Philadelphia Live Period Preview
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After two months of grassroots season, players are rejoining their high school teams for the live period. Some teams bring back a tone of experience while others will lean on young players to step up. Here are eight teams too…
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Continue ReadingAfter two months of grassroots season, players are rejoining their high school teams for the live period. Some teams bring back a tone of experience while others will lean on young players to step up. Here are eight teams too keep an eye on over the next few weeks and into the ’2022-23 season.
Archbishop Carroll
Carroll knows what they’re going to get from leading scorer (18.5 points) and sniper (39.3% 3FG) Moses Hipps Moses Hipps 6'4" | SG AZ Compass Prep | 2024 State AZ (6’3 G ‘24). Dean Coleman-Newsome Dean Coleman-Newsome 6'2" | PG Archbishop Carroll | 2023 State PA (6’4 G ‘23) had a solid comeback season (14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals) and has turned it up a notch while playing with Gibbs Elite. It’s how Jake West Jake West 6'1" | PG William Penn Charter | 2025 State #193 Nation PA (5’10 G ‘25) finished the ‘21-22 season that should have folk intrigued. West averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 assists on 41.7% from trey after not starting most of the year. Add an improved Blake Deegan Blake Deegan 6'6" | SF Archbishop Carroll | 2023 State PA (6’5 F ‘23) plus elevated roles from Seamus Rogers (6’1 G ‘23) and SuMeer Alleyne (6’3 G ‘24) and the Patriots might have something special.
Cardinal O’Hara
Of all the newcomers in the PCL, the volume of production from Izaiah Pasha Izaiah Pasha 6'4" | CG Cardinal O'Hara | 2023 State PA (6’6 G ‘23) was the biggest surprise – 18 points, 43.8% from 3, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. The breakout player shouldered a heavy burden (28% usage) for the Lions. Pearse McGuinn Pearse McGuinn 6'8" | PF Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA (6’6 F ‘24) could be the key to easing Pasha’s load. The rising junior forward averaged 8.9 points. 5.1 boards and 30% from deep a season ago. The developments of Hunter Johnson Hunter Johnson 6'2" | CG Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 PA (6’2 G ‘24) and Josh Coulanges Josh Coulanges 5'9" | PG Cardinal O'Hara | 2023 State PA (6’0 G ‘23) will be pivotal to their success too. O’Hara finished eighth in ‘21-22 and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they were higher by the end of ‘23.
Devon Prep
With a 3A state championship on their belt and returning most of their ‘21-22 production, the Tide go from the hunters to the hunted. 6’5 W ‘23 Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA (13.8 pts, 3.6 asts, 1.7 stls) scaled down to be more of a connector for Prim3tim3 and now gets to ramp his playmaking back up going into his senior year. 6’4 W/F ‘23 Jacen Holloway Jacen Holloway 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA (13.5 pts, 5.5 rebs, 38.2% 3FG) is putting the ball on the floor more, which should serve DP well as they’ll likely increase his usage on offense. 5’10 G ‘24 Ty Mishock Ty Mishock 5'10" | PG Spring Ford | 2024 PA (3.8 pts, 3.1 asts, 1.3 stl) enters his third year as the starting PG and DP will need him, 5’11 G ‘23 Tyler Scarpulla (37.5 3FG), 6’5 F ‘24 Ben Costello and 6’4 F ‘25 Zone Conlon to step up if they want to make their first trip to the Palestra.
Math, Civics, and Sciences
Every time Coach Lonnie loses a crop of players to graduation, he develops a new harvest of talent. 6’2 ‘24 Aasim Burton Aasim Burton 6'3" | CG Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA aka “Flash” (8.9 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.6 stls) fought his way into the starting lineup as their secondary playmaker in ‘21-22, then found his way onto Team Final 16u. They’ll look to 6’1 ‘23 Chauncey Presley Chauncey Presley 6'1" | SG Math, Civics and Sciences | 2023 State PA (7.8 pts) translate his on-ball defense into easy offense. What they get from Nayeem Johnson Nayeem Johnson 6'2" | SG Math, Civics And Sciences | 2023 State PA (6’2 G ‘23) and Isaiah Griffin (6’4 F ‘23) could be the keys to their ‘22-23 season. Johnson, a guard for BW Elite, returned to action mid-season to add 4.8 points/g. And Griffin came on late as a difference maker (6.3 pts).
Radnor
Last season’s core of Jackson Hicke Jackson Hicke 6'5" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA (6’5 W ‘23), Charlie Thornton Charlie Thornton 6'4" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA (6’5 W ‘23), and Danny Rosenblum Danny Rosenblum 6'0" | PG Radnor | 2023 State PA (6’0 G ‘23) is back after deep runs in the Central League and 5A state playoffs. To top things off, they played together in the spring with Prim3tim3 Hoops. Hicke was the offensive engine, while Thornton showed improved confidence in his jumper and Rosenburg ran the show at point. Cooper Mueller Cooper Mueller 6'3" | SG Radnor | 2023 State PA (6’3 W ‘23) is on Prim3 Tim3 too and his floor spacing should give them a boost as they enter ‘22-23 as the favorite to be league champs.
Roman Catholic
The Cahilites just graduated the top scores from the last two seasons after winning the 6A state title in ‘22. But don’t be surprised if they don’t miss a beat in ‘22-23. 6’1 ‘23 guard Xzayvier Brown Xzayvier Brown 6'1" | PG Roman Catholic | 2023 State #233 Nation PA was one of the five best players in the PCL as a junior (13.9 pts, 6.9 asts, 3.4 stls), is the floor general for K-Low Elite 17U, and is still one of the most underappreciated point guards nationally. He’ll be complimented by Toby Ojukwu Toby Ojukwu 6'2" | PG Norcross | 2024 State GA (8.8 pts, 3.3 asts, 2.1 stls), the 6’1 ‘24 two-way guard who is in his second summer with Philly Pride 16U. 6’7 ‘25 center Shareef Jackson Shareef Jackson 6'9" | C Roman Catholic | 2025 State #249 Nation PA was a terror down the stretch (4.5 pts, 6.5 rebs, 1.5 blks) and is now playing up with NJ Scholars 16u. Bringing a different dimension to the Broad St boys team is Brown’s K-Low teammate, Anthony Finkley Anthony Finkley 6'6" | SF Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA , returning home after a season at Huntington Prep.
St. Joe’s Prep
Coach Harrigan’s young squad is back with more experience after taking its lumps last season. Their ‘25 backcourt duo of 6’1 Jaron McKie Jaron McKie 6'2" | SG St. Joseph's Prep | 2025 State #74 Nation PA (9.2 pts, 4.5 reb, 33% 3FG) and 6’0 Olin Chamberlain Olin Chamberlain 6'0" | PG St Joseph's Prep | 2025 State PA Jr (5.7 pts & 2.2 asts) continue to grow together with NJ Scholars 15U on the EYBL circuit. 6’9 ‘24 big man Tristen Guillouette Tristen Guillouette 6'9" | C George School | 2024 State PA (12.4 pts, 8.3 rebs, 3.2 blks) was nicked up as a sophomore but is showing promise on the Scholars 16U team. K-Low Elite’s 6’2 ‘24 Jalen Harper Jalen Harper 6'4" | PG St. Joseph’s Prep | 2024 State PA (6.8 pts, 5.3 rebs, 2.2 ast) has been a versatile piece for them. The Prep also has depth to go along with their youth. 6’6 ‘23 wing Jackson Gaffney (6.7 pts, 38.3% 3FG), 6’1 ‘25 guard Jordan Ellerbee Jordan Ellerbee 6'2" | CG St. Joseph’s Prep | 2025 State PA , and 6’8 ‘24 forward Luke Brown will play important roles for SJP this year.
Springside Chestnut Hill
The Blue Devils finished strong in ‘21-22, reaching the PAISAA quarter finals. 6’9 wing-forward Alassane Amadou Alassane Amadou 6'9" | PF SCH Academy | 2023 State #188 Nation PA ’s name is heating up on the recruiting trail and will continue to as college coaches realize how much of a Swiss Army knife he is on both ends. Their pair of ‘24 guards give them clarity on the court as decision-makers. 6’0 Ron Brown III Ron Brown III 5'11" | CG SCH Academy | 2024 State PA has been facilitating for Philly Pride Select 16u, while 6’1 Camden Burns Camden Burns 6'0" | CG SCH Academy | 2024 State PA provides scoring for Philly Pride Select 17U. As a movement shooter, 6’5 ‘23 wing Jaren Morton Jaren Morton 6'5" | SG SCH Academy | 2023 State PA is growing his game with UAA Team Rio 17u and 6’5 ‘24 wing Caleb Alston-Nelson (K-Low) is their X-factor. SCH has an array of talent and can make an even deeper run in ‘22-23.
Note: All stats are from the 2022 high school season.
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