Pioneer Athletic Conference Preview: 2020-21 POY Watch List

[caption id="attachment_1305914" align="alignleft" width="166"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ty-Jones-2022-e1633971375272.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1305914" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ty-Jones-2022-e1633971375272-205x300.jpg" alt="" width="166" height="242" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1202388" first="Ty" last="Jones"] (C/O 2022) from Upper Merion HS.[/caption] The 2021-22 Pioneer Athletic Conference season will feature a host of future college basketball players looking to push their squads to the league title while also competing for Player of the Year honors. Below is a preview of six players (Presented in alphabetical order.) we consider the front runners to win the 2021-22 Pioneer Athletic Conference Player of the Year award. [player_tooltip player_id="1116044" first="JP" last="Baron"] – 6’2” / Senior / Pope John Paul II / NJ Shoreshots / Combo Guard: Baron (2nd Team All-Pac last season) is a multi-talented guard who combines the ability to facilitate for others with instinctive scoring talents. Baron’s jump shot is easy and effortless which makes him a lethal three-point shooter. He plays at an elevated level in half-court sets and out in transition. In 2020-21 Baron averaged 11.3 points; 4.3 rebounds and shot 47% from the field. More recently, Baron was especially impressive during the 2021 Comp Edge Fall League where he averaged 20 ppg and was a 1st Team All-League selection. Baron is the son of a college head coach, so you know he possess a high basketball IQ. Nyles Bunn-McNeill – 6’5” / Junior / Pottstown / EPE Premier / Wing: Bunn-McNeill is a freak athlete who is a starter on the basketball team as well as a two-way starter for the Pottstown football team. On the basketball court Bunn-McNeil (2nd Team All-PAC selection in ’20-21) is extremely effective operating from the elbows. There he can hit the catch and shoot mid-range jumper or use a couple of bounces to score at the rim. On the low block, Bunn-McNeil can post up a defender and then execute his smooth drop step move to score over a defender. Bunn-McNeil is a monster on the offensive glass as well. On rare occasions, he will even drop a three ball. In 2020-21 he posted a stat line of 10.5 ppg.; 8.7 rpg. and 3 apg. At the other end, Bunn-McNeil is a plus player who can guard 1 through 5. The Trojans graduated six players, so we expect Bunn-McNeil to see increased scoring opportunities this winter. [player_tooltip player_id="991198" first="Cole" last="Hargrove"] – 6’8” / Senior / Methacton / K-Low Elite / Power Forward: Last winter Hargrove posted a fantastic season highlighted by his 23-points and 22-rebounds performance against Central Bucks South. On the season Hargrove posted 11.4 ppg. and was a 2020-21 1st team All-PAC selection. Hargrove does a superb job of establishing position and then using his refined footwork as well as his length to finish over opposing defenders. The tenacious nature at which he attacks the offensive glass leads to numerous second chance scoring opportunities. During the 2021 Comp Edge Fall League, Hargrove flashed the ability to hit mid-range and baseline Js. Hargrove holds an offer from St. Peter’s as well as Drexel. [player_tooltip player_id="1202388" first="Ty" last="Jones"] – 5’11” / Senior / Upper Merion / East Coast Power-Rap / Point Guard: The do everything point guard (2020-21 1st Team All-PAC selection; 2021 1st Team All Comp Edge Fall League selection) excels at every facet of the game and is a chameleon at the lead guard spot. If the coach needs him to be a scoring point, Jones (10 ppg. & 4.2 apg. in 2020-21) is very capable of lighting up the scoreboard. If the game plan is to attack a specific mismatch, Jones will distribute the rock to the correct teammate. If you want to run and gun, Jones will push the pace all game long. Although he is undersized, Jones is an impactful rebounding guard. Lastly, Jones plays with an intense swagger that is contagious. [player_tooltip player_id="1275989" first="Zavier" last="Mayo"] – 6’4” / Senior / Phoenixville / PSB Philly / Combo Guard: The bad news at Phoenixville is that they graduated eight players from a team that won 11 games in the Covid shortened 2020-21 season. The good news is that Mayo, a returning starter, is more than ready to ascend to the team’s No. 1 option. When you combine Mayo’s length, quickness, athleticism, and versatility you get a prospect who is real matchup problem. Mayo (8.3 ppg. in 2020-21) is too quick to be guarded by an interior guy and he can shoot/score over a large majority of backcourt players. Additionally, at the 2021 Comp Edge Fall League, Mayo displayed an improved 3-point shot. If that element of his game starts splashing home at a high clip, Mayo will be a serious POY candidate. So far, Mayo is drawing interest from D3 schools. With a POY type season his recruiting should escalate. [player_tooltip player_id="1116047" first="Madison" last="Tatom"] – 6’0” / Junior / Upper Merion / PSB Philly / Point Guard: Tatom has been a highly rated prospect for years and after the 2020-21 season he was a 1st Team All-PAC selection. He is an outstanding catch and shoot three-point specialist who creates space for teammates. In addition to being a knock down 3-point shooter, Tatom (8.4 ppg. last season) can score off the dribble-drive. His quick first step and filthy handles can get Tatom to the cup for a quick two points whenever the Vikings need it. Tatom can use his high basketball IQ and excellent court vision to distribute to open teammates. He is also an well above average rebounding guard. Tatom and the before mentioned [player_tooltip player_id="1202388" first="Ty" last="Jones"] make for one of the most lethal backcourt combos in the Philly suburbs.