SEPA Preseason Top 10: Public School Teams

[caption id="attachment_1152840" align="alignleft" width="282"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-3-crop-378x248-1616168258.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1152840" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-3-crop-378x248-1616168258-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="282" height="185" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] (C/O 2022) from Lower Merion. Photo: Lower Merion Athletics[/caption] <p>The tip of the 2021-22 high school basketball season is just days away, so it is time to publish the second installment in our preseason southeastern Pennsylvania Top 10 team rankings series.</p> <p>On Monday we revealed our preseason Top 10 “private” school basketball programs in southeastern Pennsylvania. Today we will review our preseason Top 10 “public school” teams in the region.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Imhotep Charter – </strong>‘Tep holding our No. 1 spot should not be a surprise because this roster’s wealth of talent is ridiculous. 2023s [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] (numerous DI offers) and [player_tooltip player_id="991339" first="Rahmir" last="Barno"] (3rd Team All-State) comprise arguably the best backcourt in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="1121757" first="Ronny" last="Raphael"] (Committed to Gannon) and [player_tooltip player_id="1287322" first="Mo" last="Abdullah"] (Committed to Rider) are incredible slasher style wing players. [player_tooltip player_id="991317" first="Naji" last="Reid"] is a renowned three-point shooter. As a bonus, Imhotep’s roster now boasts transfer [player_tooltip player_id="1281786" first="Ahmad" last="Nowell"], one of the top 2024s in the nation.</li> <li><strong>Reading – </strong>The reigning 6A state champions return senior [player_tooltip player_id="1116036" first="Daniel" last="Alcantara"], one most well rounded players in the region and elite combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="1279633" first="Ruben" last="Rodriguez"]. Junior scoring/shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="1279628" first="Aris" last="Rodriguez"] is a walking bucket. Fellow 2023s [player_tooltip player_id="1192649" first="Myles" last="Grey"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1200778" first="Jedaya" last="Ortega"] are DI prospects. 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="1121782" first="Joey" last="Chapman"] is a highly underrated talent.</li> <li><strong>La Academia PCS –</strong> This squad is filled with Class of 2023 standouts that helped push LAPCS to the District 3-1A title last year. Unstoppable three level scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id="1257913" first="DeMajh" last="Salisbery"] (several DI offers) gets top billing. Also included in that talented ’23 class is 6’8” rim rocker [player_tooltip player_id="1185960" first="Jamal" last="Lebedev"] as well as crafty combo guard Eliyah Gant.</li> <li><strong>Lower Merion –</strong> The Aces run to the 6A state semis back in March relied heavily on big fella [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] (Penn State), 2023 lights out three-point shooter [player_tooltip player_id="991391" first="Sam" last="Brown"] and bouncy, senior playmaker [player_tooltip player_id="1122122" first="Jaylen" last="Shippen"]. Good news LM fans – all three are back for 2021-22.</li> <li><strong>Executive Education Charter Academy – </strong>Drexel commit [player_tooltip player_id="991217" first="Kobe" last="Magee"] (2022) is an athletic scoring machine. Running with Magee will be skilled, 6’9”, center Moustapha Sanoh (2023) and impressive wing scorer Jeremiah Bembry (2022). Sophomore Rylan Muniz is an extremely talented floor general who plays with poise.</li> <li><strong>Math, Civics &amp; Sciences – </strong>The Elephants will lean heavily on combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="991197" first="Jaheim" last="Bethea"] who is phenomenal at scoring off the dribble. Bethea can also distribute the rock. When he passes, Bethea will hit fleet footed, 6’9” wing [player_tooltip player_id="991199" first="Khalif" last="Crawley"] or FIU commit Darryon Prescott. 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1187956" first="Aasim" last="Burton"] is a 3-level scoring prospect on the rise.</li> <li><strong>Abraham Lincoln –</strong> Last season’s Philly Public League runner up brings back a host of talent and adds two key newcomers. 6’6” stretch-4 prospect Matt Williams (2022) and fellow senior Khrystopher Murray highlight the returners. Headline grabbing transfers Ayemere Thomas and [player_tooltip player_id="1185939" first="Rashan" last="Locke-Hicks"] are tremendous basketball talents who will make an immediate impact.</li> <li><strong>Radnor – </strong>The Raptors’ vaunted junior class takes center stage in 2021-22. Elite wing [player_tooltip player_id="1119137" first="Jackson" last="Hicke"] scores at all 3-levels. [player_tooltip player_id="1200819" first="Danny" last="Rosenblum"] is a crafty point guard who can get to the rim and hit the occasional trey. [player_tooltip player_id="1212678" first="Charlie" last="Thornton"] is a smooth three &amp; D prospect. On the wing is athletic slasher [player_tooltip player_id="1200791" first="Cooper" last="Mueller"]. Senior Pierce Justice is a talented combo guard who can stretch the floor.</li> <li><strong>Downingtown West –</strong> The inside-outside tandem of 6’10” [player_tooltip player_id="1279644" first="Jake" last="Warren"] and electric backcourt prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1116019" first="Dylan" last="Blair"] (1st Team All-Area) will be the primary options for D-West. When those two stars pass out of trouble, catch and shoot guard Joey Suarez (2023) will knock down open threes all day. Rising sophomore Ryan Howard will contribute as well.</li> <li><strong>Constitution – </strong>The 2021-22 roster boasts several returning players from a team that last year won 14 games and appeared in the 2A state ‘chip game. It all starts with the extremely gifted [player_tooltip player_id="991231" first="Jacob" last="Beccles"] (2^nd Team All-State). Beccles may be the top guard in the Public League. Senior point guard Lamar Glover is a high IQ floor general and 6’5” wing scorer Jamal Carr is tough to guard. The loss of [player_tooltip player_id="1186010" first="Baasil" last="Saunders"] (transferred to Msgr. Bonner) will hurt, but how much is still TBD.</li> </ol>