PIAA 5A All-State Teams Filled with SEPA Prospects

[caption id="attachment_1069246" align="alignleft" width="270"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Aaron-Lemon-Warren-2021-4.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1069246 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Aaron-Lemon-Warren-2021-4-270x300.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="990952" first="Aaron" last="Lemon-Warren"] of Archbishop Ryan is the PIAA 5A POY.[/caption] Last week the Pennsylvania Sports Writers recently released the 2020-21 PIAA All-State Boys Basketball selections and to say that southeastern Pennsylvania was well represented is an understatement. To be honest, prospects from this region of the Keystone State dominated the all-state teams. In the first installment of this series we reviewed SEPA prospect who were selected to the Non-PIAA (aka “prep schools”) all-state teams. In the second installment we provided analysis for the southeastern PA prospects who were honored with PIAA 6A All-State status. Today we will look at the PIAA 5A prospects from southeast Pennsylvania who balled out in 2020-21 and were thus awarded PIAA All-State honors for their tremendous efforts. 1st Team: [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] – 6’7” / Sophomore / Imhotep Charter / Wing: A tall lefty with a long wingspan (allegedly 6’10”) who can shoot threes, Edwards is an ideal wing player for today’s style of play. Edwards’ come up started the summer after his freshman campaign when he played outstanding ball at the Hoop Group Future All-America Camp. Then in Fall 2020 at the Difference Maker Elite Runs (NJ) he really turned heads. This winter he absolutely killed it while guiding Imhotep to the 2021 Philly Public League title. Now Edwards is a nationally ranked Class of 2023 prospect with numerous offers. As a bonus to his outside shooting, Edwards can get buckets off the dribble. He is also no stranger to scoring in transition. Finally, because of his size and bounce, Edwards can defend at a high level and he rebounds the ball well. In the spring/summer Edwards plays for Team Final EYBL. Holds offers from Miami, Tennessee, DePaul, Temple, Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, etc. [player_tooltip player_id="990952" first="Aaron" last="Lemon-Warren"] – 6’5” / Senior / Archbishop Ryan / Wing: Lemon-Warren (2020-21 5A POY) has always been a dangerous 3-level scoring machine, but in 2020-21 he unleashed a new bag of tricks on the Philadelphia Catholic League. Lemon-Warren averaged 18.8 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 53% from field and 36% from three. That impressive stat line earned him 2020-21 PCL 1st Team All-League status. Lemon-Warren owns a high basketball IQ and will not hesitate to take advantage of mismatches on the perimeter or around the basket. Lemon-Warren is also a very good passer and rebounder. He and [player_tooltip player_id="850520" first="Christian" last="Tomasco"] push Archbishop Ryan to District 12 championship and a runner-up finish in the PIAA 5A state tournament. In the 5A state semifinal game Lemon-Warren had a monster night -- 36 points (15-17 FGAs) and 11 rebounds. He holds offers from numerous schools including Richmond and St. Louis. [player_tooltip player_id="990980" first="Karell" last="Watkins"] – 6’4” / Senior / Chester / Wing: Over the last two years Watkins has collected enough basketball accolades – two-time 1st team All-Del-Val League; 2019-20 Delaware County POY; 2019-20 2nd team PIAA 6A All-State selection; and 1,000+ point scorer – that he may be the most decorated uncommitted senior in Pennsylvania. In the near future a very lucky college coach is going to sign an elite prospect who can score at all 3 levels, but is especially lethal in transition. This season Watkins recorded 4 double-doubles, including a 30 points and 19 rebounds regular season game and a 24 & 12 effort in Chester’s District 1-5A title game win. His ball hawk instincts and leaping ability allow Watkins to be a relentless force on the boards. At the defensive end, Watkins is very quick athlete with good anticipation skills who grabbed countless steals this season 2nd Team: [player_tooltip player_id="991073" first="Griffin" last="Barrouk"] – 6’5” / Senior / West Chester Rustin / Wing: A consistent contributor on varsity as a sophomore, in his junior season Barrouk posted a stat line of 14 ppg.,7 rpg. and 4 apg., which earned him 1st Team All-Chest-Mont League accolades. Then basketball got shut down in March 2020 and Barrouk went to work on his game. The result was that in Fall 2020, Barrouk emerged as a vastly improved player. He was a regular standout out at the Difference Maker Elite Runs (NJ) and squeezed in a few outstanding tournaments with Philly Pride Gold as well. Thus his recruiting profile skyrocketed and DI schools came knocking. Barrouk (19 ppg.; 9 rpg. & 5 apg. in 2020-21) is an incredibly skilled shooter and passer with a very high basketball IQ. He did suffer a catastrophic leg injury in the District 1-5A championship game, but he is on the mend and should make a full recovery. Barrouk is committed to Hofstra. Fareed Burton, Jr. – 6’1” / Senior / Chester / Point Guard: The most impressive element of this lefty’s offensive skill set is the variety of ways he can carve up a defense. Burton (15.6 ppg.) is lethal from 3-point range and in the mid-range. He can score at the rim off the dribble drive with either a hesi or a well-timed Euro-step. Burton possess outstanding court vision, so when opponents attempt to slow down his scoring via a double team, he moves the ball quickly to the open teammate. Burton’s top performances list from this winter is a very impressive: 27 points, 5 rebs and 4 dimes vs. Archbishop Ryan in the PIAA 5A State semis; 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals vs Crestwood; 22 points, 5 boards and 5 steals vs Imhotep. Burton has outstanding lateral movement and good defensive instincts so it should not be surprising that he recorded numerous games with 5 or more steals. [caption id="attachment_1161078" align="alignleft" width="295"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Christian-Tomasco-2021-2-e1617370649999.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1161078 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Christian-Tomasco-2021-2-e1617370649999-295x300.jpg" alt="" width="295" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="850520" first="Christian" last="Tomasco"] (C/O 2021) of Archbishop Ryan.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="850520" first="Christian" last="Tomasco"] – 6’10” / Senior / Archbishop Ryan / Power Forward: Tomasco’s breakout started during Fall 2020 at the Difference Maker Elite Open Runs (NJ). Then this winter playing for Archbishop Ryan he simply blew up. College coaches will not find many 6’10” kids who can shoot threes, run the floor, catch alley-oops and block shots. Tomasco (13 ppg. & 7.5 rpg.) is extremely athletic for a kid his size and glides on the basketball court. He possess a super smooth face up game where he can score with J or blow by a defender for a slam (61% on FGAs). When opponents went zone against AR, they simply threw an alley-oop over the top to the sure handed Tomasco for the flush. He is a legit shot blocker (3.2 bpg.) and was the 3rd leading rebounder in PCL. Tomasco posted numerous outstanding games this winter, but two really standout – in the 5A state semis victory he recorded 26 points (12-13 FGAs); 6 rebounds and 6 blocks. Tomasco also notched 24 points 12 boards in a regular season win vs St. Joe’s Prep. He holds several DI offers, but is headed to IMG Academy for a post graduate year. 3rd Team: [player_tooltip player_id="991339" first="Rahmir" last="Barno"] – 6’0” / Sophomore / Imhotep / Combo Guard: Barno is a lanky and quick point guard who owns filthy handles, so he can blow past almost any defender that dares to take him on. Once Barno leaves his man behind, this floor general can get into the paint for a mid-range bucket or go all the way to the cup for a lay-in. If a team attempts to close off his drives into the paint, Barno will draw and then kick-out to an open perimeter shooter. This winter Barno posted big numbers against elite competition – 24 points (3 threes) vs Plymouth-Whitemarsh; 18 points and 6 dimes against Sankofa Freedom as well as 17 points against Executive Education AC. Barno holds offers from Hofstra, Temple, Drexel and others. [caption id="attachment_1168128" align="alignleft" width="240"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ty-Burton-2024.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1168128 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Ty-Burton-2024-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1173982" first="Ty" last="Burton"] (C/O 2024) of Lampeter-Strasburg, Photo: Liam Brennan (@leprechaunfilms)[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1173982" first="Ty" last="Burton"] – 5’10” / Freshman / Lampeter-Strasburg / Point Guard: A high energy, crafty and relentless floor general who excels in transition, this winter Burton averaged 20.5 ppg. for Lampeter-Strasburg. In the half-court he can splash home jumpers and beat defenders off the dribble. Burton scored at all three levels when he hung a season high game 30-points on Manheim Central (PA). When doubled (which happens frequently), he can distribute the ball to an open teammate. After his banner freshman campaign, Burton was selected as a 1st Team All-Lancaster-Lebanon League and was honored with Lampeter-Strasburg’s team MVP award. It marked the first time in program history that a freshman has won that award. On the grassroots circuit, Burton is a member of the highly successful Philly Pride 15U National team. [player_tooltip player_id="1192651" first="Denzel" last="Figueroa"] – 6’5” / Junior / Engineering & Sciences / Small Forward: A bit of a throwback style small forward, Figueroa is extremely effective from 17 feet and in. He is proficient at using a ball-fake to set up a baseline drive for the flush or a smooth elbow jumper. Figueroa also has shown the ability to dive towards the rim from the nail, secure an entry pass and then score the ball in traffic. His length and nose for the ball make Figueroa a very good offensive rebounder who can convert on 2nd chance opportunities. Parts of his high level game may be a throwback, but make no mistake, Figueroa is versatile and can run as a modern day small forward. That means he is athletic enough to play on the wing and can knock down the occasional three-ball. In 2020-21 Figueroa posted 15 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.