Tragedy In The SJU Family

What a terrible, terrible story.

AP) CHESTER, Pa. According to police the body of Floyd Nelson, father of NBA star Jameer Nelson, was found near Fox Point Park in Wilmington, Delaware Saturday around 2 p.m. A boater called 911 after he discovered Floyd's body about three miles from where he went missing.

The 57-year-old was last seen walking across a dock at the Delaware River Tugboat company on Thursday when he is believed to have slipped and fell into the water. Floyd was a welder and had worked for the company for about a decade.

Jameer Nelson arrived Friday morning in a black SUV and was seen speaking with officials involved in the search. But on Saturday, he was informed of the discovery of his father's body. Jameer always wanted his father to retire but Floyd loved his job.

Floyd Nelson was also a Vietnam War veteran and wrote a book about his son’s basketball career in 2004 entitled “Jameer Nelson: This Jameer Kid.”

Jameer Nelson was a basketball standout at Chester High School and Saint Joseph’s University. He was a first-round draft pick in the 2004 NBA draft and is the starting point guard for the Orlando Magic. (H/T - KYW)

For those of you unaware, I am a proud graduate of Saint Joseph's University here in Philadelphia. Philly is college basketball heaven, and as such, I am a huge SJU hoops fan. In 2004, Jameer Nelson led the Hawks to an undefeated season (27-0) and I watched every game. When he went pro, Jameer avoided the usual thuggery that accompanies NBA players. He is a rare class act in a sport rife with criminals.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Jameer is so grounded because his late father Floyd brought him up right. My prayers go out to the Nelson family.