Competitive Edge Fall League Preview

[caption id="attachment_1211613" align="alignleft" width="194"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kaydin-Ford-2024.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1211613" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Kaydin-Ford-2024-246x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="237" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1136566" first="Kaydin" last="Ford"] of Abington Friends.[/caption] <p>The 2021 Competitive Edge High School Fall League tips off on September 11th. After a month devoid of 5on5 hoops, the intense varsity action out in King of Prussia will be a welcome event for prospects and hoops heads in southeastern Pennsylvania.     </p> <p>Below is Part I of our preview of the teams that will be participating in the Competitive Edge High School Fall League.</p> <p><strong>Abington Friends: </strong>Leading the way for an Abington Friends squad that is retooled with transfers is point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1136566" first="Kaydin" last="Ford"] who had a breakout summer playing for Philly Pride Select. Ford owns elite quickness, plays with a great deal of pace, and attacks the rim. On defense he terrorizes opposing guards with his slick hands, excellent lateral movement, and anticipation abilities. Joining Ford in the backcourt are Angel Otero and Ife West-Ingram. Otero is a dual threat combo-guard who can absorb contact as he finishes at the rim and shoot the 3-pointer. West-Ingramis an athletic slasher style guard with a long wingspan who provides transition scoring and shot blocking on defense. Supporting that trio is Namisse Musonge (formerly of Cheltenham). Musonge is an athletic wing with a silky jump shot who also likes to play off his hesitation dribble and finish at the rim. Abington Friends will also rely heavily on interior force Nate Osbourne.</p> [caption id="attachment_1185848" align="alignleft" width="159"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Moses-Hipps-2024-Team-Final-EYBL-2.png"><img class="wp-image-1185848" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Moses-Hipps-2024-Team-Final-EYBL-2-201x300.png" alt="" width="159" height="237" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991425" first="Moses" last="Hipps"] of Archbishop Carroll. Photo: Team Final EYBL[/caption] <p><strong>Archbishop Carroll:</strong> The underclassmen hauled major minutes for Carroll last winter and they had a good deal of success, so we expect that group to continue to flourish here during fall 2021. Superstar sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="991425" first="Moses" last="Hipps"] and high-level combo guard Shawnn Smith combine to make a lethal backcourt. Three level scoring threat [player_tooltip player_id="1136565" first="Jake" last="West"] (formerly of Plymouth-Whitemarsh) was a tremendous addition. 3-point specialist [player_tooltip player_id="1192648" first="Dan" last="Curran"] will stretch the floor for those three. 6’4” combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="991335" first="Dean" last="Coleman-Newsome"] (2023) will supply additional scoring punch. Look for stop-n-pop three-point shooter Blake Deegan to contribute as well. If they can find minutes for everyone, Carroll is going to be very good in the fall league and for several years to come in the PCL.</p> <p><strong>Conestoga:</strong> This past spring/summer big fella [player_tooltip player_id="1119123" first="Michael" last="Walz"] developed into an extremely effective option on offense and thus he became a highly sought-after DI prospect. Walz is now committed to Richmond and this interior force will carry the Pioneers far during the fall and winter. When defenses collapse on Walz, smooth shooting point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1122121" first="Ryan" last="Mackey"] (already a two-year starter) will punish opponents with the 3-ball or via the dribble drive. Fellow senior Matt Malarkey is the valuable “athletic, glue guy” every team needs. Rising sophomore Brendan Styer posted a monster July while running with Philly Pride and has unlimited potential. He is an extremely talented guard who can score at all three levels.</p> <p><strong>Delaware County Christian: </strong>This fall the Knights will rely heavily on senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="991278" first="Joshua" last="Parks"] who posted averages of 15 points; 7 rebounds and 3 assist per games last winter. Parks (1^st Team All Bicentennial League selection) is a traditional point guard who excels as the primary ball handler on the fast break. However, if the pace of a game is on the slower side, Parks is very capable of directing a team in the half court. He is especially effective in pick-n-roll action. When a defender sags off, Parks will not hesitate to drain a 3-ball (37 made threes in 2020-21). This fall Parks will get support from fellow senior Jace Kees as well as a host of underclassmen who are being integrated into the varsity rotation.</p> <p><strong>Downingtown West:</strong> All everything guard [player_tooltip player_id="1116019" first="Dylan" last="Blair"] (1^st Team All-Area) has a very good supporting cast and that fact showed at Philly HS Live (Session II) back in June. We expect this team to play at a high level again this fall. Archbishop Carroll (PA) transfer Jake Warren (6’10”) will provide a mid-range / interior offensive threat, serve as quality rim protector, and clean the glass. Warren is still raw, but his upside is tantalizing. 2023 shooting guard Joey Suarez provides a perimeter threat who can space the floor for both Blair and Warren. This summer rising sophomore Ryan Howard showed he is ready to be a significant contributor during the upcoming fall/winter seasons.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Part II of our 2021 Competitive Edge Fall League Preview will follow in the next day or two.</em></p>