Players to Watch in the Inter-Ac League for 2020-21

Over the last five years, Philly's Inter Academic League has produced some of the most sought after basketball recruits in eastern Pennsylvania. That trend continued last season as college coaches flocked to gyms from Chestnut Hill to Malvern to Fort Washington in order to scout program defining talent. Good news…a great deal of the college level players in the Inter-Ac will return for more high school action in 2020-21. Obviously you know about Germantown Academy superstar [player_tooltip player_id="990929" first="Jordan" last="Longino"] (6'5” Senior). In 2019-20 the all-everything point guard tore through the Inter-AC on his way to being named the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 4A State Player of the Year. However if you look beyond last season's headline makers like Longino, you will see the Inter-Ac is deep with high level players who can contribute at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"] - Haverford School 6'4” Junior Guard. Before he even steps foot on the court for his junior season, Brown is already one of the most accomplished basketball players in the Philadelphia area. As a freshman, (12 ppg.) he helped guide the Fords to a 28-0 record and a state title. In the title game, Brown hit 6 three pointers as Haverford upset basketball factory Westtown. This elite backcourt player has also been a USA Basketball Camp invitee. Coming into the 2019-20 season he picked up several D-I offers, including Purdue, Richmond, Temple and Nebraska. Unfortunately Brown' sophomore year was shut down by a broken wrist, but now that he is fully healed, all the elements of Brown's elite game will again be on display. Obviously Brown can stroke the three and that long range shooting is complimented by a high basketball IQ, outstanding work on the boards and off-the-charts athleticism. Brown has the unique ability to take over a game without forcing the action or playing hero ball. A true combo-guard, it will be interesting to see how Brown's role on the court develops for the Fords in 2020-21. [player_tooltip player_id="991383" first="Mark" last="Butler"] - Penn Charter 5'9” Sophomore Guard. The future of PC hoops begins and ends with Butler who started playing varsity basketball as an 8th grader. The undersized guard owns elite quickness and a change of pace ability that is just nasty. His slick handles allow Butler to score at the rim whenever he desires and create drive-and-kick opportunities for his Quaker teammates. As a freshman he posted 12 ppg. and had an eye opening 21-point game vs Abington Friends. Butler's extraordinary toughness and the ability to absorb contact have earned him the honor of being labeled a typical “Philly Guard”. His 3-point shot needs work, but that should develop as Butler gets stronger and refines his mechanics. [player_tooltip player_id="990963" first="Christian" last="Clover"] - Haverford School 6'3” Senior Guard. An All-Inter-AC 2nd Team selection, Clover showed his fantastic skills in 2019-20 while superstar teammate [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"] was out with a wrist injury. During Brown's absence, Clover assumed the scoring burden for Haverford, averaging nearly 15 ppg. The smooth shooting left-hander is a legit threat from deep via the catch and shoot or off the dribble. Clover can also can get out on the break for transition buckets. What really stood out last season was Clover's maturity and willingness to share the rock. Without Brown, Clover was the focus of opposing defenses. He frequently was the recipient of double-teams or quick weak side slides. In those situations Clover showed the ability to maintain his composure and then find the open teammate for an easy look. [player_tooltip player_id="990948" first="Rahdir" last="Hicks"] - Malvern Prep 6'0” Senior Point Guard. Outside of GA's [player_tooltip player_id="990929" first="Jordan" last="Longino"], Hicks (pictured above) will be the most decorated and well known player in the Inter-Ac during the 2020-21 season. A two-time 1st Team All-Inter-Ac selection as well as a 2019-20 DLN 1st Team All-Area choice and a 1,000 point scorer, Hicks averaged 12.5 ppg. last season. Playing alongside 5A State POY Deuce Turner (Headed to Bucknell), Hicks helped push MP to a 25 win season and a loss in state championship game to national powerhouse Westtown School. Hicks has exceptional ball handling skills and can serve as a one man press break which creates serious match up issues for opponents. His ability to get into the lane allows him to score the ball or pass out to open teammates on the perimeter. A true floor general, Hicks limits his mistakes and can direct a team in the half-court. He has shown the ability to hit from long range as he demonstrated by draining 4 three balls (20 points overall) in a huge win at Unionville. His offensive production cannot be missed, but it should also be noted that Hicks boasts a reputation as one most outstanding defenders in the Philly area. [player_tooltip player_id="991323" first="Jake" last="Hsu"] - Germantown Academy 6'1” Junior Point Guard. A two sport star for Germantown Academy, (Jake also plays football) many have labeled Hsu as a “freak” of an athlete. He has been in the starting lineup for the basketball team for nearly two full seasons and has served as a great complimentary player for GA megastar [player_tooltip player_id="990929" first="Jordan" last="Longino"]. When he is running the point, Hsu can get to the basket whenever he wants (7 ppg.). Yet he remains under control and focused on finding his teammates in the right spots. An excellent do-everything role player for GA, Hsu also showed he can get buckets for the Patriots in the Penn Charter game this past season. With Longino out vs PC, Hsu posted a team-high 17 points. In 2019-20 he had 7 other games where he scored in double figures. Darius Isaac - Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy 5'10” Junior Point Guard. Isaac's elite level speed and wizard like handles allow him to get up and down the floor in a blur. As the Blue Devils' PG1, he was responsible for setting up open looks for SCHA's three headed monster of Delonce Hines (1st Team All Inter-Ac), Ke'Shawn Williams (2nd Team All Inter-Ac), and David Robinson (2nd Team All Inter-Ac). With that stud trio moving on to college, SCHA fans should expect that Isaac's 8.5 ppg. stat line will increase significantly in 2020-21. As the focus of SCHA's offense next year, Isaac will use his very reliable three point shot and a smooth mid-range floater game to put points on the scoreboard. When he is faced with a double team, the passing skills Isaac developed in 2019-20 will prove to be very useful weapon. Sam Malloy – Episcopal Academy 5'10” Junior Guard. In 2019-20 Malloy was the third option behind senior standouts Alex Capitano (1st team All Inter-Ac) and Andrew Alikakos (2nd Team All Inter-Ac). Thus he posted only 6 ppg. However, Malloy showed flashes last season (16 pts vs Western Reserve from Ohio) that have many believing he is ready for a break out season in 2020-21. Malloy is dead eye three point shooter who compliments his offensive production with high energy defense. Steals and deflections by Malloy led to numerous easy buckets for the Churchmen last year. Additionally, Malloy has a knack for showing up in the big games -- 12 ppg. in the Churchmen's two contests vs eventual Inter-Ac champs and state finalist Malvern Prep. Other Notables: [player_tooltip player_id="991208" first="Casey" last="Traina"] - Germantown Academy 6'3” Junior Forward Trey Shinholster - Penn Charter 6'1” Sophomore Guard [player_tooltip player_id="991176" first="Zach" last="Genther"] - Haverford School 5'11” Senior Guard