By Joshua Miranda
Sports Capital Journalism Program
SAN ANTONIO – The mythical story of the Phoenix centers on its resurrection from the ashes. On Bowdoin Street in Pacific Palisades, California, it was the Dolphins who found strength amid the ashes of their home. Palisades Charter High School was one of the many places ravaged by the California wildfires that rang in the new year on Jan. 7, 2025. Despite the loss of their home court — and for some players, their actual homes — the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams continued their seasons. Their determination to compete through tragedy earned them the recognition of their community, several NBA teams, and now, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
When the USBWA printed the schedule for its annual awards program, a tradition now 37 years strong, an unexpected addition stood out. For the first time in nearly half a century, the Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award and the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award would be presented to high school student-athletes. But the 2025 recipients, the Palisades Charter High School Dolphins, do make the most compelling case.
Wildfires in California have sadly become a familiar occurrence. That’s what coach Jeff Bryant thought when the news first broke. He was still preparing for daily practice, despite warning messages in the team’s group chat. It wasn’t until smoke filled the air and athletic director Rocky Montz ordered a cancellation and evacuation that Bryant grasped the gravity of the situation. A decision he later appreciated, for just a five-minute delay could have had dire consequences. The fires were not kind to the school and the homes of ten plus students, which ceased to exist when the fire was contained.
“I thought all of L.A. was going to burn down at one point,” Cunningham said.
In the face of such loss, sports seemed like a secondary priority. In Bryant’s eyes, the tragedy was on par with the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of disruption and scale — grounds, he believed, for canceling the season. But the students didn’t agree.
During a Zoom call, the coach acknowledged the circumstances and asked if anyone wanted to stop the season.
Their unanimous decision to keep playing proved the Dolphins were ready to swim through the storm.
Before the fires, the boys’ varsity team had a record of 9-5. Afterward, they went 12-7, a slight dip in winning percentage, just 1.1%. Given the loss of their home-court advantage, something 6-foot-11 sophomore Julian Cunningham described as the team’s “sixth man,” plus unstable living conditions, their resilience was undeniable. The Dolphins finished with the second-best record in the Western League.
“It was tough,” Cunningham said. “But I was just happy to be playing and happy that our season was alive.”
At the USBWA Awards luncheon, held at the Grand Hyatt near the San Antonio RiverWalk, Coach Bryant and Cunningham accepted the 2025 Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award on behalf of the Dolphins. Their story, one that invoked a ton of emotions, moved a room full of seasoned writers and basketball figures on a day that was filled with emotions.
The award has a storied legacy. In 1988, it was given to former NBA champion and current Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who overcame the assassination of his diplomat father during his college career at Arizona. Kerr, who helped revolutionize the modern game, is also a Palisades Charter High alumnus. He’s not the only notable Dolphin. Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss also graduated from Pali High.
In early February, when the Lakers hosted the Warriors, the Dolphins were invited to meet Kerr and J.J. Redick, whose own Palisades home was lost in the fires. The students watched the Lakers-Warriors game and left with new shoes and gear.
“It’s something we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives,” Bryant said. “It was a good distraction for the boys, and we really appreciated it.”
The community’s support proved vital in keeping the team together. Winning the Perry Wallace and Pat Summitt Most Courageous awards, named in honor of Vanderbilt’s Perry Wallace and legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, gave the team a tangible symbol of their resilience.
“It’s an honor just to be in front of these great writers,” said Bryant. “We’re one of the first high schools to receive this award. It shows resilience and that people across the country see the bravery of these young kids, the community, and this basketball team.”
As difficult as the experience was, it forged a new culture at Palisades Charter High School. Students now wear T-shirts that read “Pali Strong,” a testament to their unity and strength in adversity.
“That’s just part of who we are now,” Bryant said. “Being together through adversity, staring it in the eyes, and taking it as a challenge.”
These kids brought hope and happiness to a community that desperately needed it, and now, their courage will be remembered forever in the USBWA record books.
