Pacers' David West gets warm welcome from Xavier

David West graduated from Xavier in 2003, but it was almost like old times Wednesday in the men's basketball locker room at Cintas Center.

The 12th-year NBA player set up shop in the same locker he used for much of his college career. XU even positioned West's picture, retired jersey number and name above his seat as if he was a current Musketeer.

That was just part of the fanfare the Xavier Athletics Hall-of-Famer received when his Indiana Pacers faced LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a preseason game.

West, 34, met with old friends and Xavier staffers earlier in the day, was greeted by a 'Welcome home David!' banner in the arena, and garnered a standing ovation by many fans after his pre-game introduction.

"I enjoyed my time here. It was an integral part of my development," West said. "I will always be thankful and indebted to the Xavier family for that."

West said it was good to be back at Cintas Center, which opened his sophomore year. The two-time NBA all-star has had quite a career since then, but said he still keeps his eye on what coach Chris Mack and Xavier are doing on the hard court. If his schedule allows, he hopes to see the Musketeers play this season.

He said he's learned quite a few lessons since his days as an XU player.

"I was able to mature while I was here and obviously moving into adulthood, you're able to mature even more," West said. "When I think about Xavier, I think about that maturity piece and development. Growing up."

ANOTHER HOMECOMING: XU also had a welcome banner for Musketeers Athletics Hall-of-Famer James Posey, a 12-year pro and two-time NBA champion. Now a Cavaliers assistant coach, Posey was on the home team's bench.

XAVIER TIES: Mack and Musketeers women's basketball coach Brian Neal were honorary coaches at the game. Neal said energy had been buzzing in the building all day as preparations unfolded.

"It's certainly a little bit different. You could tell the big dogs are here," Neal said.

Neal brought his 8-year-old son, Max, who was eager to see LeBron James.

"LeBron's his idol," Neal said. "That's why I'm here today, and to see the party here in Cincinnati."

RECOGNIZED: The Cavs honored Sister Rose Ann Fleming before the game for her career work in developing Xavier's student-athlete academic advisory program. As of last May, 94 consecutive senior men's basketball players had earned degrees.

"It's a tremendous honor and a real privilege. But the thing that I always think of when I get all this credit is the 100 people at least who should get credit too, who have helped me over the years," Fleming said.

In pre-game interviews, West and Posey said Fleming had great impacts on them and helped them prepare for life beyond college. Fleming praised them – and XU's other graduated athletes – for putting in the work.

"They were cooperative. They did what we told them to do. We tried to build a program that was designed to help them work their way through college to get their degree," Fleming said. "I didn't want them to leave without a degree. I thought, 'That's the one thing they can earn when they're here.' I didn't want them to leave without something for themselves."