Central League: 2021-22 POY Watch List (Updated)

[caption id="attachment_1370909" align="alignleft" width="255"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-II-crop-738x485-1642866004.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1370909" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-II-crop-738x485-1642866004-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="255" height="167" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] (C/O 2022) from Lower Merion. Photo: Bridget Walsh (@bwsportsphoto)[/caption] <p>As we mentioned in our preseason Central League POY Watch List article, the 2021-22 Central League POY race is a wide-open contest.</p> <p>The five players we previewed in our original Central League POY post (Listed in alphabetical order below.) all remain strong candidates to win the award. However, this the season is now more than half way over and a few additional prospects have played outstanding basketball, thrusting themselves into the Central League POY conversation.</p> <p>Below is a review of the <em>updated</em> 2021-22 Central League Player of the Year award watch list.</p> <p><strong><u>Preseason POY Watch List</u></strong>:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1119137" first="Jackson" last="Hicke"] </strong>– <strong>6’5” / Junior / Radnor / SJ Hoops Elite-Gray / Wing</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1185982" first="Max" last="Koehler"] </strong><strong>– 6’1’’ / Junior / Garnet Valley / SJ Hoops Elite-Gray / Combo Guard</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991320" first="Saahir" last="Lee"]</strong> <strong>– 5’10” / Senior / Penncrest / Media Mustangs / Point Guard</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"]</strong> <strong>– 6’9’’ / Senior / Lower Merion / Philly Pride National UAA / Center</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1119123" first="Michael" last="Walz"] </strong><strong>– 6‘10” / Senior / Conestoga / Philly Pride National UAA / Power Forward </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1378802" align="alignleft" width="276"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/Nick-Colucci-2022-2-crop-418x275-1643903358.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1378802" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/Nick-Colucci-2022-2-crop-418x275-1643903358-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="276" height="181" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1379477" first="Nick" last="Colucci"] (C/O 2022) from Haverford HS. Photo: Bridget Walsh (@bwsportsphotos)[/caption] <p><strong><u>Names for Updated POY Watch List</u></strong>:</p> <p><em>(Presented in alphabetical order.)</em></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991391" first="Sam" last="Brown"]</strong> <strong>– 6’2’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Philly Pride Gold / Combo Guard: </strong>Prior to missing seven straight games with an ankle injury, Brown may have been the front runner for the POY award. Brown has added creative dribble drive moves to his high percentage three-point shooting, taking his game to the next level. Additionally, he appears to have grown taller and has absolutely bulked up from his sophomore season. His improved skill set, and physical attributes have led to an impressive 17 ppg. stat line as well as games of 30 and 27 points. However, because of the number of games he has missed, garnering a POY nod seems like a long shot for Brown.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1379477" first="Nick" last="Colucci"] – 6’2” / Senior / Haverford / PSB Philly / Combo Guard:</strong> In 2020-21 Colucci has ascended to the No. 1 option in Haverford’s 3-ball happy offense and the result has been a breakout season for him. This winter Colucci (Scranton commit) is draining triples from all over the court. When defenders crowd Colucci he owns enough dribbling skills to create space for himself behind the arc or in the mid-range. Colucci can also create space with his quick step back jumper. This season Colucci (13 ppg.) has posted numerous outstanding scoring performances. Among those standout games are a season high 27 points vs. Great Valley; 19 points (3 triples; plus 7 rebs &amp; 3 steals) against Garnet Valley; as well as 18 points twice and 17 points on two separate nights.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1378453" first="Jaden" last="Jauregui"] </strong><strong>– 6’2’’ / Junior / Strath Haven / Philly Pride Gold / Combo Guard:</strong> Jauregui (16.7 ppg. 7 6.3 rpg.) is a lefty playmaker who uses his elusive dribbling skills to attack the rim or to get to his mid-range spots. He is a match-up nightmare for man-toman defenses as is he tall, physical, quick and has excellent end to end speed. So, he can play bully ball against most guards and blow past the majority of forwards / bigs. If opponents attempt to keep Jauregui out of the paint by playing zone, he will knock down threes all night. To top it all off, Jauregui is a solid transition player. A few of Jauregui’s highlights from this season include -- 28 points vs. Marple Newtown; 26 points vs. Ridley; 22 points against Interboro; and 19 points vs. Harriton.</p> <p><strong>Nadir Myers </strong><strong>– 6’2” / Junior / Upper Darby / Point Guard: </strong>This wiry lefty is a high-level point guard who owns a straight scorer’s mentality. With his smooth stroke, deep range and quick trigger, Myers’s weapon of choice is his extremely efficient 3-point shot. He will drain treys from anywhere, at any time and against any defense. Still, Myers a multi-dimensional player as he possesses solid handles and court vision. Thus, he can create for himself and teammates. This season Myers has already notched a multitude of games where he recorded 20 or more points – 29 vs. Haverford (3 threes &amp; 6 rebs), 28 (6 threes), against Garnet Valley, 26 (5 threes) against Haverford, 25 (2 threes) vs. Kennett and 22 (4 threes) against Strath Haven.</p>