St. Joseph’s welcomes Lynn Greer III to Hawk Hill

Successful college basketball programs learn to adapt and evolve.

“The transfer portal, based on where we were two years ago, has to be a major part of our way to create something,” St. Joseph’s men’s head basketball coach Billy Lange said.

The portal is bringing a familiar name in Philadelphia basketball back home.

St. Joe’s recently landed Lynn Greer III, a freshman guard from Roman Catholic High and the University of Dayton.

In the team’s official statement on Greer, Lange called him a great addition to Hawk Hill and said, “He has had a very unique basketball journey that brings him to us at the right time as his skill set and experiences will sharpen us all. We are excited to develop him as a person and player.”

“I went with the school that I felt loved me and had a vision for me,” Greer said. “Coach Billy Lange, he’s doing a great job of making me feel wanted.”

The support runs deeper than just Lange. Three generations of the Greer family already have a lengthy history in Philadelphia basketball.

Greer’s grandfather, Lynn Greer Sr., won a city championship at Thomas Edison High in 1969 and was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 11th round of the 1973 draft. Greer’s father, Lynn Greer Jr., one of the top scorers in the history of the Public League while at Engineering and Science, had an illustrious college career at Big 5 rival Temple. His success with the Owls led to a brief stint in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. He also played for more than a decade in Europe.

If family isn’t enough, Greer also has connections with the St. Joe’s coaching staff.

Matt Griffin, Lynn III’s coach at Roman, is the brother of Hawks assistant coach John Griffin III. Another St. Joe’s assistant, Brenden Straughn, coached Team Takeover, Greer’s AAU team. And assistant coach Justin Scott is the stepfather of Greer’s friend and former teammate at Roman, Xzayvier Brown.

Even with these many ties to Philadelphia basketball, Greer is focused on creating his own legacy.

“My dad had his own career, and I’m starting mine,” Greer said. “I don’t really think too much about my father and my grandfather’s legacy. I really just focus on being the best basketball player and the best person I can be.”

Greer said his love for the game was always independent of his family history.

“I believe that the quote-unquote pressure or challenge is coming more from outside of this household than it is inside,” Greer Jr. said. “He’s grown up playing basketball since he was 5 years old, and just always wanted to be good for him.”

The younger Greer played in 10 of Dayton’s 13 games, this season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds. He entered the transfer portal last month. He will be eligible to play for the Hawks in the 2022-23 season thanks to an NCAA rule that just recently was removed. Previously, if players transferred within the same conference, they would have to sit out two years.

Even though the transfer rule is no longer in effect, some might not love the idea of transferring to a rival team within the same year. But Greer Jr. turned the whole idea into a positive.

“It gives the players kind of more control than they’ve ever had in the past to be able to choose your own destiny, rather than to have to abide by some rules that really didn’t make sense,” he said.

For the youngest Greer, it was much simpler.

“I didn’t see a problem with it. One school wanted me more than the other,” the newest Hawk said. “I’m very excited to be able to put on a St. Joe’s jersey, and to be able to put on a show for the fans.”

However, when Greer pays a visit to Temple’s Liacouras Center, his father might be a bit torn. He hesitated when asked about that. “I definitely want him to play well,” said Greer Jr., who then took a long pause.

“I want his team to win,” Greer Jr. concluded. “I’m supporting Lynn all the way. I love Temple against everybody else.”