Lower Merion Basketball Alumni Weekend Set For June 8, June 9

ARDMORE, PA – The Lower Merion Boys Basketball program is gearing up for its 2018 Alumni Reunion & Hall of Fame Weekend, which will honor nine former players and bring alumni together for an exhibition game.

The weekend's events will be held June 8 and June 9.

Things kick off with a welcome reception at 7 p.m. Friday, June 8 at Kelly's Taproom, 1107 E. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr, with light dinner, beer, and wine served.

Then at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9, an alumni basketball game will be played in Bryant Gymnasium at Lower Merion High School.

At 6 p.m. Saturday in the LMHS Aces Nation Atrium, nine former Lower Merion Aces will be honored as members of the 2018 Hall of Fame Class. The hall of fame ceremony will include a barbecue buffet dinner and a keepsake program

Proceeds benefit the Lower Merion Basketball Scholarship Fund. See here for more information and to purchase tickets for the event.

For questions and sponsorship opportunities, email aceshoops@gmail.com.

Below are the Lower Merion Basketball 2018 Hall of Fame Honorees, courtesy of Lower Merion High School:

• Ryan Brooks ’06: Led Aces to 2005 and 2006 state title games and 2006 state championship. Second team All-State (2006), first team All Southeastern PA (2006), first team All Central League (2006), first team All Main Line (2005, 2006). Member of the Aces’ 1000-point club (1316 points). Earned D1 scholarship to Temple University, where he was a three-year starter for the Owls and an All Atlantic 10 Second Team honoree as a senior. Helped lead Owls to three NCAA tournament appearances. Currently playing professionally in Germany.
• Garrett Williamson ‘06: Led Aces to 2005 and 2006 state title games and 2006 state championship. First team All-State (2006), second team All Southeastern PA (2006), first team All Central League (2005, 2006), first team All Main Line (2005, 2006). Member of the Aces’ 1000-point club (1346). Earned D1 scholarship to St. Joseph’s University, where he was a three-year starter and All Atlantic Ten Defensive First Team honoree. Helped lead Hawks to two NCAA tournament appearances. Currently playing professionally in Canada.
• Dan Capkin ’05: Led the 2005 “Believe” Aces to state title game, hitting quarterfinals game-winner as the Aces beat three consecutive District champs en route to the finals. Two time All Central League first team honoree and top five area scorer as a junior. Two-time first team All Main Line honoree. Member of the Aces 1000-point club (1072). Went on to star as four-year starter at Gettysburg College, becoming All American and one of the program’s all-time leading scorers.
• Alai Nuualiitia ’98: A key member of three consecutive Central League championship squads and the 1996 state title team, he led the 1998 Aces to the Central League title. Named Central League MVP, Philadelphia Inquirer 1st Team All Main Line/Suburban and first team All Main Line during stellar senior campaign in which he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds. Went on to play at Brown University, where he was a four-year starter and three-time All-Ivy League honoree.
• Howie Lassoff ’74: Helped lead Aces to 1974 Central League finals and named All Main Line honoree as a senior. Went on to play Division 1 basketball at American University, where he was a three-year starter and All-League honoree. Competed for 15 years internationally as member of Israeli National Team and professionally for Maccabi Tel Aviv, helping lead Tel Aviv to six Israeli League championships. Member of Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
• Brad Long ’72: Led Aces to 1972 Central League title and District finals. Behind Long, LM earned their first District playoff victories and first state playoff appearance in more than 25 years. Averaged more than 17 points and 10 rebounds per game over junior and senior seasons, leading Aces in scoring both seasons. A two-time first team All Central League and All Main Line selection and 1972 MVP.
• Tommy McDaniel ’68: Averaged more than 28 points per game during senior season, helping lead Aces to share of their first Central League title. A three-year starter and two-time first team All Central League and All Main Line selection. Was leading area in scoring senior season until he suffered a season-ending injury in automobile accident. Widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of Ardmore basketball.
• Guy Stewart ’65: Three-year starter who led Aces in scoring his junior and senior seasons, averaging more than 18 points per game. Tallied more than 700 points as a junior and was on pace to reach 1000-point plateau if not for a knee injury in the final months of his career. A two-time first team All Central League and All Main Line honoree. An Ardmore “legend,” he went on to play D1 at Delaware State.
• Don Evans ’43: Led legendary Aces squad under Coach Bill Anderson to consecutive state titles in 1942 and 1943 as starting forward. A two-time All State honoree, including first team selection as senior (1943). Helped lead LM to consecutive District, regional and Suburban Conference titles and was leading scorer in senior campaign. First team All Suburban and All Eastern Pennsylvania as junior and senior.

Image via Lower Merion School District