Brotherly Rivalry: Wilcher Siblings Face Off in NCAA Tournament

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Simeon Wilcher, a sophomore guard at St. John’s, and his older brother C.J., a graduate student at Texas A&M, are both gearing up to compete in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The brothers, who grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, have followed their passion for basketball, inspired by their family’s deep-rooted love for the game.

“Yeah, he was my foundation to everything,” Simeon said of C.J., who began playing basketball before him. “I watched him and how hard he worked. He kind of made me fall in love with the game, too.”

On Saturday, Simeon and No. 2-seed St. John’s will face John Calipari and No. 10 Arkansas at 2:40 p.m. ET, while C.J. and No. 4 Texas A&M will square off against No. 5 Michigan in Denver at 5:15 p.m. ET.

<p“It’s special to be a part of two different Top 5-seed teams as siblings because you don’t see that that often,” C.J. said in a text message from Denver. He averaged 4.3 points this season for the Aggies.

The two brothers have maintained communication amid the tournament, with their parents divided between the two games. Sergio Wilcher accompanies C.J. in Denver, while Kimberly Wilcher supports Simeon at St. John’s.

Although they have not spoken directly since the tournament’s start, C.J. tuned in to watch Simeon score 13 points in St. John’s 83-53 victory over No. 15 Omaha on Thursday night. Simeon is also seeking advice from C.J. regarding Arkansas, a team he faced during SEC play.

“I haven’t talked to him yet due to the time difference, and they played [Thursday],” Simeon explained. “I want to give him a chance to pause. I talked to my dad a little bit, but I’m going to talk to him later just to see if he has any tips on how to approach playing them.”

Simeon is familiar with two Arkansas guards, Boogie Fland and D.J. Wagner, both of whom have local ties. He expressed admiration for Wagner, highlighting their competitive history in high school.

“It’s a full-circle moment,” Simeon commented. “A lot of respect for D.J.; he’s been having a great season.”

Regarding the Tournament of Champions (TOC), which Roselle Catholic won four times, Simeon noted its absence due to state regulations.

“Our junior year, we played in the last one at Rutgers, and it was a great game,” he recalled. “An overtime game, great environment.”

Former Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff is eager to witness Saturday’s St. John’s-Arkansas matchup. “I’m really excited to watch Sim and DJ compete at the highest level,” he said. “Their battles in high school are historically great.”

Simeon and C.J. are among seven former Roselle Catholic athletes participating in the NCAA Tournament this year, showcasing New Jersey’s basketball talent.

<p“New Jersey is represented well throughout the bracket,” Boff emphasized.

Saturday’s games hold immense significance for both brothers, with a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 on the line. “It’s just amazing,” Simeon said. “It’s something we both dreamed about doing since we were younger.”

As Simeon and C.J. aim for a potential meeting in the national semifinals in San Antonio, C.J. remains optimistic about their chances. “I honestly think we have a chance to play each other in the later rounds,” he noted.