Inter-Ac (SEPA) Preview: Elite Guards

[caption id="attachment_776505" align="alignleft" width="228"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/Jordan-Longino.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-776505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/Jordan-Longino-228x300.png" alt="" width="228" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="990929" first="Jordan" last="Longino"] (C/O 2021) from Germantown Academy.[/caption] <p>If you follow high school hoops in southeastern Pennsylvania, you obviously know about the Inter-Ac’s three superstar guards who have received national attention -- Germantown Academy’s [player_tooltip player_id="990929" first="Jordan" last="Longino"] (6’5” / Senior / Committed to Villanova); Malvern Prep’s [player_tooltip player_id="990948" first="Rahdir" last="Hicks"] (6’0” / Senior / Committed to Towson) and Haverford School’s [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"] (6’4” / Junior / Committed to Purdue).</p> <p>In 2019-20 Longino was an all-everything point guard who tore through the Inter-AC on his way to being named the Class 4A State Player of the Year. Hicks is a two-time 1^st Team All-Inter-Ac selection as well as a 2019-20 DLN 1^st Team All-Area choice and a 1,000 point scorer. Brown is no slouch either. The junior was a USA Basketball Camp invitee and is a standout for Team Final EYBL. As a freshman he helped guide the Haverford School to a 28-0 record and a state title.</p> <p>But, if you take a minute to look beyond the Inter-Ac’s three primary headline makers, you will see the league is deep with high level players who are primed for an outstanding 2020-21 season. Below is a look at guards in the Inter-Ac -- not named Longino, Hicks or Brown -- who will have an impact this winter and at the next level.     </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991383" first="Mark" last="Butler"] </strong><strong>- 5’9” / Sophomore / Penn Charter / Point Guard:</strong> The future of PC hoops begins and ends with Butler who started playing varsity basketball as an 8^th grader. This 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 is coming along, but that should develop into a weapon as Butler gets stronger and refines his mechanics.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="990963" first="Christian" last="Clover"]</strong><strong> </strong><strong>- </strong><strong>6’3” / Senior / Haverford School / Shooting Guard:</strong> An All-Inter-AC 2^nd 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.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991323" first="Jake" last="Hsu"] </strong>– <strong>6’1” / Junior / Germantown Academy / Point Guard</strong>: A two sport star for Germantown Academy (also plays WR on GA football team), many have labeled Hsu as a “freak 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 player for GA, Hsu also showed he can get buckets for the Patriots in the Penn Charter game last 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.</p> <p><strong>Darius Isaac </strong>– <strong>5’10” / Junior / Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy / Point Guard:</strong> 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’ lead guard, he was responsible for setting up open looks for SCHA’s three headed monster of Delonce Hines (1^st 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 this season, 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 a very useful weapon.</p> <p><strong>Sam Malloy</strong> – <strong>5’10” / Junior / Episcopal Academy / Combo Guard.</strong> In 2019-20 Malloy was the third option behind senior standouts Alex Capitano (1^st Team All Inter-Ac) and Andrew Alikakos (2^nd 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 a 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.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Notables</span>:</strong></p> <p><strong>Trey Shinholster</strong> – 6’1” / Sophomore / Penn Charter / Combo Guard</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991176" first="Zach" last="Genther"] </strong>– 5’11” / Senior / Haverford School / Combo Guard</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>