With this year marking the Palestra’s 100th anniversary, the fifth annual Cathedral Classic is expanding.
The multiteam event, which previously was a four-team round robin, will boast five teams this year: host Penn, La Salle, Bucknell, Buffalo, and Towson. The classic also is shifting from three days to two and no longer will crown a winner.
The two days of doubleheaders span Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 27-28, and open with La Salle vs. Bucknell at 3:30 p.m., then Penn vs. Towson (6 p.m.). The next day, Towson takes on Buffalo (3:30 p.m.), and Penn will face Bucknell (6 p.m.).
“The Penn men’s basketball program is excited to celebrate 100 years of the Palestra with the return of the Cathedral Classic,” Penn coach Fran McCaffery said in a release. “There is no better way to honor our historic arena than with a weekend of great basketball games.”
The stage is set 🙌
Don’t miss the 5th annual Cathedral Classic at the Palestra on Thanksgiving weekend! pic.twitter.com/Qih5QryT2Y
La Salle coach Darris Nichols added: “We’re grateful for the opportunity to play at the Palestra during its 100th anniversary. Honoring the venue’s legacy was important to us when we first talked about this year’s schedule, and we’re excited to take on a good Bucknell team.”
Last season, Hofstra was crowned the tournament’s champion after defeating Penn to finish 3-0 in the round robin. However, for Big 5 fans, the most memorable game was on Day 2, when the Quakers faced La Salle. In that matchup, Penn erased a 15-point deficit to defeat the Explorers, 73-71.
Storm clouds and a looming threat of rain did not stop fans of the U.S. men’s national team from packing FIFA World Cup watch parties across the area on Monday evening for America’s round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle.
Fans clad in red, white, and blue packed the FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill and Union Yards outside Subaru Park in Chester. The storms held off, but a deluge of Belgian goals led to a 4-1 loss for the U.S., disappointing much of both crowds.
The fan fest in Lemon Hill was sparsely populated after the first match of the day between Spain and Portugal, but by the time the U.S. men kicked off at 8 p.m., the crowd at the festival’s main stage stretched all the way back to the corporate activations set up in the middle of the festival.
That packed crowd was disappointed early, as forward Charles De Ketelaere gave Belgium a 1-0 lead with a strike in the ninth minute. To make matters worse for the U.S. supporters, the stage at Lemon Hill lit up red and yellow as the Belgians celebrated in Seattle.
They did red and yellow strobes at Fan Fest for Belgium’s first goal. The crowd seems less than amused
But the celebration didn’t last long, as De Ketelaere reclaimed the lead just two minutes later. It was all Belgium from there, as it added to its lead in the 57th minute, leaving both crowds in shock.
Fan Fest can’t believe what Matt Freese just did either:
Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to seal the win for Belgium in the 93rd minute, and as U.S. fans headed for the exits in Lemon Hill, a small group of Belgian supporters celebrated their country’s win at the center of the festival.
One of the few Belgians on hand for the match was Bertrand Colla, who traveled to Philadelphia from his home country to visit family and watch France’s win over Paraguay on Saturday at Philadelphia Stadium.
Bertrand Colla celebrates at FIFA Fan Festival after Belgium’s 4-1 win over the U.S.Owen Hewitt
While Belgium’s close win over Senegal in the round of 32 worried him, he had renewed confidence in his team after its 4-1 thrashing of the U.S.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” Colla said. “This game proves it all. We’re going to go there.”
U.S. fans, meanwhile, were let down after a second consecutive exit in the round of 16 by the U.S. men at the World Cup.
“It’s disappointing. They looked like they didn’t have it from the beginning,” U.S. fan J.P. Hochschwender said as he left Union Yards. “They looked slow. The defense looked a little disorganized, and, ultimately, [Belgium] just capitalized on the opportunities they got, but I had a bad feeling from the get-go.”
Ruben Mendoza holds a replica World Cup trophy while watching the USMNT face Belgium in a round of 16 game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Lasting effects
Like the FIFA Fan Festival,the Union’s watch party in Chester was free to enter. Team chief revenue officer Charlie Slonaker hopes the event and the area’s World Cup-powered soccer fever will drive more Philadelphians to their MLS team once the tournament is over.
“Soccer is the world’s game, it’s a beautiful game, and there’s no bigger event than the World Cup,” Slonaker said. “We’re excited to hopefully capture that, capture that fan excitement and enthusiasm by [having them] come down to these soccer celebrations.
“We hope they fall in love with the game, as so many of us have, and over the long term, they ultimately want to come out to Subaru Park to watch Philadelphia Union games.”
The Union looked to take advantage of the World Cup’s draw quickly after North America was awarded the tournament in 2018. Once FIFA approved MLS franchises hosting watch parties, Slonaker’s team sprung into action to gather partners for events. On Monday, that included food trucks Mister Softee, Dos Hermanos Taqueria, and Humpty’s Dumplings as well as Michelob Ultra.
Outside of watching the game — one many U.S. fans will want to forget — the area offered plenty to do for a family-heavy crowd. Before and during the game, kids played soccer scrimmages alongside a plethora of lawn games. Unlike the festivities in Lemon Hill, which drew many young adults, the Union looked to engage the next generation of soccer fans.
Slonaker is not the only one hoping the buzz around soccer is here to stay in Philadelphia. Some of the Union’s longtime fans are hoping they will have reinforcements in the stands when the team’s season resumes at the end of the month.
“You see all the international fans mixing with the local fans, and it’s heartwarming,” said Shane Wittkop, a member of Union supporters group Doopin Delinquents. “I hope we have more Union supporters out of this.”
Soccer fans at Union Yards in Chester watch the USMNT face Belgium in the World Cup.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Did Philadelphia just get a spoiler on the MLB All-Star selections?
On Friday, banners boasting some of baseball’s biggest stars were spotted by The Inquirer around town. The banners, first noted by user @gerawaycar on X, appear to be in place for the MLB All-Star Game, which is July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Many banners are clustered near Market Street, leading up to City Hall.
The Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton is getting a banner, too.Conor Smith / Staff
The only issue? The MLB has not yet announced the game’s rosters.
The league is scheduled to name starters and reserves on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Fox29). If the banners do correspond with the league’s selections, Philadelphians got a sneak peak. The Inquirer has reached out to the city of Philadelphia for comment.
The banners also could just be promotional material. In 2019, Phillies star Bryce Harper was featured prominently on multiple banners Cleveland, which was hosting that year, despite not being selected to participate.
Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts signs ahead of the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland. Harper was not named to that year’s National League roster.Matt Breen
In 2021, when the game was in Colorado, a sign was spotted featuring Harper alongside Chicago White Sox catcher Yermin Mercedes and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon.
Not necessarily true! Here’s a sign in Colorado during the 2021 All-Star Game featuring Yermin Mercedes, Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon. All three were not All-Stars 😂 pic.twitter.com/dgOVHgIjd4
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 3, 2026
Players that are featured on Philadelphia’s banners include the Washington Nationals’ James Wood, New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler, Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale, the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes, and Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton.
Other banners also have been spotted on social media. Players that were spotted include the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez and Kyle Schwarber, Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson, Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, Mets’ Juan Soto, Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, Cleveland Guardians’ Cade Smith, Toronto Blue Jays’ Louis Varland, Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., and Athletics’ Nick Kurtz.
A banner depicting the Washington Nationals’ James Wood is seen near 15th Street and JFK Boulevard.Conor Smith / Staff
Rumors no more. LeBron James is officially considering the 76ers as his next team.
On Friday, James’ agent and Klutch Sports head Rich Paul confirmed Philadelphia as a possible destination for the four-time NBA champion on Paul’s Game Over podcast. Paul, who hosts the show alongside Max Kellerman, wheeled out a white board filled with the various teams James is considering. The Sixers, one of 10 teams listed, were discussed at length.
Rich Paul’s white board for LeBron’s next team with realistic destinations 👀
“Philadelphia, everything changed,” Paul opened up the conversation with, seemingly referring to the 76ers’ trade for former Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
On Thursday, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst linked James to Philadelphia, referring to Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is also a client of Klutch Sports, as “basically a part of LeBron’s extended family.” Kellerman looked to clarify whether the Sixers had gained James’ attention.
“How could you not have the attention when you have Maxey, [VJ] Edgecombe, Brown and [Joel] Embiid?” Paul replied.
“[James] loves Maxey so we don’t even have to talk about that,” Paul added. “I think VJ, he helps VJ understand really how to play the game. [Edgecombe is] already super talented, plays both ends of the floor, plays hard every night. The benefit that he gets, I mean, it would be ridiculous. Obviously, Jaylen Brown.”
Tyrese Maxey (left) and Lebron James are represented by the same agency: Klutch Sports.Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-I
If James were to join Philadelphia, it is expected that he would complement the scoring prowess of Maxey, Brown, and — when healthy — Joel Embiid. Last season, James’ Los Angeles teammate Luka Dončić led the league in points per game while James still put up near All-Star numbers. In 60 appearances, the 41-year old averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Meanwhile, Brown and Maxey finished near the top of the NBA scoring ranks last season, finishing fourth and fifth in points per game, respectively.
However, Embiid’s health seems to loom over James’ decision — as it does over most Sixers conversations. When discussing Philadelphia’s roster, Kellerman pointed out that Embiid is the team’s best player when “on the floor.” This has become a rarity in recent years. The Sixers big man has dealt with a slew of injuries since coming into the league. He has played in just 96 games in the three seasons since his MVP campaign. Paul added that Embiid’s “health and habits” are vital.
Later in the conversation, after discussing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Miami Heat as a possible option for James, Paul circled back to the Sixers. This time, Paul pointed to the Sixers’ revamped front office as an enticing factor, singling out general manager Jameer Nelson and president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.
“X-factor about the Sixers though, we forgot about something” Paul said. “Jameer Nelson is a part of the front office — ex-player. Mike Gansey, you know Mike Gansey is [an] Ohio guy, played against us in high school.”
Nelson, a native of Chester, starred at Saint Joseph’s before putting together a 14-year NBA career. Nelson, who is just three years older than James, played against the four-time MVP 35 times in the league.
Gansey and James go back even further. As Paul pointed out, the two Ohioans competed in high school with Gansey finishing behind just James in the 2001 Mr. Ohio Basketball race. On Wednesday, Gansey’s brother, Steven, posted a photograph of Gansey and James in high school on X. Paul saw the photograph, referencing it on Game Time.
“Does LeBron remember guys like Gansey?” Kellerman asked.
“Absolutely,” Paul responded.
Along with the Sixers and the Heat, eight other teams were listed on Paul’s white board of possible destinations: the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.
What Sixers fans are saying
Paul’s comments about James’ likelihood of landing in Philadelphia sent ripples through Sixers social media — which was already on high alert following multiple reports and speculation on the subject Thursday.
My insane "Here's why LeBron to Philly could happen" take is that the post-Jaylen Brown trade Sixers are probably the best team he could go to where the narrative would still be"LeBron put them over the top" if they won instead of "LeBron tagged himself on to ring chase”
— one dozen rats at a keyboard (@PanasonicDX4500) July 2, 2026
Bro if I’m Lebron I’m looking at Philly and I’m salivating. Because Brown, VJ, Embiid and Maxey. Plus they got Angelos and Dalessandros kinda a no brainer if you ask me.
Meanwhile, some are not buying the speculation or are experiencing flashbacks to 2018 free agency. Then, James was linked to the Sixers and the city launched a campaign to sign the all-time great. Sixers representatives, headlined by then-coach and interim general manager Brett Brown, met with Klutch Sports but James did not attend the meeting. Soon after, he opted for the bright lights of Los Angeles instead.
LeBron said he wants this last run to be about happiness and you want him to live in philadelphia
LeBron may go there for the roster as a bball move
It’s not gonna be because he met the GM in high school
Stars care stars not GM’s. Sixers need to pitch the talent. If it’s, “hey buddy we go way back remember it’s me Gansey!” Then LeBron will be outta that meeting in minutes https://t.co/5xCuxL9CLH
Historically, Philadelphia has a rocky relationship with kings. That could change.
Following the team’s blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown, it seems the 76ers could be a legit candidate to land LeBron James, who will not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for his 24th season. Here’s why the proposition is not as far-fetched as it may seem …
What is Mike Gansey’s connection to LeBron?
The prospect of James coming Philadelphia was already picking up steam on social media following the Brown trade. Then, Steven Gansey, the younger brother of new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, added fuel to the fire.
On Wednesday, Steven posted a throwback photo of his brother (far right) alongside James (second from the right) in high school on X. He captioned the post with the eyeballs emoji, insinuating a connection.
As the photo shows, Gansey and James have crossed paths. The two Ohio natives competed in high school. Gansey, who went to have a memorable collegiate career at West Virginia, finished as the runner-up to James in the 2001 Mr. Ohio Basketball race.
Would Gansey make another splashy move?
Over a decade after facing LeBron on the court, Gansey served in a variety of roles in Cleveland during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers. In 2016, when James willed the team to a 3-1 comeback over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Gansey received a ring as the team’s director of development league operations.
Signing James would also be in line with the Sixers president’s resume. Gansey has previously shown that he is not scared of making splashy moves — and bringing in one of the NBA’s all-time greats is a cannonball.
As the Cavaliers general manager, Gansey was part of a front office that traded for stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Now, during his first offseason leading the Sixers, he executed a trade for Brown — another top-tier player. So it wouldn’t appear Gansey is too risk-adverse to add another star to the roster.
New Sixers president Mike Gansey has been known to make splashy moves.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Are the Sixers actually in the mix?
On Wednesday, Rich Paul, James’ agent and longtime friend, told Game Over podcast host Max Kellerman that between 12 and 14 teams have reached out about his client. With the Sixers appearing to be all-in this season, it would make sense that the team has interest.
And on Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Sixers are “trying to make a pitch” to James.
"I'm told the Sixers are also trying to make a pitch to LeBron James… Include the Sixers & maybe 1 or 2 other teams in due time in that mix. The Sixers get Anfernee Simons & they’re obviously trying to continue to add to this team.”
Shortly after, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also linked James to the Sixers, pointing to Tyrese Maxey’s connection through Paul and Klutch Sports.
“A key factor in any sort of Philadelphia pursuit of LeBron is Tyrese Maxey. That is not only because of his talent, which is awesome, but he’s one of Klutch’s core clients,” Windhorst said. “He’s basically a part of LeBron’s extended family, so you would not only have Jaylen Brown as the addition, you would have Tyrese Maxey as your drawing card.”
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to emerge as a strong suitor for LeBron James due to the Tyrese Maxey connection, per @WindhorstESPN
Maxey, who shares the same Klutch Sports agency as LeBron, is viewed as a major recruiting tool for Philly. pic.twitter.com/6GCoUHgl9y
James has also been linked to the Heat, the Cavaliers, and the Warriors since becoming a free agent.
How would LeBron fit with the Sixers?
James’ time-proven versatility makes him a good fit on most NBA rosters, and the Sixers are no exception.
James could easily slide into the four-spot over presumptive starter Dean Wade, a free-agent acquisition from Cleveland. Even if Joel Embiid is banged up during the regular season, the Sixers have two high volume scorers to take the load off James in Brown and Maxey. Last season, Brown and Maxey finished fourth and fifth in points per game, respectively.
The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer is more than willing to take the backseat in the twilight of his career. Last year, Lakers guard Luke Dončić led the league in points per game as James served as the team’s secondary ballhandler. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 games last season. With the Sixers, he would be asked to do even less.
The Sixers, after signing former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti on Wednesday and guard Anfernee Simons on Thursday, are now over the luxury tax and $3.2 million under the first apron, where they are hard-capped. They are now limited to veteran minimum contracts, meaning they could sign James if he is willing to play on a low-cost deal.
Joel Embiid (right) tried recruiting LeBron the last time he was a free agent.CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Have the Sixers ever been close before?
The last time James was seeking a new team, as a free-agent in 2018, he gave Philadelphia a look.
Although many considered James to Los Angeles to be a done deal at the time, he did consider joining the Sixers. In an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols after signing with the Lakers, James mentioned that he chose the Lakers over the likes of the Sixers and the Houston Rockets — two teams that boasted more talent than LA at the time — to help cement his legacy as a great.
“I definitely thought long and hard about the possibilities of lining up alongside Ben [Simmons] and [Joel] Embiid, or lining up alongside [James] Harden and Chris [Paul],” James told ESPN in 2018. “I felt like at this point in my career, the ultimate for me — just like when I went to Miami, everyone kind of looks at me joining a super team.”
“I like the challenge of being able to help a team get to some places they haven’t been in a while, and obviously the Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in a few years,” he added.
Representatives from Philadelphia met with James’ camp but James did not attend the meeting. The meeting was led by then-Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who was also serving as the team’s interim president following the resignation of Bryan Colangelo.
Leading up to that free agency, Philadelphia made an all-out push for James with Embiid taking to social media to pitch his team to James. The then-24-year-old center made a plea on Twitter (now X), and even took a shot at Colangelo by referencing a now infamous line he used on one of the burner accounts that led to his exit.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia-based company Power Home Remodeling purchased three billboards outside of Cleveland to court James, who played for the Cavaliers at the time. Two of the billboards read “Philly Wants LeBron” and “Complete The Process” — referring to the Sixers’ motto spearheaded by former president Sam Hinkie. The third billboard featured LeBron’s number on the court alongside the numbers of the Sixers’ starting lineup.
The rumor mill around James joining the Sixers mainly revolved around his well-known relationship with Simmons, who was known to workout with James on occasion. Both former first overall picks, the two (like Maxey and James) shared an agency in Klutch Sports. Coming out of the draft and early in his career, Simmons, a 6-foot-10 point guard, also received a hefty comparison to James because of his playmaking ability and size.
After a slow start, the 76ers‘ first move of free agency came late Thursday night as they signed Dean Wade, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a four-year, $39 million deal.
Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward played 59 games (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on the move to the Indiana Pacers, Wade could shift into the starting lineup come October.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Sixers’ new signing:
Gansey’s guy
New Sixers president of basketball Mike Gansey has a long history with Wade, so it is quite fitting the former Cavalier is his first free agent acquisition.
As the Cavaliers assistant general manager, Gansey helped bring Wade in as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal in 2019. After a year playing mostly for the Canton Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, Wade cracked the Cavs’ rotation in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Kansas State product has been a key contributor for the Cavaliers, whose role players included Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has a preexisting relationship with Dean Wade.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Though the Cavaliers boasted stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and, later, James Harden, they relied heavily on “glue guys” like Wade under Gansey’s watch. Cleveland won 64 games in 2024-25 and 52 games last season. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to roster role players who fit around the team’s stars in recent years, something Gansey is hoping Wade can change.
“It’s not a championship-caliber team right now, but we’re going to work on that,” Gansey said at his introductory news conference. “Obviously get those four, get the big four [Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe] together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit and that obviously can help.”
In Cleveland, Wade was best known for his defense.
With the Cavs, Wade was tasked with defending players at all positions. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, just five players gave up fewer points per drive than Wade last season, according to the ALL NBA Podcast.
Wade’s defensive prowess was noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors’ leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.
“As much as y’all talk about us three, me, [Harden], and Evan [Mobley], Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over Toronto in Game 2. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (right) acknowledged Dean Wade’s contributions during their time as teammates.David Dermer / AP
Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket.”
“For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”
Rural roots
Wade’s hometown of St. John, Kan. is a bit different from his landing spot in Philadelphia. The rural town is home to roughly 1,200 residents. For reference, Xfinity Mobile Arena has a capacity of 21,000 for Sixers games.
“It’s a small little farming community, but it’s filled with great people who care,” Wade told Abilene-RC.com in 2018. “Everyone loves each other. If you go there, you really understand what it means to have a family environment. It’s a great little town.”
Added his father, Jay Wade: “It’s rural America. When we need something, we don’t just hop in the car and go down to the Home Depot. We’re 25 miles away from the nearest Walmart.”
Before carving out a role in the NBA, Dean Wade (left), here defending a pass from Kennesaw State guard Tyler Hooker, had a solid career at Kansas State.Charlie Riedel
Wade led St. John to three state titles. During his senior campaign in 2014-15, he was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and the Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. That season, Wade averaged 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.4 assists as St. John went 26-0. Wade was a finalist for national Gatorade Player of the Year but lost out to Ben Simmons.
When Wade arrived at K-State, his hometown followed him.
“There are die-hard [Kansas] fans in this town that have bought season tickets to K-State just to keep watching Dean,” Jay Wade told Abilene-RC.com. “They drive to Manhattan for every game and wear purple.”
Before games, Michael Pereira needs some time alone to visualize the moment.
“I’m thinking about what I’m going to do and also trying to feel the emotion that would come with doing that thing,” Pereira said. “I’ll think of me dunking, and then feel the jolt of energy you get after you dunk it.”
It’s a practice he learned from his mother, and being a visionary through his four years at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School has taken the 6-foot-10 center pretty far. After starring for the Colonials, Pereira has been playing internationally for Brazil, where his father was born.
In June, he missed his senior prom to help the country’s under-18 national team place third in the FIBA AmeriCup in Mexico. Come fall, Pereira will join Penn, where he’s a member of Fran McCaffery’s first recruiting class.
Pereira is hoping to bring what he learned from international play to Penn.
“[The AmeriCup] was a great learning opportunity, definitely,” Pereira said. “The pace of play, the physicality of the game was faster because everyone was higher level there compared to what I’m used to.”
After falling to the United States, 102-56, in the semifinals, Brazil faced Puerto Rico in the third-place game on June 7. At halftime, Puerto Rico led by 19. It seemed as if Brazil would end AmeriCup play with back-to-back blowout losses. Then, Brazil came storming back and took the lead in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. From there, it was able to hold on to claim an 83-77 victory. Pereira notched 4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Michael Pereira averaged 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks this season with Plymouth Whitemarsh. Plymouth Whitemarch Athletics
Three days later, he was back at Plymouth Whitemarsh for his graduation.
“He’s a serious student-athlete,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Jim Donofrio. “Anyone that can get accepted into Wharton early admissions obviously has a good resumé academically. Michael is a very curious guy when it comes to learning; he is open-minded to learning anything, he has high standards to want to excel in anything he takes on.”
‘Something special’
Pereira’s curiosity drove him into his coach’s Honors Philosophy & Ethics course. In class, Pereira did not shy away from offering his thoughts on whatever topic Donofrio covered that day. But before interjecting, Pereira would always stop and take in the concept.
Donofrio said this quality has become rare in today’s “hyper impatient society.”
However, it did not surprise the longtime coach that his player was a diligent and thoughtful student. Pereira showed the same characteristics in practice.
“One thing in the coaching world that we should emphasize constantly is when I’m talking to you, I want pure eye contact,” Donofrio said. “Michael gives you nothing but eye contact, he almost looks through you. He takes the message and he absorbs it, and that’s mind training — for a young guy to have that kind of discipline to want to listen.”
Pereira picked up the sport relatively late, in sixth grade. His parents had Chuck and Ronald Moore, two former Plymouth Whitemarsh players who went on to play collegiate basketball, train Pereira and his older brother Will. When Pereira entered eighth grade, Ronald was his coach.
Then, in high school, Chuck oversaw Pereira’s development as Donofrio’s assistant.
After McCaffery was hired by Penn, he brought in three assistants. One of them was Ronald Moore, who played under him at Siena. It was Ronald who put Pereira on his former coach’s radar.
“Tons of respect for Jimmy [Donofrio] and the job that he’s done for so many years there,” McCaffery said. “Also aware of the quality of play in that conference, the teams they played against, and I felt very strongly that Mike would be ready when he got here.
“When I saw him his junior year, I thought he had a chance. When I saw him his senior year, I knew he was going to be something special.”
Pereira received offers to play at various high-level prep schools for his senior season, but he wanted to stay at Plymouth Whitemarsh. His decision paid off. Pereira averaged 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, while leading the Colonials to a PIAA District 1 Class 6A championship.
“Something I liked about Plymouth Whitemarsh was that I could do more stuff, I could try stuff that was out of my comfort zone,” Pereira said. “Since it wasn’t like insanely good competition, I would get away with some stuff.
“I’ve tried different footwork. I would shoot a three or two in a high school game. But just considering my role in international play, I wasn’t really doing any of that, I was more so just doing what got me on the team in the first place.”
Improving as a Quaker
The Colonials’ 2026 campaign ended with a loss to Father Judge in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals. Pereira, who logged a double-double, wanted to get his mind off the defeat.
Coincidentally, Penn was playing in the Ivy League championship against Yale the next day.
“I don’t want to be depressed after this loss. Let’s just drive up,” Pereira said.
The game, played at Cornell, offered much more than a distraction. Penn junior forward TJ Power poured in 44 points to lead the Quakers to an 88-84 overtime victory and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
“I still think it’s one of the best games I’ve ever watched in person,” Pereira said.
Penn is expecting eight newcomers on the roster next season. Going into his second season at the helm, McCaffery has valued acquiring size and flexibility.
In order to take advantage of his frame, Pereira will need to continue his rapid progression as a player. McCaffery does not believe this will be an issue, noting he expects his new center to develop a “year-round obsession” with improvement under his watch.
Meanwhile, Donofrio believes that Pereira’s game will translate to the next level if he can better balance his intellectual side.
“He has to use his humble ability to listen like crazy and his curiosity,” Donofrio said. “All that stuff is really important, but he’s then going to have to learn how to be as aggressive as he can with that body without fouling out, but I almost want him to foul out a few times.”
“I always said, ‘Mike, you’re like in professor mode, then there’s the Hulk mode, where you turn into the Hulk.’ If we can just get the professor and the Hulk merged together, you got a guy that might be making money at the game someday.”
On Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers announced Micah Nori would be the franchise’s next head coach. A 17-year veteran NBA assistant coach, Micah is the father of Phillies outfield prospect Dante Nori, a 2024 first-round pick.
Micah Nori was the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves for the past five seasons, supporting the development of star guard Anthony Edwards. With head coach Chris Finch sidelined with a ruptured patellar tendon during the 2024 playoffs, Nori took over a majority of the game day operations that postseason. The Timberwolves went on to make the Western Conference finals.
Just over a month after the Timberwolves fell to the Dallas Mavericks in that series, Micah was with 19-year-old Dante when he was drafted by the Phillies with the 27th pick out of Northville (Mich.) High School.
Earlier this week, prior to the Blazers announcement, Dante appeared on The Show before The Show, Minor League Baseball’s official podcast. On the podcast, he talked about the various NBA players he grew up around due to his father’s profession. When Micah coached for the Toronto Raptors, Dante got to hang with Vince Carter. Then, when his father was hired by the Kings, he learned from DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins.
More recently, he has taken inspiration from Edwards’ work ethic.
“I mean, [Edwards is] a freak,” Dante said. “The most explosive athlete I’ve ever seen in my entire life. You see the way he takes care of his business. Like, he’s one of the top five players in the NBA. And personally, I’d say he’s No. 1. You know how that goes.
“When I go [to the Timberwolves practice facility], I’m always in there like 5 a.m. lifting before they get in because I’m on their time. As soon as I’m done, [Edwards] is one of the first ones in. No matter what level you’re at, the work, he never stops. He always wants more.”
In March, Dante starred in the World Baseball Classic. In six games with Italy, the outfielder had a 1.185 OPS with two home runs and six RBIs in six games.
Prior to the WBC semifinal, Dante got a shoutout from Alex Rodríguez — who is also a co-owner of the Timberwolves.
“This is a future star,” Rodríguez said on the Fox pregame show. “Dante Nori. Do not forget the name.”
Rodríguez’s proximity to Dante’s father may have made him a bit biased.
“People were like, ‘Let’s take that with a grain of salt,’” Nori told the Inquirer. “You laugh. As soon as I saw that, I was like, ‘Oh, here we go. Someone’s typing [a message]. Someone’s typing.’ I laughed about it, though.”
Off the field, Dante is an avid baseball card collector. Micah, who played baseball at Indiana before finding a career in basketball, shares this interest with him. He even helped Dante track down some of his rookie cards on eBay.
“When I paid, I used my real name and address,” Micah told the Inquirer. “The guy was like, ‘Wait, are you related?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m his dad.’ It’s a cool little community. Because the people would be like, ‘Oh my gosh. I have a couple more right here. I’ll send them to you.’”
Micah inherits a Blazers team that finished 42-40 and is headlined by 25-year-old All-Star forward Deni Avdija and veteran Damian Lillard. Interim coach Tiago Splitter was hired by the Bulls after stepping in to lead the team after then-coach Chauncey Billups was arrested by the FBI following an investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.
Dante, 21, is batting .245 with 12 stolen bases in 52 games at double-A Reading this season.
Some have called Philadelphia the “Paris of America.” Really.
It might be hard for locals to wrap their heads around this title, but there is some truth to the comparison — mostly due to the cities’ similarities in architecture. France was in town on Monday to take on Iraq in the World Cup, so here’s a look at some of Philadelphia’s Parisian connections and what French fans think of the comparison.
City’s architecture
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a popular example of Philadelphia borrowing from the French. Finished in 1929, the Parkway was designed primarily by two Frenchmen, architect Paul Philippe Cret, and city planner Jacques Gréber. Their inspiration? Paris’s Champs-Élysées, a similarly grand avenue. They boast similar end points. The Champs-Élysées starts at Place de la Concorde and concludes with the grand Arc de Triomphe, while Philadelphians can spot the Philadelphia Museum of Art from City Hall, with Logan Circle along the way.
After World War I ended, but before the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Gréber hoped that the construction of Benjamin Franklin Parkway would bring in tourists just as the Champs-Élysées does.
“I am glad to say that, if by this work the city of Paris may be enabled to bring its sister in America the inspiration of what makes Paris so attractive to visitors,” Gréber said in 1918. “It will be the first opportunity of Paris to pay a little of the great debt of thankfulness for what Philadelphia and its citizens have done for France during the last three years.”
Additionally, Cret was the mind behind the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and redesign of Rittenhouse Square. City Hall also looks like it could have been picked up in Paris and plopped down in Philadelphia as it was built in the French Second Empire style. At Logan Circle, the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the former Family Court building are of similar style to structures flanking the Place de la Concorde.
Along the Parkway is the Rodin Museum, which holds one of the largest collections of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures outside Paris, including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.
Social media influencers have traveled to Philadelphia and Paris to show off the cities’ structural similarities. One influencer, who filmed various picturesque locations under Philadelphia, wrote, “sooo you’re telling me we’re not in Paris?”
Outside of architecture, the two cities also share history. Benjamin Franklin was a noted Francophile, traveling to France on many occasions. Famously, as a diplomat during the American Revolution, a 71-year-old Franklin convinced the French to support the Continental Army’s wartime efforts.
With all of those connections, it should be no surprise that the Michelin Guide named Philadelphia the “Frenchest American city” in 2023, beating out New Orleans for the title.
“The history of Philadelphia is closer to the French history and with those architects that developed special aspects of the city, it’s introduced in a different scale that you don’t have in New Orleans,” Michelin Guide editor Philippe Orain previously told The Inquirer. “You will feel closer to France in Philadelphia than in New Orleans.”
“Frenchest city in the U.S.”
For the most part, French fans in Philadelphia for Monday’s game seemed to agree.
“The architecture looks quite French,” said French fan Tao Taumas, pointing to City Hall on Monday. “Yes, a lot, and we are living in Montreal now, and it looks exactly like the French part of Montreal.”
Vincent Magardeau, who traveled to Philadelphia with Taumas, did not fully agree with his friend’s conclusion.
“I’m pretty surprised that you say that,” Magardeau said after hearing of Philadelphia’s similarities to Paris. “But now that you say it, you can see the architecture here and there, but I wouldn’t say that this is the most French city that I could see.”
French fan Gabriel Sabinaud “never heard about anything in Philadelphia” before coming.
Gabriel Savinaud, who “never heard about anything in Philadelphia,” arrived in the city early Monday morning after staying in New York City. A local advised Savinaud to try a soft pretzel before he leaves, so he headed to the Philly Pretzel Factory near City Hall before the game. Savinaud, despite having limited time to explore, definitely saw the similarities between the two cities.
“The East side of the U.S. is definitely more European than the West side,” Savinaud said. “I’ve been to San Francisco as well, not European. No, it’s not. So [Philadelphia] is definitely more European and Parisian at some points. You’ve got tiny streets with lots of people making noise with their cars. Very similar, more similar to Paris than the West side.”
Many French fans explored Center City before taking the Broad Street Line to South Philadelphia for the game. For a moment, before it began to rain heavily, “Les Bleus” had taken over downtown.
“You can see the vibe of French people here,” Taumas said. “With the World Cup, I would say it’s a French city, because everyone is wearing French jerseys, so you might be the Frenchest city in the U.S.”
Franklin Field played host to the New Balance Nationals Outdoors Championship this weekend, where it brought some of the most talented high school track and field athletes in the country to Philadelphia.
The keyword is some. Two other high school track competitions were happening at the same time. The Nike Outdoor Nationals were held in Eugene, Ore., and the Adidas track nationals came to Greensboro, N.C.
This is not a new occurrence. There has long been an overlap between open, registration-based national championships. Besides medaling, these meets serve as a massive marketing opportunity for their sponsors. Famously, competitors at all three meets are given free backpacks with the title sponsor’s logo on them. Penn’s Rockwell Gym was converted into a pop-up New Balance store this past weekend.
What is semi-new to the landscape — and high school sports — is the role that name, image, and likeness deals are playing in these three championship meets. If a student-athlete is signed with Nike or New Balance, he or she would compete at their respective meets.
For example, Eastern Regional senior runner Natalie Dumas, who’s heading to Arkansas, is one of only 20 female high school track and field athletes signed to Nike Elite. Because of this, Dumas competed this past weekend in Eugene a day after running in the USATF U20s on the same track. At the Nike Nationals, she ran a 52.21-second time in the 400-meter dash, placing first.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Olympian Quincy Wilson, of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., is signed to New Balance. Wilson also ran in the USATF U20s, clocking a second-place finish of 44.84 seconds on Friday to qualify for the World U20 Championships.
But shortly after, Wilson got on a flight back to the East Coast to compete at Franklin Field due to the meet’s title sponsor. He ran the final leg in the 4×400-meter boys’ championship on Sunday and led his school to a second-place finish.
Outside of NIL deals, New Balance Nationals’ prestige seemed to play the biggest role in winning over competitors from Nike and Adidas.
“I’ve always had just like a natural draw to the New Balance Nationals,” said senior Blake Cook, who attends Corry Area High School in Erie County and placed sixth in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles championship. “It was the first nationals I ever watched knowing that Nike and Adidas did it, they just never appealed as much to me. Just knowing how grand that this meet makes everyone feel. Even if you’re dead last in your heat, you feel elite just walking in and being able to say that you got your [backpack].”
The New Balance Nationals have only operated since 2022, following a split from the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit that operates and supports high school track competitions. New Balance had partnered with the NSAF from 2010 to 2019 as the national meet’s title sponsor. Then, it was New Balance that called Greensboro home — not Adidas. Nike has been partnered with the NSAF since the nonprofit split from New Balance. Today, many see Nike and New Balance as the “premier” national meets with Adidas trailing behind.
“In general, I think New Balance has the most competition,” said Patrick Logan, who attends Grafton High School in Virginia and ran in the boys’ 400-meter dash. “Nike has some big names, but I think, in general, New Balance is just a more competitive meet and it’s on the East Coast, so it’s easier for me to get to.”
Bullis School’s Quincy Wilson competes in the 4×400-meter relay on Sunday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
‘Bring it back to Jersey’
The weekend brought competition from all over the country, but two runners from South Jersey showed out.
On Friday, Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn won the 100-meter girls’ championship with a personal-best 11.27 seconds. To finish out Friday, Wynn anchored Pennsauken to a first-place finish in the 4×200-meter championship relay. Then, on Sunday, Wynn finished third in the 200-meter championship.
“It’s been a super long weekend,” said Wynn, who is committed to Florida. “I’m happy to cap it off now, and you know, it’s been a great last high school track for me.”
Sunday was Jasmine Jackson’s day. The Winslow Township High sophomore shattered her personal-best in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 13.04 seconds to place first in the girls’ championship.
South Jersey’s Jasmine Jackson poses after winning the 100m hurdles at the New Balance Nationals.
“I’m feeling great,” Jackson said. “I woke up today, I said, ‘I’m not losing.’ I lost indoor, I got second, I got second in middle school, I got second as a freshman. So today I just knew I was not losing. That was not an option.”
Jackson’s finish also beat the New Jersey state record of 13.18 seconds, which was held by Union Catholic’s Taylor Cox. After the race, Jackson made sure to show love to Cox, who now runs at Georgia.
“Taylor dominated New Balance when she was still in high school,” said Jackson. “I knew I had to bring it back to Jersey.”
