of the Lincoln vs. Livingstone College football game on Sept. 28 at the Lincoln University Football Stadium.
The members of the inaugural Hall of Fame class were Dr. Leonard L. Bethel, Dr. Frank “Tick” Coleman, Barrington “Barry” Fearon, Munford Merrill “Monte” Irvin, Rhondale Jones, Ashley Parker, Dr. Tarron Richardson, Manuel Rivero, Robert Eugene Smith, Dr. Tehma H. Smith and Clive Terrelonge.
Here are some worthy candidates that certainly merit consideration for the second class:
Rob Knox
Knox did an excellent job as Lincoln University’s sports information director. He spent five years as the Lions SID. He played a significant role in providing Lincoln with a great deal of publicity. He placed feature stories in Sports Illustrated and ESPN.com. His publicity efforts brought national attention to the school’s track and field program. He played a huge role bringing national publicity to the return of Lincoln University’s football team in 2008. His timely press releases and sports information produced a number of college basketball and track and field All-Americans. Knox, a Chester High alumnus, is 1996 Lincoln University graduate. He currently works for ESPN in Bristol, Conn. as statistics manager in the statistics & analysis department.
Sterling Wright
Wright, a 6-foot-7 forward, was a sixth round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973. Wright scored over 1,000 points and grabbed more than 1,000 rebounds in his career. He was a NAIA All-American.
Darrel Lewis
Lewis was a prolific scorer. He was one of the top scorers in Division III. The 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 26.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game his junior year.
George Gooden
Gooden had a great basketball career at Lincoln University. The 6-foot-2 guard received NAIA All-American honors. He scored 1,237 career points and played with Wright. The Lions had one of the best small college programs in the NAIA.
Benjamin “Alvin” Arnold
Arnold was a two-year starter for Lincoln under head coach Doug Randolph. He could score and handle the ball. He had a knack for hitting the big shot. At 6-foot, Arnold was a terrific leaper. He could dunk with ease and explode to the basket. He was also a great defender.
Dennis Caldwell
Caldwell had the ability to create his own shot. He had a great jumpshot. He could get in the lane with his ballhanding and quickness. Caldwell played some great basketball durung a great era for Black college basketball that featured players like Rubin Collins, Talvin Skinner, James Roundtree and Marvin Webster.
Alondra Woodard
Woodard was the Lincoln’s first female track and field All-American in 1989 under Hall of Fame coach Cyrus Jones. She was a key member of Lincoln’s NCAA track and field championship team that year. She was a great sprinter.
Jordean Matthews
Matthews was a tremendous all-around athlete. She ran track, played volleyball and softball. Matthews became the first African-American female in the 54-year history of the ECAC-SIDA organization to receive an award during its annual banquet . She received the distinguished Bill Esposito Award for her work in sports information. She was also nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year.
Bobby Young
Young was a tremendous track and field athlete. He received All-American honors in the 200, 400, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay and 4x100 relay teams. In 2005, he was named the Most Oustanding Athlete.
Juan Edney
Edney was an 11-time All-American in track and field. He anchored Lincoln’s 1989 outdoor 4x100 relay team, which captured the Division III championship. He is now the head track and field coach at Rutgers-Newark.
Franz Alfred “Jazz” Byrd
Byrd was an All-American running back and quarterback for Lincoln’s football team. He is one of the school’s all-time great football players. He also ran track. He is a member of the class of 1925.
Robert “Whirlwind” Johnson
Johnson is known as “The Godfather of Tennis.” In 2009, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He is responsible for developing the outstanding tennis careers of the late Arthur Ashe and the late Althea Gibson. In addition to his trailblazing efforts in tennis, he was a tremendous football player. In 1924, he was selected to the Negro All-American football team.
Nominations are due or post marked by June 1, 2013. All nominations submitted in 2012 will be included in the pool for consieration with the 2013 nominees for the 2013 class. For more information, go to www.lulions.com
Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
This is a big week for high school track and field in the city. The PIAA state championship track and field meet will be held May 24-25 at Shippensburg University. There are some key track and field performers to watch from the Public and Catholic Leagues in the different classifications.
These track and field standouts turned in brilliant performances in the District 12 track and field championship meet.
Niager Mathis, a great sprinter from Swenson, is one of the top athletes in Class AAA. Mathis won the 100 (10.91) and the 400 (48.25) at the city title meet. He also ran on the Lions’ 4x400 relay team featuring Jalen Marks, Stephan Julieover and Malik Jefferson that finished in first place (3:23.24).
Samuel Reid, Central High’s shotputter, threw 56-5 to win his event. Reid could be a major performer in the field events at the state meet.
Archbishop Ryan’s Jeremiah Agrio won the 110 (14.66) and 300 hurdles (39.99). Agrio has done a great job with the hurdles throughout the spring season.
In Class AA, Delaware Valley Charter has a terrific sprinter in Joseph Spearman who won the 100 (11.48) and 200(22.58) in the District 12 championship meet. Spearman also ran on Delaware Valley’s 4x400 relay team that took first place (3:27.88) with Tyrell Maddox, Joshua Wilkinson and Tyshawn Walker. He could be a top contender at the state championship meet.
In the girls’ Class AAA, Diamond Hodge of Girls High, was nothing short of sensational at the District 12 meet. Hodge won the 100 (15.30) and 300-meter hurdles (44.67). She also captured first place in the long jump with (18-1) and the triple jump (38-7). Hodge should be a featured performer at the state title meet.
In the girls’ Class AA competition, Swenson appears to have a chance to make a lot of noise at the state meet. The Lions are coming off a tremendous showing at the District 12 championship meet. Amy Hicks, Swenson’s outstanding sprinter, won the 100 (12.10) and 100 hurdles (14.48). Tichina Rhodes turned in a great performance won the 200 (25.09) and 400 (55.38). In addition, Swenson won the 4x100 relay (47.76) with Hicks, Amani Nesmith, Jameela Muhammad and Imani Harris-Quillen and the 4x400 relay (3:53.47) with Markeeta Thomas, Sydney Coffee, Rhodes and Harris-Quillen.
Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Temple’s Wyatt, La Salle’s Galloway, could be drafted
Sunday, 19 May 2013 11:28 Published in Basketball
The NBA draft is not that far away. The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 21. The NBA draft will take place on June 27. There are two local college basketball prospects who could be selected in the upcoming draft. Temple’s Khalif Wyatt and La Salle’s Ramon Galloway could be selected in the draft. ESPN draft experts Fran Fraschilla and college basketball analyst Chad Ford from ESPN NBA Insider weighed in on their views regarding Wyatt and Galloway’s NBA potential during a recent conference call.
“Both of those guys [I like] a lot. I mean [I’m a] huge Ramon Galloway fan as a college player and Khalif, by the way, had a phenomenal year,” Fraschilla said. “He had six or seven games over 30 points. Both of those guys are going to be on summer league teams without a doubt. They both potentially can get drafted in the second round. I pointed out during the season that Ramon Galloway, and to a similar extent Khalif Wyatt, are two guys we may see in the league down the road, if not right away.
“Khalif’s issue would be his overall athleticism, but as a pure basketball player in the backcourt, [was] one of the best in college basketball this year. They both could go in the second round. Both of those guys, I could see some day when they are 24 or 25, being in the D League for a couple years, and all of a sudden, either one of them pops up on an NBA roster.”
Ford gives his assessment on Wyatt and Galloway.
“I agree with Fran,” Ford said. “I think he’s right on with both of those guys. Neither player [was] invited to the combine, which means, just so you know how the combine is put together, the NBA sends a ballot to all 30 teams with about 150 players on that ballot. They ask every team to vote in 60 players that they’d like to see, and they basically tabulate the votes at that time with the aim of getting around 60 players there. They know some of the international players won’t show up, so it’s 60 players minus that.
“So that gives you at least a good feel, the list of 60, of what the NBA guys are looking at, who they think the 60 best prospects were in the draft. Neither guy got that invite. Maybe with Wyatt that surprised me a little bit more just because of the terrific season he had, the great tournament that he had, and his ability to do a lot of that against elite teams in the tournament like Indiana, for example. And I think he’s a player.
“I think sometimes the problem with the draft is we start to pick apart length, athleticism and very specific skills. There is a good reason why scouts do that, but sometimes there are people who are just basketball players and they overthink that. To me, Wyatt is that sort of player. He reminds me a little bit of a poor man’s Andre Miller. I mean, Andre Miller is not a great athlete… his basketball IQ, his cleverness with the ball, are so high he can still get it done on the NBA court. And I think Wyatt has a chance to make the NBA because of that.”
Wyatt and Galloway had great seasons. Wyatt, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound shooting guard, was named the Atlantic 10 Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year. He led both the Atlantic 10 and the Big 5 in scoring (20.5 ppg). Wyatt, a former Norristown High star, led the Owls to the second round of the NCAA tournament before losing to Indiana.
Galloway, a former Freire Charter standout, was the Explorers’ leading scorer. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard, averaged 17.2 points a game, which was third best in the Atlantic 10. He handed out a team-high 127 assists in guiding La Salle to a 24-10 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
When the Philadelphia Eagles added veteran running back Felix Jones this week, it was a move that provided the team with more depth. Jones comes to the Eagles from their NFC East arch rival Dallas Cowboys. So, the Eagles know all about him. He joins running backs LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown.
Despite a 4-12 season last year, McCoy and Brown both certainly had their moments as the team’s featured backs. McCoy had 200 carries for 840 yards and two touchdowns. Brown had 115 attempts for 564 yards and four TDs. Of course, McCoy was injured part of the season.
You can always use an extra running back and right now, an extra running back in Eagles head coach Chip Kelly’s offense looks like a good thing.
Jones, a former first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2008, has rushed for 2,728 yards and 11 TDs on 569 carries while adding 127 receptions for 1,062 yards with three TDs during his year pro career. He has averaged 4.8 yards a carry.
A year ago, Jones, 26, started seven of the Cowboys 16 games and gained 402 yards and scored three TDs on 111 carries and caught 25 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns. He had his best season in 2010 as part of a three-back system that included running backs Marion Barber and Tashard Choice, picking up 800 yards with one TD while grabbing 48 receptions for 450 yards and one TD.
Jones seems to be accustomed to playing with two other backs who carry the ball so he should be able to make the adjustment with the Eagles. His ability to run and catch gives him the flexibility needed to get on the field and make a contribution.
He also brings great credentials to the Eagles.
Jones has been a solid contributor on every level. He was a huge star at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, OK rushing for 2,282 yards and 48 touchdowns on 205 carries. He averaged 11.1 yards a carry. After his scholastic career, he was a three-time All-SEC selection at Arkansas where he picked up 5,099 career all-purpose yards for the Razorbacks, joining Darren McFadden (5,881 yards) as the only players in school history to surpass the 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
When Philadelphia 76ers managing owner Josh Harris introduced Sam Hinkie as the Sixers new general manager and president of basketaball operations at the team’s press conference a few days ago, it became evident that Hinkie has a lot of work to do this offseason. Moreover, he has a lot of work to do in a short period of time.
“I think the first 100 days will be a real whirlwind here,” Hinkie said. “I welcome that. It’s a whirlwind for every team every year if you’re doing your job the way I like to do it.”
Hinkie has a whirlwind of decisions to make in the coming weeks. He has to hire a head coach. He has to get ready for the NBA draft lottery on May 21. After that, the Sixers will know where they’re picking in the first round of the draft. They will have to evaluate some of the top prospects. Then, of course, they will participate in the draft on June 27. After that, NBA free agency begins on July 1. That’s a lot of work.
Hinkie comes to Philly with plenty of experience. He spent eight years with the Houston Rockets, most recently as executive vice president of basketball operations since 2010 where he was respsonsible for the Rockets’ considerable and ground-breaking analytic efforts, which included utilizing data to improve decision making in the draft, via free agency and trades, and in-game strategy. He also provided day-to-day management of basketball operations, managed the salary cap and did some scouting among the college and professional ranks.
If he can help the Sixers turn the corner and have the kind of year the Rockets had this season, that would be a vast improvement. Houston finished the regular with a 45-37 record. They were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Rockets were able to make the playoffs largely because of James Harden, who previously played for the Thunder. In fact, he was a key member of Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Harden was named Sixth Man of the Year last season. Hinkie was able to swing a trade for Harden who made the all-star team.
He’s going to need to make some moves over the summer. His biggest decision will be Andrew Bynum who will become an unrestricted free agent. Bynum’s situation has to be addressed as soon as free agency begins. That will dictate how everything else will fall into place.
Hinkie will need to somehow pull off some kind of significant trade to make this team better. He has three returning players in Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner who have been here and played on the Sixers last two playoff teams.
It’s going to be interesting to see how he puts everything together. The first 100 days appear to be busy ones. He has a lot of decisions to make. And they have to be good ones to move this franchise forward.
Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .