One of the best events in Philadelphia basketball recently went down with a few special guests involved including the Philadelphia 76ers Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe. The 17th annual Daniel Rumph Classic took place this weekend, with the championship being played on Monday night. The tournament is in honor of Danny Rumph, who passed away in 2005 due to a heart condition.
The tournament is a fundraiser to raise money to fight Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and raise awareness for the community. This is the leading cause of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Each year about 100,000 young athletes die from all cardiovascular disorders, including HCM. Of the 100,000 deaths, 45,000 of these occur on a basketball court. The tournament began as a local event and has grown into one of the premier basketball tournaments on the East Coast. The event tipped off at LaSalle University and was packed with fans in an event that lived up to expectations.
Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe Take on the Rumph
There was an impressive display of talent taking the court as young Sixers standouts Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe suited up for team FOE. They joined Philly legends and NBA standouts Marcus and Markieff Morris, as well as former NBA big man Thomas Robinson. The star-studded roster defeated Blue Magic by a score of 117-111.
It was clear that all eyes were on Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers star delivered. He ended the game with a game-high 34 points and also added 10 rebounds. While he did not reach the 40 points that he declared he would to the media section at halftime of the game, Maxey did not disappoint in his performance.
One of the most talked about storylines of the offseason has been the progression of Tyrese Maxey’s body. The 21-year-old put this on display at the event, and it is clear that he has added a noticeable layer of muscle to his frame. This is a great sign as the undersized shooting guard will benefit from the additional strength when attacking the basket this season. His ability to finish through contact is already a strength in his game, and the new muscle will help him hold up over the course of a grueling NBA season.
He may not have stolen headlines in the same way as Tyrese Maxey, but Isaiah Joe also had some positive moments. The sniper ended with 16 points and continued to rely on his three-point shot for the bulk of the damage. I had a chance to catch up with Joe following the game to ask him about his experience at the Rumph. As Joe put it:
“It was amazing, man. The energy here, the crowd, the team that I played with…we had fun out there. It was a great event. Really looking forward to doing more in the future.”
He also discussed how busy he has been this offseason due to the summer league and a variety of other training environments he has traveled to. This season is a massive year for Isaiah Joe, and it is clear he is doing everything possible to be ready for it.
While the Sixers players both had some positive moments, it was Marcus Morris who took home MVP. The Clippers’ forward ended with 29 points in the matchup and was a key part of FOE’s production throughout the tournament. This is Morris’ fourth Rumph Championship and his second tournament MVP. He is the first player in the tournament’s history to win two MVPs.
His twin brother Markieff Morris also played a key role in the team’s success. Markieff remains a free agent, and there have been rumors of his desire to play for the Sixers. He remains extremely involved in the Philadelphia community, and helping the team compete for a championship would likely be very meaningful.
It is awesome to see the Sixers’ young stars working on their game, but this event means much more than just that. It is great to see Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe fully embracing the city of Philadelphia and embodying the culture. There have been a number of impressive NBA players who have played in the tournament in past years, such as James Harden, Lou Williams, Jalen Brunson, Bobby Portis, Jayson Tatum, Kyle Lowry, and many others.
The rapid ascension to stardom has continued for Tyrese Maxey, and it is clear that he has fully embraced the city as a whole. The third-year guard has quickly become one of the cornerstone pieces of the franchise, and expectations continue to rise. The hard work Tyrese Maxey has put in and the skills he possesses make it difficult to doubt that he will reach them.
