Hall of Famer and former long-time Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim joined two of my favorite guys earlier this week to chat about a variety of topics.

Boeheim, who has the second-most career wins in Division I men’s basketball history, caught up with Jim Lerch and Paul Esden Jr. on their fabulous program, The Manchild Show with Boy Green, via The Score 1260. Full disclosure: I have the privilege of talking Syracuse basketball on a weekly basis with Jim and Paul during the ‘Cuse seasons. They’re the best.

The Manchild Show with Boy Green will soon move to being a digital product, as Lerch and Esden will conduct their last radio show this Friday. Appropriately, then, they had Boeheim on for more than 30 minutes this past Tuesday, and it was a lot of fun.

I’ll share some of the highlights here. Also, please subscribe to The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital via YouTube if you can!

Syracuse basketball icon Jim Boeheim dishes on a range of subjects.

First and foremost, while Boeheim retired as the Orange’s head coach in March of 2023, he’s surely keeping busy. He notes that he loves to play nine holes of golf at 7 pm, and he never hits a bad shot (wink, wink).

All kidding aside, Boeheim is a special assistant to SU’s director of athletics. He said that he’s up on the Hill every day, helping out with fund-raising. He talks to recruits, and he talks to coaches. Boeheim, as I’ve discussed in several columns, also works as a college basketball analyst for the ACC Network and ESPN.

This summer, Boeheim will serve as the head coach emeritus of Boeheim’s Army, the team named after him that competes in the annual $1 million, winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament (“TBT”). Boeheim’s Army won this event in 2021, and it has a roster that can absolutely make a deep run this summer.

In this role as head coach emeritus, Boeheim says he has helped out with getting players, and he will be in contact with the squad’s head coach, Syracuse basketball assistant Allen Griffin, about personnel things while attending some practices.

His sons, shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and forward Jimmy Boeheim, are on the Boeheim’s Army 2025 roster. “It’s a really good, solid team,” Jim Boeheim says, noting that his friend, businessman and philanthropist Adam Weitsman, returns as the Boeheim’s Army chairman, a role he had four years ago when the group captured the $1 million grand prize.

Weitsman has been supporting Boeheim’s Army in helping them obtain a strong roster. “He likes to win,” Boeheim says of Weitsman.

When Boeheim retired in March of 2023, he acknowledged that the way it was communicated to the public didn’t go as smoothly as he would have liked, but he never wanted a farewell tour, and he was ready to retire at that time, particularly as name, image and likeness deals were emerging, and college basketball was significantly changing due to numerous issues.

A lot of Orange fans, myself included, have lamented about the current state of the program, and the team’s “decline” started basically in the second year that the ‘Cuse resided in the Atlantic Coast Conference (SU bolted the Big East Conference for the ACC in the 2013-14 season).

Still, in the decade that Boeheim led Syracuse basketball while in the ACC before hanging up his whistle, the program made the NCAA Tournament five times and the NIT once. Of those five Big Dance appearances, the ‘Cuse went to a Final Four and a pair of Sweet 16s. In the 2013 March Madness, its last term in the Big East, Syracuse basketball also journeyed to the national semifinals.

Sure, Boeheim wished that his squad performed better during the regular seasons over those 10 years, but “in the tournament, we won. … The tournament is still the most important thing.”

He added, “It was pretty good in terms of the overall results. … Did I want to do better? Absolutely.”

Boeheim knows as much about the sport of basketball as pretty much anyone on this planet. He was asked about the recent NBA playoffs, which culminated with the Oklahoma City Thunder winning its first-ever championship.

He praised Oklahoma City’s dynamic point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for the 2024-25 season that he put forth, noting that “SGA” can get off a shot against anyone he wants. He also praised the Indiana Pacers and their head coach, Rick Carlisle, for taking the league’s top team to seven games in the NBA Finals.

Like everyone else, he also questioned why the New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, who took the squad this past post-season to its first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. I still don’t get that move by the Knicks.

Perhaps most importantly, Boeheim talked about Syracuse basketball and the upcoming 2025-26 season. He said, “there’s no doubt in my mind that (incoming freshman Kiyan Anthony) will be a great player,” but he needs time to develop.

Boeheim lauded the job that head coach Adrian Autry and his staff did with their portal recruiting efforts this off-season, landing the ACC’s best point guard and a supremely athletic center, among other transfers. A healthy Donnie Freeman will return, and J.J. Starling can play most of the time at shooting guard, where he’s more comfortable.

“I just think they’re gonna be a pretty solid, really good basketball team,” Boeheim said, adding that the ACC will be better in 2025-26. The league only got four teams in the NCAA Tournament this past spring, and Boeheim believes that six or seven ACC squads will hear their name called on Selection Sunday in March of 2026.

Naturally, Boeheim says that he thinks Syracuse basketball will be one of those teams dancing next spring. Love you, Coach.

WORCESTER, Mass. – Nineteen members of the Holy Cross women’s ice hockey squad have been named to the 2024-2025 Hockey East All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office. 

Distinguished Scholar status went to three Crusaders who achieved a 3.00 or higher grade point average in each semester of their four varsity seasons: senior Emilie Fortunato, senior Michela Lio and senior Emma Min.

Three Holy Cross student-athletes made their third career appearance on the All-Academic Team, in senior Carmen Elliott, junior Abby Hornung and junior Charlotte Sonntag. The three Crusaders named to the team for the second time in their careers were junior Taylor Cantelon, junior Alexia Moreau and sophomore Lulu Rourke.

Holy Cross had 10 other players selected to the All-Academic Team for the first time, in senior Mackenzie King, senior Madison Michals, sophomore Reghan Chadwick, sophomore Abby Garvin, freshman Amanda Aslan, freshman Hannah Deck, freshman Lisa Mombourquette, freshman Sarah Rowe, freshman Annika Sullivan and freshman Kaitlin Sullivan.

A total of 203 student-athletes from schools around the league earned spots on this year’s All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must earn a grade point average of 3.00 or better during both the fall and spring semesters.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 

Be sure to follow the Holy Cross women’s ice hockey team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!

X – @HCrossWHockey | @goholycross

Instagram – @hcrosswhockey | @goholycross

Facebook – Holy Cross Women’s Ice Hockey | Holy Cross Athletics

YouTube – GoHolyCross

IMG Academy

Jun 25, 2025

BRADENTON, Fla. (June 25, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, baseball team secured its second MaxPreps Baseball National Championship since 2023 after finishing the season 24-1.

The Ascenders finished the season undefeated at home, riding a 15-game win streak. Over the course of the season, they secured five victories against MaxPreps Top 25 teams and had seven wins over teams that reached at least the quarterfinals of their state playoffs. The team also defeated seven teams that won a state or association championship, including The First Academy (FL) twice, American Christian Academy (AL), St. John’s College High School (DC), Magnolia Heights (MS), Blessed Trinity (GA), and Inspiration Academy (FL).

The 2025 MaxPreps Baseball National Champions featured a deep and exceptionally talented roster. They had an outstanding season, achieving a team batting average of .366 and scoring 193 runs over 25 games—an average of 7.72 runs per game. Defensively, they were just as dominant, allowing only 44 runs total, or 1.76 runs per game. Leading the pitching staff was senior ace Chase Bentley, who went a perfect 10-0. He posted an impressive 0.94 ERA, striking out 62 batters while walking only five in 59.2 innings. The team also competed in two national tournaments during the season, winning both the Perfect Game High Showdown in Hoover, AL, and the IMG Academy National Classic.

Offensively, the Ascenders were powered by standout performances from senior Dean Moss, (.471/.611/1.282) and senior Sean Gamble (.413/.484/1.310). Seniors Kelvyn Paulino and Nate Eisfelder also made significant contributions, each hitting .371. Gamble and Eisfelder tied for the team lead with four home runs apiece, while Paulino added three of his own.

“We are honored to be named the 2025 MaxPreps Baseball National Champions— finishing the season 24-1, with a dominant run against top-tier competition, reflecting our student-athletes’ relentless work ethic and our staff’s unwavering commitment to their development,” said Dan Simonds, Director of Baseball at IMG Academy. “This team raised the bar for excellence on the field and embodied the unrivaled standard we strive for across IMG Academy. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch our student-athletes grow, and we’re excited to watch them win their future at the collegiate and professional levels.”

The Ascenders were first crowned MaxPreps Baseball National Champions in 2023 after making school history with a perfect 25-0 season. While it was their second MaxPreps national title, it marked the program’s third overall national championship. IMG Academy Baseball previously received national honors in 2019 when the team was named USA Today Super High School National Champions in the Super 25 rankings following a dominant 24-1 season.

With their third national championship since 2019 now secured, the IMG Academy Baseball Team has set a new standard for excellence. They join a prestigious group of student-athletes and sports programs excelling at IMG Academy, including:

• The IMG Academy’s Track and Field Program secured three National Titles in the 2025 New Balance National Outdoor.
• The IMG Academy Girls National Basketball Team secured its first-ever Chipotle National Championship.
• IMG Academy Varsity Football team captured its second straight SSIA State Championship.
• The girls’ track and field 4x800m broke the U.S. High School National Record at an 8:46:04 mark.
• Tennis student-athlete Wakana Sonobe won the Australian Open Junior Championship.
• The girls lacrosse program made history by securing a spot in the Top-20 rankings of USA Lacrosse.

This championship-winning team wasn’t the only IMG Academy baseball squad to find success this season. In total, eight of the program’s nine varsity teams finished with winning records, and three earned 20 or more victories. IMG Academy’s Baseball Program also continues to make an impact beyond campus, with 20 alumni competing in the NCAA College Baseball World Series and former student-athletes projected to be selected in the upcoming Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. 2021 IMG Academy alumnus James Wood is also making headlines in the pros, enjoying a breakout season with the Washington Nationals—batting .279 with 21 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .934 OPS—further exemplifying the program’s influence at every level of the game.

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:

• Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
• Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches

To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.

Golden Gopher men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko, along with USA Hockey, has named the coaching staff for the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team.

Greg Brown (Scituate, Mass./Boston College), Steve Miller (Sun Prairie, Wis./University of Minnesota), and Garrett Raboin (Detroit Lakes, Minn./Augustana University) have been named assistant coaches for the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey. In addition, David Lassonde (Durham, N.H./USA Hockey) was tabbed goaltending coach and Jacob LeRoy (Dublin, Ohio/University of Minnesota) and Travis Winter (St. Cloud, Minn./Bemidji State University) were named video coaches.

The group will work with Motzko (Austin, Minn./University of Minnesota), who has previously been named head coach of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team.

The U.S. enters the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship – which will be played in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, from Dec. 26, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026 — having won gold in the previous two World Juniors. Ticket information is available here.

ABOUT BROWN
Greg Brown, a two-time Olympian as a player and the current head men’s ice hockey coach at Boston College, will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team for the fourth time.

Brown has helped guide two U.S. National Junior Teams to medals, including gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018. He was also part of the staff of the 2014 squad that finished in fifth place.

A native of Scituate, Mass., Brown has served as head coach at BC the past three seasons, guiding the Eagle to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a spot in the 2024 national title game. The 2024 Spencer Penrose Award recipient as the top coach in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey led Boston College to both the 2024 Hockey East regular-season and tournament championships.
Brown spent 14 seasons behind the bench for the Eagles from 2004-18 as part of former head coach Jerry York’s staff, helping BC earn national championships in 2008, 2010, and 2012. After eight seasons as an assistant coach, he was elevated to associate head coach following the 2012 NCAA title.

Brown’s coaching career has also included one season (2021-22) as bench boss of the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints and three campaigns (2018-21) as an assistant coach of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Brown played collegiately at Boston College and went on to compete professionally for 13 seasons, including four campaigns in the NHL. He represented the United States at both the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Winter Games and also played on two U.S. National Junior Teams and three times was a part of the U.S. Men’s National Team at the world championship.

ABOUT MILLER
Steve Miller, associate head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s ice hockey team, has influenced significant success both at the collegiate level and on the world stage during his time behind the bench over parts of the last five decades.

Miller has served as an assistant coach for eight previous U.S. National Junior Teams, with six medals to his credit, including gold four times (2025, 2024, 2021, 2017), silver in 2019 and bronze in 2018.

Over his more than 35-year coaching career, which began at St. Mary’s University in 1988-89, and has included stops at Miami University, University of Denver, Providence College, Air Force Academy, Ohio State University, and today Minnesota, Miller has three NCAA national titles to his credit, along with numerous conference regular-season and post-season championships, and NCAA Tournament appearances.

The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, native – who was honored with the American Hockey Coaches Association Terry Flanagan Award in 2009 recognizing an assistant coach’s career body of work — has coached or recruited more than 25 players who are currently playing in the NHL.

ABOUT RABOIN
Garrett Raboin will enter his third season as the head men’s ice hockey coach at Augustana University in 2025-26. He will serve as an assistant coach of the U.S. National Junior Team for the third straight year.

Prior to arriving at Augustana, Raboin spent four seasons as an assistant men’s ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota, highlighted by helping the Gophers to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2023. During his time with at Minnesota, the Gophers won the Big Ten championship in 2022, and made NCAA Tournament appearances (2021, 2022, 2023).

Prior to joining the Gophers, Raboin spent six seasons as an assistant men’s ice hockey coach at his alma mater, St. Cloud State University, and helped guide the Huskies to five trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a spot in the 2013 Frozen Four, along with three NCHC regular-season championships.

As a player, Raboin was a two-time All-WCHA selection and led St. Cloud State to three NCAA Tournament berths. He went on to play professionally in Europe for two seasons.

ABOUT LASSONDE
David Lassonde, the national goaltending coach for USA Hockey, has more than 35 years of coaching experience over parts of five decades, including time behind the bench for 16 international events.

Most recently, Lassonde was part of the coaching staff that helped the U.S. to a bronze medal in the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. In addition, he was part of the staff of the gold medal-winning U.S. National Junior Team at both the 2025 and 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships.

He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2023 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship where Team USA won gold and was also on the coaching staff for the silver medal-winning U18 squad in 2022 as well as the 2024 team.

The Durham, New Hampshire, native also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games; four other U.S. National Junior Teams, including the silver medal-winning 2019 squad and gold medal-winning 2013 team; the 2015 championship-winning U.S. Under-17 Select Team; and the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that finished second at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.

Lassonde boasts a 32-year NCAA Division I men’s hockey coaching career that includes stops at Dartmouth College, University of Denver, University of New Hampshire, Miami University and University of Wisconsin with 20 NCAA Tournament berths, including five appearances in the Men’s Frozen Four. He was honored with the American Hockey Coaches Association Terry Flanagan Award in 2007 recognizing an assistant coach’s career body of work.

ABOUT LEROY
Jacob LeRoy, director of hockey operations for the University of Minnesota’s men’s ice hockey team, is serving on the staff of the U.S. National Junior Team for the first time.

The Dublin, Ohio, native joined the Golden Gophers staff ahead of the 2021-22 season, aiding Minnesota to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championships in his first two seasons with the program. In his four seasons with the Gophers, Minnesota has made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the NCAA Frozen Four and a spot in the 2023 national championship game.

LeRoy spent four years as a student assistant of hockey operations at Ohio State University prior to joining Minnesota. The Buckeyes earned two NCAA Tournament berths during his time with the team, including a run to the 2018 Frozen Four.

ABOUT WINTER
Travis Winter, associate head coach of the Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team, is serving on the staff of the U.S. National Junior Team for the first time.

The St. Cloud, Minnesota, native has been part of the Beavers coaching staff for the last 11 campaigns, including the first eight as assistant coach and the last three as associate head coach.

Previous to his time at BSU, he was the head coach and director of hockey operations for the Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL for one season (2013-14). Prior to that, he spent parts of four seasons (2009-10 to 2012-13) serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Winter was also a volunteer coach for the Saint Johns University (Minn.) men’s ice hockey program in 2009 and served on the coaching staff of the USA Hockey Selection 15 National Camp in 2010.

As player, Winter was a four-year letterwinner (2005-09) for Bemidji State where as a senior he served as captain and helped the Beavers to the program’s first-ever Frozen Four appearance in 2009.

(info courtesy of USA Hockey)