PHILADELPHIA – Rasheer Fleming and Saint Joseph's Vice President and Director of Athletics Jill Bodensteiner embraced in a big hug on the Xfinity Mobile Arena court as the former Hawk returned to the City of Brotherly Love for the first time since being selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

"It feels great to be back," Fleming said after the Suns defeated the 76ers on January 20. "It's nice to see everybody in the crowd. I didn't even know it was called the Xfinity Mobile Arena. The last time I was here, it was the Wells Fargo Center, so that was a little surprising, but it's been good to be back home."

Fleming became the 34th St. Joe's men's basketball student-athlete to be drafted to the NBA, and first since DeAndre' Bembry in 2016. Originally chosen 31st overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Fleming's draft rights were traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft night. 

This wasn't just a return to the city where he played his college basketball; Fleming grew up in Camden, New Jersey, right across the river from Philadelphia. Fleming would attend 76ers games in middle school and high school with friends, immersing himself in the Philly sports culture.

"This is a dream come true," Fleming said. "I started out watching up in the nosebleeds, then I got to play here in college, and now I'm playing an NBA game here, so it's surreal."

Fleming attended Gloucester City High School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to nationally-ranked Camden High School for his final two seasons. Fleming decided to stay close to home for college, signing a National Letter of Intent at St. Joe's in November 2021. 

The 6-foot-9 forward spent three seasons on Hawk Hill before declaring for the draft. In 101 games played for St. Joe's, Fleming scored 1,068 points, grabbed 715 rebounds, blocked 135 shots and shot 51.0 percent from the field. He became the 60th student-athlete in program history to reach 1,000 points, doing so in his third and final season. Fleming ranks ninth all-time in blocks, 10th in field-goal percentage, 23rd in rebounds and 49th in scoring. 

"Attending St. Joe's was one of the best things that could have happened to me," Fleming said. "The environment at the University is like no other; everyone there is like family. It taught me a lot of great things, so I am very grateful to everyone there."

Fleming has "been adjusting well" to life in the NBA, with some family members joining him in his transition from Hawk Hill to "The Valley."

Early in the season, Fleming spent time with the Suns' G League affiliate, the Valley Suns. In just five G League games, the Camden native averaged 35.4 minutes, 17.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. That was enough to impress first-year head coach Jordan Ott and earn Fleming a spot on the Suns' active roster. 

"He's taking leaps," Ott said before tip-off in South Philadelphia. "The leaps you saw from high school to college, he's continued. He has the physicality and the length that we all crave at this level. So now it's getting him up to speed on how the NBA works, the routines of it all. The shooting piece is coming along as it did in college. 

"But athletically, to make the hustle plays and get the loose balls, to get to places where not many can in the NBA, he's done it right away in year one. Loved his progress. He's gonna continue to work to get better."

Before the matchup versus the 76ers, Fleming had appeared in 24 of the team's 43 games. The rookie is averaging just under seven minutes a night. In a win against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 27, the former St. Joe's captain played a career-high 15 minutes. Fleming scored a career-high eight points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on January 7. He shot 75 percent from the field and made two of his three attempted 3-pointers. 

While Fleming didn't see the floor in his return home, it is all part of a process that his coaches have in place – something the rotational high school student-athlete has experience with.

"Rasheer is a rookie," Ott said. "It's just development over time, of learning the league, learning the speed of the game. There's a little physicality that comes with it, that he's going to pick up. And then offensively, where does he pick a spot? Can he tag? Can he get on the glass? Can he cut? Can he make corner threes, which he's been shooting? Those things will continue over time."

"It all builds character at the end of the day," Fleming told the Philadelphia Inquirer before the draft. "Not playing, still cheering on my teammates, stuff is going to go bad sometimes, but you've still got to go. You've got to get through it regardless, so whether I'm playing or I'm not, I'm still doing the right things."

As the rookie cheered on his new teammates, family, friends and fans came to do the same for Fleming. 

Hundreds of his supporters lined the stairs of Section 123 behind the Suns' bench, greeting and taking photos with Fleming after the game.

"Most of my family is still in Camden and Philly, this area right here," Fleming said. "It can be tough being away from them, but it's always good to be back to see everyone and have that support."

It was also Saint Joseph's Night down in South Philly. Nearly 200 alumni gathered in the arena's Assembly Room, with countless more Hawk faithful spread throughout the building. 

With most fans coming to see Fleming, they were all likely caught off guard when Bodensteiner was draining shots on the same floor. The Vice President and Director of Athletics participated in the "76ers Sweet Spot" shooting contest during a first-quarter timeout. A former basketball player herself, Bodensteiner nailed three shots in 30 seconds, including her first two shots. 

"My teammate noticed it first," Fleming said. "He said, 'Yo, she can really shoot,' so I turned around and saw it was Jill. That was super cool ... I had no idea it was St. Joe's Night until I saw Jill during warmups. Then I heard the dance team and saw the Hawk, so it was nice that everyone came out, definitely a good surprise."