The Bustleton Bengals last week inducted basketball star Collin Gillespie into their Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the John Marynowitz Gym.
Longtime Bengals volunteer Vince Tarducci organized the event. He, Bengals president Joe Giedemann and boys athletic director Glen Reed presented Gillespie with a trophy with a basketball shape on top. Printed on the trophy were the words, “Played with heart and never took a play off.”
Gillespie is the second member of his family to be a Bengals Hall of Famer, joining his great-grandfather, Bud Fay, a founder of the organization.
Gillespie, who turns 26 on June 25, was a standout basketball player with the Bengals and has gone on to many other great things. He’s been a Catholic League, PIAA, NCAA and NBA champion.
In high school, Gillespie led Archbishop Wood to the Catholic League and state championships as a senior in 2017.
He went on to enjoy a brilliant college basketball career at Villanova, winning a national championship in 2018, making another Final Four, twice winning the Big East Conference Player of the Year award and earning the 2021-22 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.
Gillespie suffered a lower leg fracture in July 22 and missed his rookie NBA season as a member of the Denver Nuggets, who won their first championship.
Gillespie appeared in 24 games with the Nuggets in 2023-24 and 33 games with the Phoenix Suns last season. Tarducci read some complimentary comments made by his Suns teammate, all-star Kevin Durant.
At the June 10 induction ceremony, Gillespie was joined by his family. Among those lauding him were former Bengals coaches Craig Sharp and Mike Sharp and Chris Roantree, who was an assistant at Wood when Gillespie played there. Appearing via video were former Villanova coach Jay Wright and assistant Ashley Howard.
Tarducci and the others described Gillespie as someone who practiced and played hard and has always been humble and a good teammate and leader.
Gillespie seemed touched by the honor.
“You guys kind of laid the foundation,” he said. ”I’m very grateful and appreciative. I appreciate everybody who came out.”
Gillespie also answered questions.
A youngster wearing a Memphis Grizzlies Ja Morant jersey asked about the hardest player to guard. Gillespie chose Steph Curry.
In response to a question about his favorite teammate, he said that besides his brother James, his favorites were Jalen Brunson at Villanova and DeAndre Jordan with the Nuggets.
When someone mentioned LeBron James, Gillespie said he doesn’t believe he is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), later choosing Michael Jordan.
The coolest thing about playing in the NBA?
“I’m very lucky to travel the country playing the sport I love as a job,” he said. ••
