GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
It has been a relatively quiet start to the offseason for the St. Joe’s men’s basketball team. Since the team came up short against the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, very few roster changes have been made. Following the Hawks’ best season under head coach Billy Lange, with a record of 22-13, the organization hopes to maintain this progressive regular season success in light of the pending departures of senior guard Erik Reynolds II and junior forward and NBA prospect Rasheer Fleming from the program. The only player to enter the transfer portal is junior guard, Xzayvier Brown, as of April 14.
Reynolds cemented himself in program history by becoming the all-time leading scorer (2,175 points) against Rhode Island March 5, but that is not the only accomplishment the guard has to show for his time on Hawk Hill. As a two-time Big 5 Classic Champion, program all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (350) and recipient of multiple Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team accolades, Reynolds’ resume is nothing short of impressive. Despite the team’s shortcoming in the semifinal round of the A-10 Tournament against the second-seeded George Mason, it is important to appreciate the historic achievements of Reynolds through his four-year tenure at St. Joe’s.
While Rasheer Fleming has always been an impactful presence for the Hawks, his explosive style of play on both ends of the floor this season was extremely entertaining to watch. Fleming put up career-best numbers in multiple categories, which caught the attention of NBA scouts and general managers across the league. Brad Stevens, general manager of defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics, was even in attendance when the Hawks took down Richmond 78-62 Feb. 22. Fleming, an A-10 First Team player, finished the year averaging 14.7 points per game, shot .390 from 3-point range, averaged 1.5 blocks per game and 1.4 steals per game, and even became a member of the program’s 1,000-point club thanks to his versatile scoring abilities. Fleming officially declared for the 2025 NBA draft April 11, taking to Instagram to announce his decision. Fleming is projected to be a late first-round pick.
As the Hawks prepare for the loss of two of their most impactful players, their activity within the transfer portal has been minimal. The recent acquisition of sophomore power forward Al Amadou was the team’s first and only move as of April 1. The former Marquette Golden Eagle redshirted the 2024-25 season in order to develop his skills off the court, so it will be interesting to see the extent to which he will contribute to the team’s performance next season.