Dayton Flyers great Roosevelt Chapman ‘ecstatic’ about success Grant is having in year three

Chapman attended a press conference Friday for the Chicago Legends event, joining three other great players from the participating teams: Iowa's Ronnie Lester; Cincinnati's Corie Blount; and Colorado's Donnie Boyce. Chapman visited the current Flyers at the team hotel Friday.

On Saturday, Chapman appeared at a pregame alumni party at Malcom X College down the street from the United Center. Then he spoke to the Flyers on Saturday, hours before their game against Colorado.

Dayton’s success this season means even more to Chapman because his former teammate, Anthony Grant, is the head coach. Grant was a freshman in 1983-84 when Chapman was a senior.

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"I'm definitely ecstatic," Chapman said. "I would say he's my protege. He played the same position. He played behind me. I'm so happy for him. He's a great guy. He transitioned from a great player to a great coach."

Chapman lives in Sioux Falls, S.D., now. He makes a point to watch every Dayton game, especially this season. The team rose to No. 13 in the Associated Press poll last week. It is 10-2 after the 78-76 overtime loss to Colorado.

“This crop to me is kind of special under the guidance and tutelage of Anthony Grant,” Chapman said. “I think he put it all together. They’ve just got to execute.”

Chapman said he met and shook hands with each of the players Saturday.

“It was exciting,” he said. “I really had a great time. It’s a great bunch of guys.”

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Chapman, who was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in May, scored 2,233 points in his four seasons (1980-84), averaging 21.8 points per game as a senior. Dayton's star, Obi Toppin, was on track to top that average early this season. He's now averaging 19.8 points.

“I see a lot of greatness in him,” Chapman said. “I just hope he doesn’t get injured and keeps producing.”