Delaware Blue Coats Record 140 Participants at $200 G League Open Tryout

The Delaware Blue Coats drew a team-record 140 players to their October 4 open tryout, generating $28,000 in registration fees.

The Delaware Blue Coats, the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, hosted a record 140 players at an open tryout on Oct. 4. Each participant paid a $200 nonrefundable registration fee, totaling $28,000 in revenue for the organization. Head coach JP Clark stated the team prioritized adding size and physicality to the 2026-27 roster after Delaware finished the previous season 25th in the league in allowing second-chance points and second-to-last in points in the paint.

Participants included former college athletes like Brandon Dwyer, a walk-on from Florida Gulf Coast, and Mekhi Young, a 5-foot-7 point guard with professional experience in Madrid. The tryout featured transition drills and 3-on-3 scenarios that evolved into 4-on-4 play, followed by eight-minute scrimmage quarters. According to Clark, the funds collected from the tryout are utilized to improve player lifestyles, including team dinners and travel accommodations, to replicate the Philadelphia 76ers' professional experience.

The G League has recorded 1,173 NBA call-ups through its first 25 seasons. Recent success stories from paid open tryouts include John Ukomadu, who scored for the Detroit Pistons in the 2026-27 preseason, and Philip Wheeler, who debuted for the 76ers in 2025 after originally trying out for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2021. Assistant general manager CJ Marchesani and assistant coach Reggie Redding oversaw the Wilmington session to identify talent for the upcoming training camp.