Congratulations to Rochester’s own Jaden Bradley and Melvin Council Jr. on Entering the NBA!

Rochester, congratulations are in order for two of our own!

Jaden Bradley from the Arizona Wildcats and Melvin Council Jr. are both realizing their dreams in securing opportunities to join NBA franchises! Both players starred this past NCAA season for top-ranked teams. Bradley, drafted 50th overall by the Toronto Raptors, led the Arizona Wildcats to a Big 12 title, earning both Big 12 Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors. Council, recently picked up by the New Orleans Pelicans, was a key starter for the Kansas Jayhawks, being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year one year after a Third-team all-A10 conference performance for (my) St. Bonaventure Bonnies.

These two young men have come a long way from being teammates on childhood basketball teams over a decade ago. Each of these young men are doing us all proud, pushing forward what has been a golden age of Rochester basketball players. Just a bit older than them and in the NBA are Thomas Bryant, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Pickett. Both Jeenathan Williams and Anthony Lamb have played in the league in recent years, too, and Jaden’s older brother Nate saw action in the G League, as did Nate’s high school teammate, Quinton Rose.

Keep making us all proud and representing us on the big stage guys!