RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAug. 3—Dayton Flyers fans mostly know Jaron McKie from seeing him on the bench or standing at center court during his first season while the rest of the team warmed up before games.
Not every freshman contributes right away. Jaiun Simon, for example, sat out his freshman season because there wasn't room for him in the rotation. Now he's expected to play a significant role for the second straight season. Obi Toppin missed his freshman season because of academic reasons and won all the national player of the year awards in his third season at Dayton.
The list of players who missed their entire freshman season because of an injury without even appearing in an exhibition game is much shorter.
McKie, a 6-foot-3 guard from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, is the only one on that list in the last 13 years. Marvel Allen played in two exhibition games before the 2023-24 season and then suffered an injury that would lead to the decision to redshirt him.
McKie underwent left shoulder surgery in October and didn't practice or play in the 2025-26 season.
"It was definitely tough," McKie said. "I've never been injured for that long. Wanting to play all the time, watching from the sideline, it was frustrating."
Shoulder pain started bothering McKie during his senior year of high school. He played through it. The pain would go away and then return.
After arriving at Dayton in 2025, McKie's shoulder took a few hits in practice. He finally underwent an MRI. Trainer Mike Mulcahey pulled McKie into his office to deliver the news.
"It was upsetting," McKie said. "I was a little nervous at first, but (the surgery) went smoothly."
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McKie's dad, Aaron McKie, a star at Temple from 1991-94 and the head coach at Temple from 2019-23, spent a week with Jaron in Dayton after the surgery to help him recover.
"I couldn't even do basic stuff like change my clothes," Jaron said.
McKie's coaches and teammates also supported him during that time.
"They came with like snacks and gifts and stayed with me and talked to me," McKie said. "It was heartwarming."
Dayton fans who follow preseason reports closely knew McKie wasn't practicing with the team but didn't know the reason. Coach Anthony Grant confirmed the reason after an exhibition game against Penn State on Oct. 19, announcing that McKie would miss the season.
"His rehab is starting," Grant said, "so it's just a matter now of letting his body heal. Our medical staff is outstanding. They'll do a great job of getting him ready. He won't be able to participate at this stage, but hopefully he'll take advantage of his opportunity to learn and grow."
McKie injured his non-shooting shoulder. He was able to start shooting in December. He didn't get full clearance to play until after the season. He returned to action in pickup games in the spring and resumed practice when summer workouts began in June.
"I'm 100%," McKie said. "I'm ready. Watching from the sidelines last year, I learned a lot, so I'm ready to make my impact this year."
McKie said he didn't have to think about whether he would enter the transfer portal. His return from injury played a part in the decision to stay, but he also said, "I really like it here. The campus, the people, the environment, it's a place I want to be."
McKie is one of 14 scholarship players on the roster. Four others have never played in a college basketball game: guard Tristian Ford, who redshirted last season as a freshman at Murray State; and true freshmen Julian Washington, Aiden Derkack and Cody Peck.
By the time McKie returns to the court in October, he will not have played in a game that counts in about 18 months. He knows he will have to earn playing time by gaining the trust of his coaches and teammates.
"I would say it starts in practice," he said, "by working as hard as I can."
McKie was a top-100 recruit, according to ESPN, when he signed with Dayton in September 2024. As a senior, he averaged 15.0 points, 2.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He shot 47.5% (67 of 141) from 3-point range.
McKie was one of two members of the class of 2025 to sign with Dayton in 2024. Damon Friery, a 6-foot-9 forward from Cleveland St. Ignatius, committed to Dayton six days before McKie.
Friery and McKie lived across the hall from each other in the freshman dorm last season. They barely talked last summer, McKie said, but then they grew closer. Now they are roommates.
Friery appeared in 16 games as a freshman but played limited minutes. He and McKie could bring a shooting touch if they earn playing time this season.
"He can shoot the ball really well," Friery said. "That's always great because we always need shooters."
Dayton finishes summer practices this week. Players will get a break and a chance to return home before starting classes Aug. 24. Official preseason practices typically begin in the final days of September or early October.
Already, McKie has gotten a sense of what this team can do.
"I think we can compete," he said. "I think this is a really good squad. Last year we had a good squad, but I like this squad a lot, too."
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