Jameer Nelson congratulates Erik Reynolds II after Reynolds became Saint Joseph's all-time leading scorer, breaking Nelson's record, in the Hawks' 91-74 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
March 6, 2025
PHILADELPHIA – Erik Reynolds II landed softly on the toes of both feet and held his right hand high in the air, his right wrist bent downward, his left arm locked tight against the left side of his body, his eyes confident, widely and intently staring forward at the orange cylinder in the distance.
He was a little more than 26 feet away from the basket. And even closer to history.
The ball, as it had so many times for Reynolds in the last four years on Hawk Hill, splashed through the net purely, easily. The shooter took a small sidesaddle shuffle to his right with his right foot, a baby left-footed step forward, and then just routinely backpedaled back on defense.
Oh, but this was no routine shot. If you somehow didn’t know, the scene inside of Hagan Arena told you what you had missed.
Reporters on press row desperately hit play on their cell phone video every time Reynolds touched the ball to this point, including now with barely enough time to push record after a quick rebound and quick release from Reynolds with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
All of Temple Hills wasn’t there, but it sure seemed like it, the supporters on hand to cheer on their hometown hero who developed this remarkable skill of shooting and scoring on a court somewhere in that Maryland town.
Fans, excited from the moment this Atlantic 10 contest against Rhode Island tipped, made Hagan sound louder than it had all season when this 3-pointer splashed through the net.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid also was there for the moment, a day after touring the Hawks’ facilities with St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange, a former assistant coach for the 76ers who remains close with the star 7-footer. Embiid was on the other end of the court, tight against the sidelines. Not that he would, of course, but Embiid was too far to extend his long arms and reject Reynolds’ shot like he’s done to countless NBA foes over the years.
But another man was closer. This man was seated just a few feet from this shot. He could have hopped up, taken a few steps forward, and swatted away Reynolds’ attempt if he wanted to. After all, this 3-pointer would move Reynolds past this man.
But this man is no ordinary man, not in his historic, four-year career at Saint Joseph’s, and not now, either.
Jameer Nelson thrilled the Hawks’ faithful one more time, while deeply touching the heart and soul of Reynolds in the process, with yet another perfectly placed assist. This time, though, Nelson wasn’t setting up Delonte West for a gravity-defying dunk, or finding sharpshooter Pat Carroll for a corner 3, or any of his other teammates as he did a school-record 713 times during his memorable run.
This pass was a figurative one, the T-shirt Nelson was wearing telling the entire story: “Passing The Torch,” it said. On one side of the front of the cotton was an image of Nelson, sporting his famed No. 14 Hawks jersey, passing the ball forward with a straight-ahead chest pass. Right next to Nelson was Reynolds, catching the ball in rhythm and ready to shoot.
Nelson did it again just right, didn’t he? Another perfect assist. He delivered one more dime for old time’s sake.
This Nelson dime, this pass of the torch, acknowledged that Reynolds was now No. 1 on St. Joe’s all-time scoring list. When the official scorer added up all of Reynolds’ points, this 3-pointer—this one just a few feet away from Nelson; this one that got the crowd roaring and reporters’ cell phones recording; this one that brought Embiid to the house; and this one that brought the greatest player in school history back to where he cemented his greatness—totaled 2,096 points for Reynolds.
The tally at moment after Reynolds’ shot went through the net now looked like this in St. Joe’s record books:
1. Erik Reynolds II, 2021–24, 2,096 points
2. Jameer Nelson, 2000–04, 2,094 points
Afterward, when it was over and Reynolds’ 22 points had led the Hawks to a 91-74 victory over the Rams on Wednesday, their fifth straight and ninth in 12 that left St. Joe’s in a tie for fourth in the league standings and very much alive for a double-bye in the conference tournament with one regular-season game remaining at La Salle on Saturday, Nelson went back to the locker room to congratulate Reynolds. The two greatest scorers in Hawks history clutched right hands, leading to a warm embrace, with Nelson telling Reynolds to keep it going.
Oh yes, this was a night to see more than just Reynolds’ record. It was another chance to see Nelson’s greatness and leadership on display. The scoring mark now belongs to Reynolds. And there could not have been a better way to do it on yet another 3-pointer, this one on a perfect assist from the school’s greatest player ever.
No, this was no routine shot. This one was for more. For history.
Erik Reynolds II drained this shot after Jameer Nelson passed the torch.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.