The best part was watching them look up and down the locker room, scanning the nameplates above, for a little extra help.
This was a common practice when I asked several basketball-minded Eagles to put together their starting five from their current teammates. It’s sounds relatively easy, but some guys took a while to put theirs together.
The idea arose when Jordan Matthews reported to training camp earlier this summer. Matthews was talking about his team-building trip to San Diego, when he started talking about playing basketball with some other Eagles. “I didn’t know Carson (Wentz) had a jump shot,” he said.
It’s not just Wentz — he helped lead Century High School to a state title as a senior — who is a basketball player. Some guys in the Eagles’ locker room played basketball into high school and some even into college.
Many still get on the court as often as they can. But if they were putting together a starting five with the guys on their current roster, who would they choose?
Wentz said he hasn’t been around his teammates long enough to put out his own list, but here’s what some others said:
Trey Burton
PG-Ron Brooks
SG-Jordan Matthews
SF-Alex McCalister
PF-Dorial Green-Beckham
C-Lane Johnson
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Kenjon Barner
PG-Kenjon Barner
SG-Rodney McLeod
SF-Zach Ertz
PF-Connor Barwin
C-Lane Johnson
Connor Barwin
PG-Ron Brooks
SG-Rodney McLeod
SF-Alex McCalister
PF-Connor Barwin
C-Lane Johnson
Jordan Matthews
PG-Rodney McLeod
SG-Jordan Matthews
SF-Connor Barwin
PF-Dorial Green-Beckham
C-Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz
PG-Kenjon Barner
SG-Leodis McKelvin
SF-Zach Ertz
PF-Connor Barwin
C-Jason Peters
Lane Johnson
PG-Ron Brooks
SG-Jordan Matthews
SF-Lane Johnson
PF-Alex McCalister
C-Jason Peters
Analysis: In all, 11 Eagles showed up on these six lists. Five of the 11 weren’t on the team last year, so if the Eagles didn’t get better on the football field this offseason, at least they got better on the hardwood.
The two players with the most appearances were Connor Barwin and Lane Johnson — each appeared on four of six, Barwin because of his college hoops days and Johnson because he can do this. Leodis McKelvin was the only player who appeared just once.
I was a little surprised to see rookie Alex McCalister show up three times, but he is super long (and happened to be near the question-asking enough to lobby for his name). My favorite part of putting this list together was when Zach Ertz decided to put Jason Peters at the five. I chuckled a little bit and said, “No one’s moving him.” Ertz agreed with a smile and a headshake, “No one’s moving him.” He’s probably right.
So go ahead and pick your favorite starting five from above and leave your starting five below.
