Athletics
During Nelson's time with the Hawks, the team reached the NCAA Tournament three times, culminating with a perfect 27-0 regular season and a run to the Elite Eight in 2003-04. Nelson was the consensus National Player of the Year that season, earning, among other accolades, the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. Capping his career as the program's all-time leading scorer, Nelson was drafted 20th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft and played professionally in the NBA for 14 seasons. In 2018, Nelson received his Bachelor of Science in sociology from Saint Joseph's University.
A key member of three NCAA Tournament squads, Westhead was a member of the men's basketball team from 1958-61. Following graduation, Westhead went on to a prolific coaching career that spanned five decades. Among his numerous highlights as a coach, Westhead led the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA Championship, the Phoenix Mercury to the 2007 WNBA Championship, led La Salle to two NCAA Tournament appearances, and guided Loyola Marymount's Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers to All-American honors.
Nelson and Westhead will be honored alongside fellow inductees George Benton, Rod Brind'Amour, Angelo Cataldi, Joan (Moore) Gnat, Brendan Hansen, Ryan Howard, Lurline Jones, Cheryl Reeve, Eddie Stanky, Andy Talley, A. W. Tillinghast, Chase Utley, and Alice Putnam Willetts on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center in South Philadelphia.
The 2024 Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is open to the public. For Information and registration visit: www.philadelphiasportshalloffame.org.
This news article originally appeared on sjuhawks.com.
The Atlantic 10 office announced the weekly men's lacrosse award winners on Monday afternoon, Matt Bohmer picking up his third Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week nod of the season after helping the Hawks to a 12-7 win over Hobart on Saturday.
A pair of names etched themselves into the Saint Joseph's record book as the women's lacrosse team breezed by George Washington on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Revolutionaries 20-6 on Sweeney Field.
Saint Joseph's will compete in the 2024 Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper, returning to Barclays Center on November 21-22, 2024. The Hawks will join Syracuse, Texas and Texas Tech in the four-team field.
