Last Updated on October 6, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Delaware Blue Coats’ 2018-19 season marked the beginning of a new era as the franchise adopted its new identity after years as the 87ers. The inaugural Blue Coats squad finished 21-29, but the season featured several notable individual developments tied closely to the Philadelphia 76ers organization. Shake Milton emerged as one of the team’s most important young players, using extended G League minutes to accelerate his growth before establishing himself in the NBA. Veteran guard Demetrius Jackson provided scoring punch, while Christ Koumadje’s size made him a constant presence around the basket. The roster regularly shifted as NBA assignments and call-ups reshaped the rotation, reflecting the team’s close connection to Philadelphia. While the Blue Coats missed the playoffs, the season laid the foundation for the franchise’s future identity and the success that would follow in later years.

Roster

NO. PLAYER POS. HT. WT. DOB COLLEGE
0 Cameron Oliver C 6-8 225 July 11, 1996 Nevada
1 Norvel Pelle FC 6-10 216 February 3, 1993 —
2 DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell GF 6-6 200 June 5, 1993 Eastern Oklahoma State, Illinois State
2 Keenan Evans SG 6-3 190 August 23, 1996 Texas Tech
3 Matt Farrell PG 6-1 175 March 15, 1996 Notre Dame
5 Amir Johnson PF 6-9 240 May 1, 1987 —
5 Justin Patton C 7-0 241 June 14, 1997 Creighton
7 D.J. Hogg SF 6-9 225 April 3, 1996 Texas A&M
8 Zhaire Smith SG 6-4 205 June 4, 1999 Texas Tech
10 A.J. Davis GF 6-9 215 June 17, 1995 UCF
10 Lenjo Kilo F 6-8 240 August 31, 1993 Savannah State
11 Demetrius Jackson G 6-1 200 September 7, 1994 Notre Dame
11 Terrence Drisdom GF 6-5 175 — Cal Poly Pomona
12 Kyle Randall G 6-1 185 October 7, 1991 Central Michigan
15 Ryan Anderson F 6-9 235 September 12, 1992 Arizona
18 Shake Milton SG 6-5 205 September 26, 1996 Southern Methodist
21 Rashad Vaughn SF 6-6 210 August 16, 1996 UNLV
22 Jarred Vanderbilt PF 6-8 214 April 3, 1999 Kentucky
23 Jared Brownridge G 6-3 200 November 13, 1994 Santa Clara
24 Haywood Highsmith F 6-5 220 December 9, 1996 Wheeling
33 Michael Bryson G 6-4 200 September 30, 1994 UC Santa Barbara
34 Cory Jefferson PF 6-9 215 December 26, 1990 Baylor
43 Jonah Bolden SF 6-10 220 January 2, 1996 UCLA

Per Game

PLAYER POS. AGE GP GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Jared Brownridge SG 31 49 27 29.1 15.9 2.1 2.2 0.7 0.1 0.9 12.9 5.4 .420 9.6 3.8 .397 1.7 1.3 .778
Shake Milton SG 30 27 27 34.7 24.9 4.9 4.9 1.1 0.5 2.6 19.1 9.3 .484 5.8 2.1 .369 5.3 4.3 .810
Haywood Highsmith SF 30 46 42 32.3 12.2 6.8 2.5 1.2 0.5 1.7 10.5 4.5 .430 4.8 1.6 .338 2.3 1.6 .667
Rashad Vaughn SG 30 30 19 29.3 17.0 4.1 2.9 0.9 0.1 2.2 14.0 6.0 .427 6.9 2.7 .396 2.7 2.3 .854
Matt Farrell PG 30 45 17 27.0 10.8 3.2 5.6 0.8 0.0 2.3 9.8 4.0 .410 5.4 1.9 .351 1.1 0.8 .755
D.J. Hogg SF 30 43 11 24.4 10.6 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.0 1.3 8.9 3.7 .419 6.2 2.3 .368 1.0 0.9 .902
Cameron Oliver PF 30 26 14 26.6 15.5 9.2 1.8 1.1 2.2 2.7 10.3 6.0 .586 2.4 0.7 .270 3.7 2.8 .768
Norvel Pelle C 33 36 26 22.8 11.1 8.6 1.2 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.6 4.6 .699 0.0 0.0 2.4 1.8 .756
Ryan Anderson PF 34 37 4 18.3 7.6 8.6 1.2 0.4 0.4 1.1 6.2 3.0 .485 1.0 0.2 .189 2.3 1.4 .593
Keenan Evans PG 30 24 20 23.8 8.5 3.0 3.3 1.0 0.2 1.4 6.3 2.8 .434 2.3 0.7 .315 2.5 2.3 .902
Cory Jefferson PF 35 22 17 23.9 9.2 5.1 0.9 0.4 0.5 1.1 7.7 3.0 .394 4.9 1.6 .333 2.2 1.5 .673
Demetrius Jackson PG 32 8 8 35.0 18.9 4.6 7.4 1.3 0.3 3.9 15.4 6.8 .439 6.1 1.9 .306 4.0 3.5 .875
Jonah Bolden PF 30 8 8 31.0 15.3 11.8 3.3 1.5 0.8 3.0 12.9 5.4 .417 6.5 2.3 .346 4.1 2.3 .545
Kyle Randall PG 35 25 0 16.3 4.6 1.4 2.1 0.6 0.0 1.5 4.4 1.6 .364 1.6 0.5 .333 1.3 0.9 .697
Justin Patton C 29 11 2 18.5 8.7 5.6 1.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 7.3 3.6 .500 0.5 0.1 .167 2.2 1.4 .625
Zhaire Smith SG 27 11 5 22.6 7.2 3.0 1.5 0.3 0.6 1.5 7.5 3.1 .410 2.3 0.5 .200 0.8 0.5 .667
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell SG 33 2 0 29.0 24.5 4.5 4.0 2.0 0.5 3.5 16.0 7.0 .438 6.0 3.5 .583 8.5 7.0 .824
Terrence Drisdom SG 33 9 0 12.7 4.0 1.9 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.4 3.3 1.7 .500 0.8 0.6 .714 0.2 0.1 .500
Jarred Vanderbilt PF 27 4 0 16.3 7.3 7.8 0.5 1.5 0.0 2.8 5.3 3.0 .571 0.8 0.5 .667 2.5 0.8 .300
Amir Johnson PF 39 2 2 25.5 14.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 4.0 9.5 6.0 .632 2.0 1.0 .500 2.0 1.0 .500
Michael Bryson SG 32 4 1 12.3 5.0 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 3.5 1.8 .500 2.0 1.0 .500 1.3 0.5 .400
Lenjo Kilo PF 33 2 0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.5 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000 0.0 0.0
A.J. Davis SF 31 2 0 15.0 1.5 3.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.5 .500

Totals

PLAYER POS. AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Jared Brownridge G 31 49 27 1428 780 105 108 34 3 44 631 265 .420 471 187 .397 81 63 .778
Shake Milton G 30 27 27 937 673 131 132 31 13 71 516 250 .484 157 58 .369 142 115 .810
Haywood Highsmith F 30 46 42 1485 562 315 113 54 25 78 484 208 .430 219 74 .338 108 72 .667
Rashad Vaughn G 30 30 19 878 510 124 88 28 3 66 419 179 .427 207 82 .396 82 70 .854
Matt Farrell G 30 45 17 1216 485 146 254 37 2 104 441 181 .410 245 86 .351 49 37 .755
D.J. Hogg F 30 43 11 1049 457 163 55 35 44 57 384 161 .419 266 98 .368 41 37 .902
Cameron Oliver F 30 26 14 692 404 238 46 28 57 70 268 157 .586 63 17 .270 95 73 .768
Norvel Pelle C 33 36 26 821 399 308 42 12 108 77 239 167 .699 0 0 86 65 .756
Ryan Anderson F 34 37 4 677 282 317 43 16 14 39 231 112 .485 37 7 .189 86 51 .593
Keenan Evans G 30 24 20 572 204 73 80 24 4 34 152 66 .434 54 17 .315 61 55 .902
Cory Jefferson F 35 22 17 526 203 112 19 9 12 25 170 67 .394 108 36 .333 49 33 .673
Demetrius Jackson G 32 8 8 280 151 37 59 10 2 31 123 54 .439 49 15 .306 32 28 .875
Jonah Bolden F 30 8 8 248 122 94 26 12 6 24 103 43 .417 52 18 .346 33 18 .545
Kyle Randall G 35 25 0 408 116 35 53 14 1 37 110 40 .364 39 13 .333 33 23 .697
Justin Patton C 29 11 2 204 96 62 18 10 22 20 80 40 .500 6 1 .167 24 15 .625
Zhaire Smith G 27 11 5 249 79 33 17 3 7 17 83 34 .410 25 5 .200 9 6 .667
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell G 33 2 0 58 49 9 8 4 1 7 32 14 .438 12 7 .583 17 14 .824
Terrence Drisdom G 33 9 0 114 36 17 9 9 1 4 30 15 .500 7 5 .714 2 1 .500
Jarred Vanderbilt F 27 4 0 65 29 31 2 6 0 11 21 12 .571 3 2 .667 10 3 .300
Amir Johnson F 39 2 2 51 28 12 0 0 1 8 19 12 .632 4 2 .500 4 2 .500
Michael Bryson G 32 4 1 49 20 7 1 1 2 2 14 7 .500 8 4 .500 5 2 .400
Lenjo Kilo F 33 2 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 .500 1 1 1.000 0 0
A.J. Davis F 31 2 0 30 3 6 1 0 0 1 2 1 .500 0 0 2 1 .500

Regular Season

PLAYER NAME ROLE TIER MPG USAGE TIER PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) IMPACT INDEX NOTES AWARDS
Shake Milton Primary Offensive Engine (1.1) 34.7 High (1.2) 24.9 4.9 4.9 1.6 95.83 Milton functioned as Delaware’s main scoring initiator, combining pull-up creation with enough passing to keep the offense moving when possessions stalled. His two-way assignment allowed him to carry a much larger offensive load in Delaware, and his 24.9 points ranked fourth in the G League. Who is Shake Milton? Fast facts on the Philadelphia 76ers prolific second-year guard
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell Explosive Scoring Wing (1.1) 29.0 High (1.2) 24.5 4.5 4.0 2.5 93.72 Akoon-Purcell’s two-game sample was built around aggressive scoring and downhill pressure rather than a complementary role. The small sample makes the projection uncertain, but his combination of wing scoring, playmaking and defensive activity gave Delaware a genuine two-way creator during those appearances.
Demetrius Jackson Franchise Floor General (1.1) 35.0 High (1.2) 18.9 4.6 7.4 1.6 85.80 Jackson operated as a full-time lead guard, with the offense leaning on his ball control, pick-and-roll decisions and ability to create shots for others. The 7.4 assists underline how heavily Delaware relied on him to organize possessions, although the high turnover rate shows the risk that came with that responsibility.
Jonah Bolden Versatile Frontcourt Creator (1.05) 31.0 High (1.1) 15.3 11.8 3.3 2.3 75.54 Bolden gave Delaware a modern big-man skill set, functioning as a rebounder and interior defender while still initiating some offense from the frontcourt. His frequent movement between Philadelphia and Delaware meant the sample was fragmented, but when assigned he immediately occupied a major role. Sons of Liberty: Delaware Blue Coats Finalize Opening Night Roster
Cameron Oliver Interior Scoring Forward (1.05) 26.6 High (1.1) 15.5 9.2 1.8 3.3 68.84 Oliver was a physical frontcourt scorer who combined efficient finishing with relentless rebounding and shot-blocking. His 2.2 blocks per game and 9.2 rebounds made him more than a scoring option, while a fractured ankle ended his season in January.
Rashad Vaughn Primary Wing Shot Maker (1.05) 29.3 High (1.2) 17.0 4.1 2.9 1.0 63.00 Vaughn became a more aggressive perimeter scorer after arriving in Delaware, leaning heavily into three-point volume and attacking opportunities that were less prominent earlier with Texas. He also showed enough positional flexibility to start at power forward when Delaware’s roster was depleted. Rashad Vaughn: Registers third double-double this season
Haywood Highsmith Starting Two-Way Wing (1.05) 32.3 High (1.1) 12.2 6.8 2.5 1.7 53.59 Highsmith played like a connective forward rather than a pure scorer, supplying rebounding, defensive activity and opportunistic shooting while staying heavily involved in the rotation. His strong rookie G League season earned a two-way contract with Philadelphia in January.
Norvel Pelle Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.05) 22.8 High (1.1) 11.1 8.6 1.2 3.3 55.90 Pelle’s value centered on deterrence around the rim: he altered drives, cleaned the defensive glass and finished plays efficiently around the basket. His 3.0 blocks in the supplied data capture the defensive identity that ultimately earned him All-Defensive recognition and third-place finishes in both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player voting. Delaware Blue Coats’ Norvel Pelle Named to 2018-19 NBA G League All-Defensive Team G League All-Defensive Team (2019); 3rd in G League Defensive Player of the Year voting (2019); 3rd in G League Most Improved Player voting (2019)
Jared Brownridge Movement Shooting Specialist (1.05) 29.1 High (1.2) 15.9 2.1 2.2 0.8 52.92 Brownridge was Delaware’s classic spacing weapon, constantly creating value through three-point volume and off-ball movement. He attempted 9.6 threes per game while still shooting 39.7% from deep, making him particularly important when the Blue Coats needed the floor stretched around their creators.
Amir Johnson Veteran Interior Stabilizer (1.05) 25.5 Low (1.0) 14.0 6.0 0.0 0.5 43.05 Johnson’s two-game assignment was less about development and more about getting a veteran big back into game shape. He willingly accepted the unusual G League stint, bringing screening, interior finishing and veteran organization to a young Delaware group. Sixers’ veteran Amir Johnson opts to play for Delaware Blue Coats
Matt Farrell Pick-and-Roll Organizer (1.05) 27.0 Medium (1.1) 10.8 3.2 5.6 0.8 47.12 Farrell served as a secondary ball-handler who could settle the offense and manufacture advantages from the pick-and-roll. His 5.6 assists show that his influence extended well beyond his own scoring, particularly as Delaware rotated several different scorers through the lineup.
Justin Patton Mobile Rim-Running Big (1.05) 18.5 Medium (1.0) 8.7 5.6 1.6 2.9 39.48 Patton’s limited Delaware stint was centered on length, finishing and rim protection. Philadelphia repeatedly moved him between the NBA roster and Delaware as frontcourt injuries created depth issues, so his role was developmental but still clearly built around interior defense and athletic finishing. JJ Redick breaks shooting slump with 26 points as Sixers beat Magic
D.J. Hogg Stretch Frontcourt Shooter (1.05) 24.4 Medium (1.0) 10.6 3.8 1.3 1.8 36.75 Hogg’s offensive value came primarily from stretching the floor as a forward, with 6.2 three-point attempts per game creating space for Delaware’s guards. He was more of a perimeter-oriented frontcourt piece than a traditional interior scorer.
Ryan Anderson Rebounding Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) 18.3 Medium (1.0) 7.6 8.6 1.2 0.8 36.40 Anderson supplied physical rebounding and interior presence without demanding many possessions. His 8.6 rebounds in only 18.3 minutes point to a specialist role built around second chances, screening and frontcourt toughness.
Jarred Vanderbilt Energy Rebounding Forward (1.0) 16.3 Low (1.0) 7.3 7.8 0.5 1.5 34.20 Vanderbilt’s four-game assignment was a glimpse of the activity that would later define his defensive reputation: aggressive rebounding, disruptive hands and constant movement. The small sample supports the role more confidently than any projection of sustained offensive production.
Cory Jefferson Stretch Four Reserve (1.05) 23.9 Medium (1.0) 9.2 5.1 0.9 0.9 33.81 Jefferson was used as a veteran scoring forward with enough perimeter range to pull opposing bigs away from the paint. His Delaware stint was brief, ending in January before he continued his season overseas, which limited his opportunity to settle into a larger role. Blue Coats Acquire Rights to Cory Jefferson in Three-Team Trade
Keenan Evans Secondary Pick-and-Roll Creator (1.05) 23.8 Medium (1.0) 8.5 3.0 3.3 1.2 33.60 Evans arrived in Delaware after beginning the season with Grand Rapids and functioned as another capable guard who could create off the bounce without monopolizing the offense. His ability to handle and attack helped stabilize a backcourt that changed repeatedly during the season.
Zhaire Smith Defensive Development Wing (1.0) 22.6 Medium (1.0) 7.2 3.0 1.5 0.9 25.20 Smith’s G League stint was primarily about rebuilding his rhythm after a serious medical setback rather than maximizing offensive production. His athleticism and defensive instincts remained the foundation of the role, while the modest shooting numbers reflected a player still finding his footing after an extended absence. Zhaire Smith: 10 things to know
Kyle Randall Backup Point Guard (1.0) 16.3 Low (1.0) 4.6 1.4 2.1 0.6 17.40 Randall provided experienced ball-handling depth and kept the offense organized when the primary creators rested. His low-usage profile made him more of a stabilizing rotation guard than a scoring threat.
Terrence Drisdom Defensive Utility Wing (1.0) 12.7 Low (1.0) 4.0 1.9 1.0 1.1 16.00 Drisdom’s short Delaware stint was built around perimeter defense, energy and opportunistic offense rather than a large scoring workload. With only nine appearances, the sample is too small for broader conclusions, but his defensive activity was immediately useful in limited minutes.
Michael Bryson Situational Wing Reserve (1.0) 12.3 Low (1.0) 5.0 1.8 0.3 0.8 15.80 Bryson was primarily a situational perimeter option, providing spacing and occasional scoring in a crowded Delaware wing rotation. His four-game sample makes a larger role difficult to establish with confidence.
A.J. Davis Short-Term Frontcourt Depth (1.0) 15.0 Low (1.0) 1.5 3.0 0.5 0.0 10.00 Davis joined Delaware late in the season after playing in Australia, so his two appearances were essentially a brief depth assignment. His role was limited, with rebounding and positional size more relevant than offensive responsibility.
Lenjo Kilo Emergency Rotation Big (1.0) 2.0 Low (1.0) 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.00 Kilo’s two-minute sample amounts to an emergency rotation appearance rather than a sustained role. There is not enough contemporary season coverage to support a broader evaluation beyond that limited stint.