5 PIAA State Championship Games to Watch This Week
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[player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"] (C/O 2024) from Neumann-Goretti Below is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of March 20th, 2022. This week’s slate features five championship games from PIAA state…
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Continue ReadingBelow is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of March 20th, 2022. This week’s slate features five championship games from PIAA state tournament action.
Thurs., Mar 24th…Neumann Goretti vs. Quaker Valley: The PIAA 4A championship tilt will be a contest between two teams filled with college prospects who can light up the scoreboard. Goretti is the Philly Catholic League as well as District 12 champion. Their number one option is electric point guard Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL . Wright led the PCL in scoring this season at 19.3 ppg and notched 30 points in their PIAA semi-final win. Combo guard Masud Stewart Masud Stewart 6'0" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA (11.4 ppg.; 40% on threes; multiple DI offers) and big fella Sultan Adewale Sultan Adewale 6'8" | SF Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State #205 Nation PA (12.4 ppg.) will have Wright’s back. At 6’10” and with an even longer wingspan, Adewale is an intimidating shot blocker as well. Quaker Valley will rely heavily on their dynamic duo of guard Adou Thiero Adou Thiero 6'4" | CG Quaker Valley | 2022 State PA and wing Markus Frank Markus Frank 6'5" | PF Quaker Valley | 2022 State PA . Thiero is a scoring lead guard who is ranked as a Top 10 prospect in the state. Earlier in the post season he recorded a double-double of 31 points and 17 boards. Frank is a 2022 prospect who can use his quickness and creative dribbles to score at the rim. Back in late February, Frank established a single-game school record by going off for 45 points in a win over Deer Lakes.
Fri., Mar 25th…Constitution vs. OLSH: The 2A championship game is a rematch of last year’s title contest. It is no secret that Constitution’s lineup boasts elite guard Jacob Beccles Jacob Beccles 6'3" | CG Constitution | 2022 State PA . This season Beccles posted games of 45 and 32 points, so you know he can score at all three levels. Still, it is the deep, deep range on his jumper that shocks folks. Beccles will have support from seniors Jamal Carr and Lamar Glover. Both are high percentage 3-point shooters. Earlier this month OLSH captured its fourth straight WPIAL championship. Their legendary win streak now stands at 67 games. The outstanding play of combo guard Jake DiMichele Jake DiMichele 6'3" | CG OLSH | 2022 State PA has been a big reason for their success this season. DiMichele netted 39 points in OLSH’s come from behind OT win in the 2A semifinals. On the interior, Dawson Summers will be a major factor at both ends. In their semifinal win the big fella posted a triple double — 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks.
Fri., Mar 25th…Imhotep Charter vs. New Castle: The 5A championship game features nationally ranked Imhotep (Philadelphia Public League and District 12-5A Champion) matching up against a New Castle (27-2) squad that was the WPIAL-5A runner up. Imhotep’s lineup features the all-state backcourt of Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA (No. 1 ranked 2023 prospect) and Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA (No. 2 ranked 2023 prospect). Sophomore sensation Ahmad Nowell Ahmad Nowell 6'0" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2024 State #36 Nation PA completes Imhotep’s three guard scheme. DI prospects Mo Abdullah Mo Abdullah 6'4" | SF Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA (Committed to Rider), Ronny Raphael Ronny Raphael 5'11" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA (Committed to Gannon), and Masud Stewart Masud Stewart 6'0" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA are major contributors in ‘Tep’s rotation. New Castle’s lineup is stacked with talent too, especially perimeter shooters. Standout wing prospect Michael Wells Michael Wells 6'4" | CG New Castle | 2022 State PA can rain threes and score of the bounce. Junior combo guard Isaiah Boice is another 3-point sniper. Finally, Michael Graham Michael Graham 6'1" | CG New Castle | 2022 State PA is also a legitimate three-point shooter who must be guarded tightly.
Sat., Mar 26th…Devon Prep vs. Aliquippa: Devon Prep used the momentum from their Elite 8 upset of West Catholic to propel them to the 3A championship game. Under the radar wing prospect Jacen Holloway Jacen Holloway 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA has been tremendous. He is averaging 20 ppg. over the last two state tourney contests. DP has also been receiving outstanding performances from Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA and Argel Pettit Argel Pettit 5'10" | PG Devon Prep | 2022 State PA IV. Orchard is a DI wing prospect who can score (15.6 ppg. and 34% on threes this season) as well as defend multiple positions. Pettit (14 ppg. & 7 rpg.) is a lead guard who can get buckets. He posted 29 points (4 threes) in Devon’s 2nd round victory. Aliquippa (21-8) is young team that is led by junior Donovan “DJ” Walker. Walker (leading scorer at 13 ppg.). He has posted 21 and 20 points is the ‘Quips last two state tourney games. Sophomore point guard Quentin Goode is one of top floor generals in the WPIAL. Fellow sophomore Cam Lindsay (Holds numerous DI football offers.) provides scoring in the paint and shot blocking at the other end. Aliquippa won the 3A state title in football this year and their entire starting five played on that football team. So, the ‘Quips know how to handle the pressure that comes with state title games.
Sat., Mar 26th… Archbishop Wood vs. Roman Catholic: This 6A championship game will feature two of the region’s legendary hoops programs. Archbishop Wood (17-7) has a dynamic backcourt in 1st Team All- Philadelphia Catholic League point guard Justin Moore Justin Moore 6'1" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2022 State PA (15.5 ppg.; Drexel commit) and shooting guard Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA (6’3”; 12.6 ppg.). Moore scores off the dribble and Bethea provides lethal three-point shooting (42% on threes). Bethea knocked home 11 triples on his way to 37 points in Roman’s state quarterfinal win. Junior power forward Carson Howard Carson Howard 6'7" | PF Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA (9 pts & 8 rebs per game) is a rising prospect who scores from the elbows to the rim. Roman was the PCL regular season champion (12-1 in PCL play) and won the District 12-6A championship. RC’s roster is headlined by superstar Daniel Skillings Daniel Skillings 6'5" | SG Roman Catholic | 2022 State PA (19.5 ppg. & 8 rpg.; Committed to Cincinnati), who was the 2021-22 Philadelphia Catholic League POY. Roman’s Khalil Farmer Khalil Farmer PG Roman Catholic | 2022 State PA (Committed to Hofstra) averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from deep this season. Plus, Roman has elite junior prospect Xzayvier Brown Xzayvier Brown 6'1" | PG Roman Catholic | 2023 State #233 Nation PA (14.4 ppg.). Both Farmer and Brown were also 1st Team All-PCL selections after this season.