The Saint Joseph's Hawk mascot was named the "Best College Mascot" in the Philly.com Reader's Choice Awards. The honor was announced on June 21 at the annual Reader's Choice Awards party in Philadelphia.

The most decorated mascot in the country, The Hawk has garnered numerous accolades in its 61-year history. In 2014, the Hawk Mascot was named as the "Best College Basketball Tradition" by NCAA.com. The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook and ESPN College Basketball magazine have selected it as the nation's top mascot. Eastern Basketball tabbed The Hawk as the Atlantic 10 Conference's best mascot, while the Hawk won a "Best of Philly" award from Philadelphia Magazine in 2003-04. The Hawk was named as a nominee for induction into the 2008 Mascot Hall of Fame.

Mikaela Bakey has been selected as the Saint Joseph's University Hawk mascot for the 2017-18 season, becoming the 38th student to represent the University as its mascot in one of the most well-known traditions in college basketball.

Bakey becomes the third female student ever to take on the role of the mascot for SJU's men's basketball team, following predecessors Sarah Brennan (2000-01) and Brienne Ryan (2009-10).

Bakey is a rising senior from Mullica Hill, N.J., with a double major of accounting and risk management. A 2014 graduate of Clearview Regional High School, she has worked with the SJU men's basketball team as a manager for the past two seasons.