Phelan, Ryan and Carril to get honored

Debbie Ryan and Jim Phelan, two former basketball coaches with Philadelphia-area ties, will join Peter Carril as recipients of the fourth annual Lapchick Character Award.

The award recognizes people who have shown character traits of the Hall of Famer, who coached at St. John's and with the Knicks.

Ryan, who played at Ursinus College, was the women's head coach at Virginia for 34 years. She retired after this season.

Phelan spent 49 seasons coaching men's basketball at Mount St. Mary's.  The Philadelphia native played at La Salle High, then La Salle University before playing one season for the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors.

Carril coached the men's team at Princeton for 29 years.

-          Keith Pompey