City of Basketball Love

By Jeff Griffith
—

Throughout this somewhat-young Division I career, Andrew Phillips has done something many might consider rare in today’s college basketball landscape.

He waited.

The Lafayette sophomore waited deep into his senior year of high school for the right scholarship offer. He stayed put at the school he had felt was the right fit coming out of high school, despite a lack of playing time. He made the most of an uptick in minutes to start his second year, despite not starting right off the bat. 

And this season — and especially of late — the Malvern Prep product’s patience is paying off, both for himself and for Lafayette. 

Phillips has made the most of a newfound starting role this season, catching fire as one of the nation’s most efficient 3-point shooters while developing as a reliable, well-rounded contributor. While Phillips’ season averages have been significant increases from his debut season, he’s been especially productive of late, averaging 14 points and six rebounds in the month of January.

“At the beginning of the year, we were playing a lot of guys,” he said. “I worked my way up. There were a couple of injuries, but I stepped up.”

By the latter half of his senior season at Malvern Prep, Phillips was still uncommitted and in search of a Division I scholarship. Even so, it was the Leopards who tracked down Phillips, not the other way around. 

“We knew that he had Division II offers,” Lafayette head coach Mike McGarvey said. “He had a lot of recruitment at lower levels from successful programs, and I knew he was playing out that spring and also trying to find a Division I scholarship … so, it wasn't him, it was more us.”

“He was not the one pushing the buttons,” McGarvey added.

Once Phillips got to Lafayette, it took him time to find his niche. His freshman season, Phillips only played a total of 63 minutes in 16 games — in only two games did he see the floor for double digit minutes. Phillips only had the opportunity to attempt 30 shots in live game action. 

But Phillips went against the “norm.” He hadn’t had much of a chance to play, but he took that as an opportunity to grow and develop in his current confines, rather than an opportunity to seek a more open door at a different program. 

Over the offseason heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Phillips went to work.

“I think it's rare, in this day and age, to have someone who didn't play a whole lot as a first year, just stayed consistent in his work ethic and his belief, and now it’s all coming together,” McGarvey said. “And then with the opportunities in the games early on in the season, he started to get his feet on the ground and feel confident in his play.”

For Phillips, this season has been the payoff of his dedication — and it’s even taken some extra patience, as the sophomore came off the bench of the Leopards’ first five games, averaging about 12 minutes in that span. In a limited window, though, Phillips made the most of his minutes, averaging just shy of four points and two boards. 

Phillips in action during the 2024-25 Patriot League season. (Photo courtesy Hannah Ally/Lafayette College)

But in Lafayette’s sixth contest of the season, Phillips logged his first collegiate start, posted 10 points, three assists and two boards on 4-of-6 shooting, and never looked back. He’s started every game since, and has averaged 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds on the season. 

The Leopards have struggled as a whole on the season, currently standing at 8-13 with a 3-5 conference mark, but they’re in the process of developing a young core. Of their top five players in minutes per game this season, four are either freshman or sophomores. 

“Last year we had a solid group of older guys,” he said. “This year, we’re a bit younger, and I think just going through the spring and the summer, I hit a good stride.”

For Phillips, the most notable highlight during his standout season has been three-point shooting. As McGarvey corroborated, that’s been a strength of Phillips’ since before he got to Lafayette, but it’s come alive in the past month especially. 

Phillips is shooting a blistering 47 percent from long distance on the season, which ranks second in the Patriot League behind teammate Alex Chaikin. He’s been red-hot since January 1, connecting on 21 of his 36 attempts — that’s good for just shy of 60 percent. 

Most recently, he tallied a career-high 27 points against Loyola Maryland, shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 10-of-15 from the field. That capped off a four-game stretch in which Phillips shot a combined 15-of-19 from 3-point range. 

According to Phillips, much of the opportunity he’s had to prove himself as a shooter came down to a culture of trust.

“They’ve always known I can shoot,” he said. “From early on, last year and the beginning of this year, it’s like, ‘You’ve got to take the shot. If you’re open, you’ve got to shoot it.’ I think they’ve been really happy with me having that confidence and shooting open shots.”

“Just finding the open guy, that’s what our coach preaches,” he added. “If he’s open, hit the guy. He’ll knock it down.”

McGarvey noted, though, it’s not just Phillips’ shooting that’s earned him a starting opportunity. He’s doing the little things, too.

“He's a physical kind of wing forward that really shoots the three very well,” McGarvey said. “He's become a really good cutter from the perimeter, and he's a really good offensive rebounder. So, he's been doing a combination of both those things.”

But of the many skills he’s developed in year two, for Phillips — a known 3-point shooter at his core — one stands out above the rest.

He’s happiest to have his confidence back. 

“I wouldn’t say I lost it freshman year, but moving into this year, I have a bit more confidence,” he said. “I knew I had to step up for the team.”