The Basketball Tournament: Red Scare adds Dayton legend to roster

Twelve years after he played his final college game, Wright practiced with the UD alumni team, the Red Scare, on his old home court in front of about 150 fans. It was the team’s second practice for The Basketball Tournament, which begins Wednesday with four first-rounds games in Dayton.

The Red Scare made a announcement Saturday night about Wright joining the team. He was officially added to the roster. He said Sunday he’s undecided about playing but it’s good to be around the former Flyers and he can bring knowledge from the bench.

At the every least, Wright will help Joey Gruden and Jeremiah Bonsu, the two former walk-ons who founded the team in 2019, coach the the team in the $1 million winner-takes-all tournament.

“Joey got me to this point,” Wright said. “The last couple of years, I haven’t been here, so just to be able to go through the walkthroughs and to see if I can make plays, it was good.”

Gruden has been trying to convince Wright to play and introduced him last after all the other players to the fans on Sunday, urging them to give him a big hand in hopes that would push him toward playing.

“We’re still working on him to suit up,” Gruden said. “He said he’s in shape and ready to go. We’re trying to get that last push. Hopefully, these fans will help him today.”

Wright, a Trotwood-Madison graduate, is 15th-leading scorer in UD history with 1,623 points. He announced his retirement from basketball in 2022. He now runs the Flyght Academy in Trotwood.

Gruden coached Wright’s Flyght Academy team and knew him during his Dayton career.

“I know what he means to this place and how good he was,” Gruden said.

Bonsu confirmed Wright still has the jumping ability that made him the school’s all-time leading dunker until Obi Toppin came around.

“(Wright) touched the top the backboard about two days ago,” Bonsu said. “He wants to do a dunk contest today, but we told him, ‘Chris, only you would win that.’”

The Red Scare is the top seed in the Dayton Region and will play No. 8 seed India Rising, a team full of players from India, at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The full roster practiced Sunday except for Jordan Barham, a former Davidson guard who’s one of three non-Flyers on the team. He’s expected to be with the team starting Monday.

“I love our team,” Gruden said. “I say it every year, but we’ve got eight really good players, and I’m trying to convince one more. Everyone can do a little bit everything. We’ve got a good shot.”