OwlScoop.com - The Scoop

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 36

Want the scoop on Temple recruiting targets like Roman Catholic guard Daniel Skillings and Pocono Mountain West forward Christian Fermin? Why are people beyond Philadelphia taking notice of Owls point guard Jeremiah Williams? Delaware Valley Hoops Report Scouting Director Ari Rosenfeld has you covered on this week's OwlScoop.com podcast. 

Plus, we'll have a recruiting update on Temple's latest football addition in Presbyterian College transfer Luke Foster and where he could contribute on the Owls' offensive line. 

The Scoop - Season 6, Episode 35

Aaron McKie heard from a good friend two days before it happened. 

It was December of 1997, and the former Temple star was more than four seasons into his NBA career and happy where he was with the Detroit Pistons. 

But that friend was on the other line, telling McKie there were radio rumors that he could be headed back to Philadelphia in a trade involving the 76ers. McKie had always dreamed of playing for his hometown team.

Just not now, he thought. 

But six days before Christmas, McKie got the call. There was a plane waiting for him and teammate Theo Ratliff at the airport. They were headed to Philly, along with a future first-round draft choice, in exchange for center Eric Montross and guard Jerry Stackhouse. Philadelphia head coach Larry Brown had determined things just weren't working out with Stackhouse and future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in the same backcourt, so it was time for a change. 

It would prove to be a change for the better, but McKie admitted he didn't see it that way at the time. 

"I'm just like, 'No .. to Philadelphia," McKie thought. "I'm going to my hometown, and they stink."

The Sixers weren't good at the time, but the culture, McKie said, started to shift,

"When you think it's a bad situation that you're going to," he said, "it's one of the best situations that happened to me from a basketball standpoint."

By 2001, the Sixers were the best team in the NBA's Eastern Conference. And although their run stopped short of an NBA title at the hands of a loaded Lakers team, it was a season that captivated the city of Philadelphia and proved to be a milestone in McKie's life. 

Twenty years later and just a couple months removed from his second season as Temple's head coach, McKie can continue to look back fondly upon that 2001 season. He averaged what was then a career-high 11.6 points per game, posted consecutive triple doubles on an important West Coast road trip, and went on to win the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award. 

McKie joined OwlScoop.com's podcast, The Scoop, Wednesday to reflect back upon that 2001 season. He talked about what the Sixth Man of the Year Award meant to him and why he felt he was able to be a mentor and friend to a Hall of Famer like Iverson, in addition to sharing some anecdotes about their time together as teammates.

McKie also has several reasons for optimism as he enters his third season on North Broad Street as Temple's head coach. He talked about what incoming recruits Hysier Miller, Zach Hicks and Wake Forest transfer Emmanuel Okpomo could bring to the Owls, and it sounds like former Wildwood Catholic High School standout Jahlil White could have a big role moving forward after missing his freshman season with a meniscus injury.

McKie also answered some readers mailbag questions in an episode packed with lots of great Sixers anecdotes and Temple basketball insight.

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 34

When Mardy Collins and Dustin Salisbery moved on from Temple to pursue their pro careers back in 2006 and 2007, respectively, they did so several credits shy of their undergraduate degrees. 

Now, more than a decade later, the former Owls backcourt mates have completed their coursework and will be graduating Friday from Temple with degrees in African American Studies. They joined us for an exclusive interview on this week's OwlScoop.com podcast to talk about this milestone, their playing days, and their sons, Madden Collins and DeMahj Salisbery, who are turning into pretty good high school players in their own right. 

Collins, a former first-round NBA Draft pick of the New York Knicks in 2006, and Salisbery, who had tryouts with several NBA teams in addition to several pro stops around the world in places like France and Tunisia, reflected on their time playing for the late Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, and Salisbery talked about playing for former Owls head coach Fran Dunphy in his first season on North Broad Street. 

And there's more football news as well, as Temple has extended another offer to an offensive lineman in the transfer portal.

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 33

What have we learned about the Owls after third-year head coach Rod Carey and his Temple football program have wrapped up spring football? 

We have answers to those questions for you on this week's podcast as we talk about what D'Wan Mathis did to become the starting quarterback, what Edward Saydee has done to become a factor in Temple's running back rotation, what the Owls are facing on the injury front and why Carey and his staff are still taking a close look at the transfer portal. 

Plus, we have more basketball recruiting news for you, along with answers to your mailbag questions. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 32

Why did linebacker Kobe Wilson choose Temple over Georgia?

Why is defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles calling West Virginia transfer Kwantel Raines a "pleasant surprise" at the BUBO linebacker position after he opted out of the 2020 season?

And why should you not forget about Edward Saydee when it comes to assessing how running backs coach Gabe Infante will dole out carries in his backfield. 

You'll hear from all of them on this week's podcast as we bring you more spring football coverage.

And it's been a busy week in the world of Temple basketball recruiting, as Owls head coach Aaron McKie handed out four offers to players from the 2022 class. One of them, Pocono Mountain West High School forward Christian Fermin, spoke with Sam Cohn this week, and we have a clip from that exclusive interview, plus answers to your mailbag questions, too. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 31

Another spring football-heavy episode of OwlScoop.com's podcast includes audio from defensive line coach Walter Stewart, outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Brett Diersen and safeties coach Tyler Yelk.

Plus, a closer look at class of 2022 forward Ernest Udeh, who talked to Sam Cohn recently about his recruitment and his relationship with the Temple staff. 

And through the mailbag, the staff ponders what might have been through the years with some of the basketball players that never ended up at Temple. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 30

With Temple kicking off spring practice this week, OwlScoop.com's latest podcast has you covered with audio from head coach Rod Carey, offensive coordinator Mike Uremovich, defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles and wide receiver Jadan Blue. 

Carey and Uremovich talked this week about Georgia transfer D'Wan Mathis and what he adds to the quarterback room, and Blue talked about Mathis as well, along with quarterback Mariano Valenti. And you'll hear a clip from Knowles where he talks about why he thinks freshman linebacker Kobe Wilson will be a special player. 

We also have audio from Sam Cohn's interview with center Emmanuel Okpomo, who committed to Aaron McKie and the Temple basketball program from Wake Forest out of the transfer portal. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 29

Temple linebacker George Reid joined us for an interview on The Scoop this week to talk about how the program is feeling heading into spring practice next week.

Reid, a graduate student and a local product from Abington High School, broke out in the Owls' lone win last season, a home victory over USF, with his first career sack, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery. He finished the season with 24 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss.

Reid, one of several Temple players who could not play in what proved to be the team's last game of the season against ECU due to COVID-19 protocols, said he sees a lot of promise among the Owls' young linebackers, and he offered some insight into what he sees from the players competing for the starting quarterback now, including Georgia transfer D'Wan Mathis. 

And on the basketball front, we have some updates on who Temple could be looking at in the transfer portal. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 28

Temple recruit and Neumann-Goretti High School point guard Hysier Miller joined The Scoop this week to talk about his senior season, one that included First Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League Honors.

Miller, who averaged 18.4 points per game, 10 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.9 steals as a season in addition to surpassing 1,000 points for your career, talked about what he hopes to bring to the Temple program and answered several mailbag questions from OwlScoop.com subscribers. 

The Scoop: Season 6, Episode 27

Temple assistant basketball coach Jimmy Fenerty joined The Scoop this week to talk about the Owls' 5-11 season and explained why he's very optimistic about the program's future thanks to players like Jeremiah Williams, Damian Dunn, Khalif Battle and Nick Jourdain. And he answered several reader mailbag questions, too, including ones about Temple's NCAA Tournament chances next season and what position the Owls might target with their last available scholarship in the 2021 class. 

We also have some Pro Day audio from Branden Mack and Dan Archibong, who talked about what they think of their successors at their respective positions on the Temple football team as they move along with the hopes of pursuing NFL careers.