The Phillies had just won their first World Series championship in 28 years, so many students were bouncing around the hallways wearing red-and-white pinstripes. Some with Chase Utley's No. 26 on the back, others sporting Jimmy Rollins' No. 11 or Cole Hamels' No. 35.

Plenty of others showed their adoration for a certain quarterback who wears No. 2 for the Atlanta Falcons. Yep, Matt Ryan.

These days, Ryan, the Associated Press' 2008 NFL offensive rookie of the year, isn't the only one the folks at 3000 W. School House Lane can proudly claim as one of their own. The school also recently produced a pair of NBA players: Rob Kurz of the Golden State Warriors and Sean

Singletary of the Charlotte Bobcats.

"It's kind of special that there is this cluster of kids in the professional ranks," said Paul Butler, Penn Charter's athletic director. "It's neat. Maybe there was something in the water when they were here."

Ryan, a 2003 Penn Charter graduate, was sensational while leading the Falcons to the NFC playoffs and an 11-6 mark a year after the Falcons were 4-12. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder threw for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 87.7, in the regular season.

Kurz and Singletary are 2004 graduates and NBA rookies. Kurz, a 6-9 forward, has played in 16 games for the Warriors. Singletary, a 6-0 point guard drafted by the Sacramento Kings, is now with Larry Brown's Bobcats.

Penn Charter has had other graduates reach the pro level. Two of its better-known products are Mark Gubicza, a former star pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, and Ruben Amaro Jr., an outfielder for the Phillies in the 1990s who is now the club's general manager.

But three on the pro scene at the same time is a first - and a source of tremendous pride for school administrators, teachers, students and alumni.

"There is not only a sense of pride for their sports accomplishments," said Butler, who has been at the school for 33 years, "but for the way they've handled themselves off the field and court."

Before starring for Boston College and Atlanta, Ryan made his mark at Penn Charter. A three-year starter for the Quakers, he threw for nearly 3,000 career yards. Had the squad not used a run-oriented offense, that number could have been higher.

"Because of our philosophy and what we like to do, he had to run the triple option at times," said Brian McCloskey, head coach from 1995 to 2007. "And he had the intelligence, poise and confidence to run it well."

In 2002, when Ryan was a first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection by The Inquirer, he connected on 64 of 125 passes for 1,048 yards and 12 touchdowns. Penn Charter went 8-1 overall, losing just to Mainland (N.J.), and 4-0 en route to the Inter-Academic League championship.

Ryan, who passed for an eye-popping 9,313 yards and 56 TDs at Boston College and was selected third overall in the NFL draft, drew praise this season for his unwavering confidence, savvy and leadership.

"None of that stuff surprised me," McCloskey said. "Matt has been doing that ever since I've known him. He's a fierce competitor."

Ryan, who also played basketball (as a forward) and baseball (shortstop, second baseman, pitcher) in high school, is not the only member of his family to leave a mark on Penn Charter's athletic fields.

The 23-year-old's uncle, John Loughery, was a standout quarterback there in the late 1970s and preceded 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie at Boston College.

His older brother, Mike, was a two-year starter in football at Malvern Prep and briefly played at Widener. Also a basketball and baseball player in high school, he now is a Penn Charter assistant in football and baseball.

Following in Matt Ryan's footsteps, his youngest brother, John, is a quarterback and three-sport athlete for the Quakers. The 6-2, 200-pound senior, who played only three games last season because of a broken collarbone, will pursue football at Brown.

For the three Ryan boys and sister Kate, a former volleyball player at Bishop Shanahan, it all started with what they learned from their parents, Mike and Bernie, in the family's home in Exton, Chester County.

"We couldn't have been raised by two better people," said John Ryan, a forward in basketball and outfielder in baseball. "We're so grateful for them. They're great role models."

Said Butler: "Even with all that was going on with Matt this year, Mike and Bernie have been there supporting John and our teams. They haven't missed a beat. They're incredible."

Kurz, undrafted out of Notre Dame, has averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16 games for the Warriors.

A two-time captain and 1,000-point career scorer for the Fighting Irish, the 23-year-old native of Lower Gwynedd has twice battled to earn a spot on Golden State's roster. He made it once, was cut, then was brought back by coach Don Nelson.

On Nov. 20, capitalizing on an increase in playing time, Kurz netted 20 points and collected seven rebounds in a 123-105 loss at Denver. He had a pair of 10-point outings last month.

"He's getting an opportunity to play a little bit," said Penn Charter basketball boss Jim "Flipper" Phillips, now on sabbatical.

"He rebounds the ball well, he can shoot, he can put the ball on the floor, he's a good passer, and he understands the game. Also, his personality and work ethic are contagious. For an NBA team, he's zero maintenance."

In 2002-03, when Kurz and Singletary were juniors, they joined forces on the hardwood with Ryan and led the Quakers to a 26-4 overall record, the area's No. 3 ranking, and, at 10-0, the first of two consecutive Inter-Ac titles.

Singletary, who averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 assists in his final season at Virginia, has had to keep his bags packed in the early part of his NBA career.

A three-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, Singletary, 23, was the 42d overall selection of Sacramento in last year's draft. First, he was traded to Houston in a package deal for Ron Artest. Less than two weeks later, he was shipped to Phoenix for guard D.J. Strawberry.

On Dec. 10, after 13 games with the Suns, he was sent to Charlotte in a multi-player deal involving Jason Richardson. Including last night, he has appeared in 12 games for the Bobcats and is averaging seven minutes of playing time. He got his first start Friday night against the 76ers and had two points in a 93-87 loss at the Wachovia Center.

"At Virginia, he was a point guard that was asked to score a lot," Phillips said. "Once he understands what an NBA team is asking of him, I think he'll accept that role and he'll be just fine."

In his career with the Cavaliers, Singletary, who played a year of football at Penn Charter, became the only ACC player to record at least 2,000 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds, and 200 steals.