Bicentennial Athletic League Preview: Elite Guards

[caption id="attachment_1118022" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Will-Anozie-2022-VFMA.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1118022" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Will-Anozie-2022-VFMA-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> Will Anozie (C/O 2022) from VFMA[/caption] The Bicentennial Athletic League is frequently overlooked because it is comprised of schools which feature smaller student enrollment numbers. However, in recent years the BAL has boasted several 20 game winning teams, placed numerous squads in PIAA state tournament and produced a slew of high level college prospects. Today we will preview the elite guards who will have an impact on the 2020-21 season in the Bicentennial Athletic League and potentially at the next level. Will Anozie – 6’2’’ / Junior / Valley Forge Military Academy / Combo Guard: Anozie is the most complete offensive player returning to the BAL and if you catch him live, you will quickly realize that fact. He is an exceptional athlete who thrives in the transition game. Additionally, this combo guard can shoot the 3 ball off screen action or the stand still. Anozie is also capable of getting to the rim off the dribble where he can absorb contact while scoring the ball. He’ll then convert the AND 1 at the free throw line because he is automatic at the charity stripe. Back in January 2020 Anozie posted 34 pts vs Academy Park (Sharon Hill, PA) and 28 pts vs Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem, PA). [player_tooltip player_id="991288" first="AJ" last="Brown"] – 6’1’’ / Junior / Bristol / Combo Guard: Brown is a wiry and extremely athletic prospect who can run at either guard spot. End to end, he is one of the faster players in the league. Brown’s game features very good handles which allow him to slash through the paint with dribble-drive and finish in traffic. For a prospect with a thinner build, Brown does a very nice job of absorbing contact and scoring the ball. Brown is also an outside threat as he shoots the three at a high clip. At the defensive end, Brown wreaks havoc by slicing through passing lanes for steals and easy buckets at other end. A two sport athlete, Brown is also the quarterback for the Bensalem football team. Reggie Phifer – 6’0’’ / Senior / Church Farm School / Combo Guard: Phifer will be one of the most potent scoring options to take the floor in the BAL for 2020-21. Last season he dropped 37 on New Hope-Solebury (PA) and posted 25 points vs Lower Moreland (PA). Expect more big nights from Phifer during his senior year. Phifer can score in a variety of ways, but he is most feared for his ability to knock down the 3-ball. The combo-guard is simply a lights out shooter from deep. It doesn’t matter if Phifer is on the break out or in the half-court, once his pure stroke releases the ball, its cash money. Phifer’s shooting skills earned him 1st team All-League as well as an honorable mention All-Area selections. He pushed Church Farm to the District 1 2A championship game and an appearance in the PIAA 2A state tournament. Phifer is a two sport star who also excels at baseball. Nicholas Phillips – 6’1’’ / Senior / Plumstead Christian / Point Guard: Plumstead Christian’s on court leader and starting point guard owns excellent handles and passing skills as well as tremendous court vision. Thanks to his elite level perimeter shooting, Phillips led the Panthers in scoring at 12.9 ppg. Phillips also has a superior basketball IQ which is a major asset to a program that is young and rebuilding. He is listed at 6’1”, but with his a long wingspan and rangy body, Phillips plays much bigger than that measurable. [player_tooltip player_id="991036" first="Trevor" last="Tipton"] – 6’3” / Senior / Phil-Mont Christian / Combo Guard: A varsity starter since the half way point of his freshman year, Tipton had a breakout season in 2019-20. Using a liquid jump shot as his primary weapon, Tipton posted 19 ppg. on 43% shooting from deep (86 3PM). The PMC 3-point ace routinely hit for 5 or more threes in a contest, including 7 made threes (28 pts total) vs String Theory (Phila., PA) and 6 treys in a 34 point outburst vs. Jenkintown (PA). Tipton owns a high basketball IQ and solid handles, thus he can slide to the point guard spot when needed and provide a steady hand. As a bonus, he led the Falcons in steals last season (39). It should come as no surprise that Tipton was a 1st Team All-BAL Constitution Conference selection. Alex Walinski – 6’4’’ / Senior / New Hope-Solebury / Shooting Guard: A 6’4” athlete with a long wingspan who can drain threes from all over the gym, Walinski is every NBA scout’s dream. His ability to hit the three is complimented by a nice mid-range game. A standout on the Central Bucks Elite AAU (PA) squad, this natural shooting guard has enough quickness, court vision and handles to move to the lead guard spot in a pinch. Walinski averaged 18 ppg. last winter and will be the Lions No. 1 option on offense again in 2020-21. [player_tooltip player_id="991223" first="Dinero" last="Washington"] – 5’10’’ / Junior / Collegium Charter / Combo Guard: An electric slashing style guard, Washington kills opponents in transition, but can also dice up opposing defenses in the half-court via the dribble-drive. He has a beautiful floater in his bag or ticks as well as the ability to kiss the ball of the glass from different angles. When the defender sags off to prevent penetration by Washington, he will absolutely drain the open three point shot. All of his scoring ability (16.6 ppg.), doesn’t keep Washington from being an unselfish player as he will promptly deliver the rock to an open teammate (4 apg.).