Friends School League Preview: 2021-22 POY Watch List

[caption id="attachment_1326350" align="alignleft" width="251"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dereck-Lively-1-crop-3226x2118-1636672701.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1326350" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Dereck-Lively-1-crop-3226x2118-1636672701-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="251" height="165" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991185" first="Dereck" last="Lively II"] of Westtown School & Team Final EYBL.[/caption] The 2021-22 Friends School League season will feature a host of nationally ranked players looking to push their squads to the league title while also competing for Player of the Year honors. Below is a preview of five players (Presented in alphabetical order.) who we consider the front runners to win the 2021-22 Friends School League Player of the Year award. [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"] – 6’4” / Senior / Westtown School / Team Final EYBL / Combo Guard: During Brown’s junior season at the Haverford School, all the elements of his elite game were on display -- long range shooting, high basketball IQ, outstanding work on the boards and off-the-charts athleticism. In 2020-21 Brown once again displayed the unique ability to take over a game without forcing the action or playing hero ball. Last season he averaged 21.7 ppg / 8 rpg. / 3 apg.; was a 1st team All Inter-Ac selection; as well as a 1st Team All-State selection (non-PIAA). This past summer while running with Team Final EYBL (2021 Peach Jam champs) he proved he can play alongside nationally ranked standouts such as Jalen Duren, Emoni Bates and [player_tooltip player_id="991185" first="Dereck" last="Lively II"]. Which bodes well for his ability to fit in this coming season at basketball powerhouse Westtown School. Brown is committed to Penn State. The Nittany Lions are getting an incredible prospect who if he plays up to his potential, has an excellent chance to win Inter-Ac POY in 2021-22. [caption id="attachment_1151230" align="alignleft" width="241"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Darrien-Grady-Shipley-1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1151230" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Darrien-Grady-Shipley-1-300x297.jpg" alt="" width="241" height="239" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="933733" first="Darrien" last="Grady"] from Shipley School. Photo: Shipley School Athletics[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="933733" first="Darrien" last="Grady"] – 5’10’ / Junior / Shipley School / We R1 UAA / Point Guard: Shipley played only five-games last season but that did not keep Grady from displaying his elite skill set and putting up impressive numbers. In 2020-21 Grady hit stand still threes from way downtown and reasonable distance treys off pick action. When defenses chased him of the 3-point line, he scored off the dribble in the mid-range or all the way at the tin. In late February 2021 vs. the George School, he netted 35 points on 6 threes. Grady also scored 19 (4 threes) vs. national powerhouse Westtown and posted a ridiculous 22 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 8 steals performance in a win over Germantown Friends. When last season was over Grady’s stat line was 22.8 ppg. to go along with 6 rebounds and 4 dimes per night. This season new Shipley Head Coach Alvin Williams (Villanova / Toronto Raptors) will mentor Grady and design creative ways to increase scoring opportunities for this standout guard. If Grady can take the knowledge he gains from Williams and apply it on the court, we anticipate he will make a serious run at the POY award. [player_tooltip player_id="1119147" first="Elmarko" last="Jackson"] – 6’4’ / Junior / Acad. of New Church / We R1 UAA / Point Guard: Jackson is a nationally ranked player whose unique guard skills many scouts have compared to Russell Westbrook — only with a much better jump shot. He plays a lightening quick, attacking style of basketball. Once he gets downhill, defenders have zero chance of keeping Jackson from the rim. In the last year, his jump shot has improved significantly, thus Jackson is now a legitimate three-point threat. His mid-range pull up game also has become a nice weapon. In July at the UA Association Finals Jackson was one of the most talked about scoring guards at that high caliber national event. Jackson’s stellar play continued during "fall ball" runs with ANC as he averaged 27 points; 11 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Despite his abundant scoring abilities, Jackson always figures out how to get his teammates involved. Jackson holds offers from VCU, Maryland, Minnesota, Miami, Penn State, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and others. [player_tooltip player_id="991185" first="Dereck" last="Lively II"] – 7’0” / Senior / Westtown School / Team Final EYBL / Center: The top ranked prospect in Pennsylvania’s Class of 2022 and number two ranked 2022 in the nation is the heavy favorite to capture 2021-22 Friends School League Player of the Year honors. There’s good reason for that status -- Lively is a once in a generation prospect. Of course, this incredibly long and athletic hybrid-post player excels at put back slams, catching alley-oops and blocking shots. The big fella has been doing those things for years. Lively’s ascension to the No. 1 ranked player in the state was based on the more polished offensive arsenal he has displayed over the last nine months. In that span Lively showed an ability to use two or three dribbles to create space and scoring ops for himself. With that new found space he drained mid-range Js and sprinkled in the occasional three ball. At the Peach Jam back in July, the energetic and bouncy Lively posted a stat line of 8.8 points and 7 rebounds per game, but it was his defensive performance that had scouts and coaches buzzing. Lively proved one more time that he is an elite rim protector by leading the event in blocks at 5 per contest. Thanks to Lively (with help from Jalen Duren, [player_tooltip player_id="991189" first="Justice" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"]), Team Final won the 2021 Peach Jam (SC) title. Of course, Lively was named to the all-tournament team. Lively considered offers from two dozen DI schools before he eventually chose Duke. [player_tooltip player_id="1119114" first="Onyekachi" last="Nzeh"] – 6’9” / Junior / George School / Team Final EYBL / Power Forward: During a shortened 2020-21 season (Only 5 games.), “Kachi” terrorized foes in the paint at both ends of the floor. An athletic and long prospect, “Kachi” is a true interior big man who scores in close and dominates the glass. “Kachi” had two extremely impressive performances last winter: 21 points vs. Shipley School as well as a 17 and 14 double-double against Germantown Friends. At the other end, “Kachi’s” physical attributes also make him a superior rim protector. After last season “Kachi” was a 2nd team All-State (non-PIAA) selection. “Kachi” followed up that impressive high school season with a monster grassroots circuit. With his wingspan and quick second jump “Kachi” continued to convert offensive rebounds into points at a high clip. However, as the circuit moved along “Kachi” unleashed a drastically improved mid-range game. His ability to hit elbow jumpers or baseline jumpers from 10-12 feet will make “Kachi” exceedingly difficult to guard this winter. He has already received scholarship offers from Iowa, Maryland, VCU, Hofstra, Creighton, Temple, LaSalle, TCU, Seton Hall, Bryant, Siena, and New Mexico State. The frightening part is the Covid shortened 2020-21 season was just his second year of high school basketball. This kid’s upside is ridiculous and that is why “Kachi” is a serious contender for 2021-22 FSL Player of the Year.