Philly Live I Preview: Key Player Match Ups

The greatest high school live period event is upon us! Teams from 7 different states are pulling up to the 215/267 for some rec in front of college coaches from across the nation. Live 1 features some top tier match ups between local teams plus out-of-area versus local teams. Imani Christian Academy (PA) vs St. Joe’s Prep (PA) The pace of the game will be dictated by 6’0 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1147707" first="Bez" last="Abdul"] from Imani and a combination of 6’0 G ‘25 [player_tooltip player_id="1188621" first="Olin" last="Chamberlain"] Jr and 6’2 G ‘25 [player_tooltip player_id="1197607" first="Jaron" last="McKie"] from St. Joe’s. But the outcome will probably be determined by what happens between 6’11 F/C ‘25 [player_tooltip player_id="1188606" first="Alier" last="Maluk"] and 6’9 C ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="933048" first="Tristen" last="Guillouette"]. Even though it’s still early, Alier is one of the top recruits in his class and deservedly so. His footwork and shot blocking NICE. Tristen offers similar skills, just in a different body. TG isn’t as long but has a good feel for when & how to block shots. Hope this game turns into a clash of the titans. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 5:50 pm on Court 1</li> </ul> Centerville (OH) vs Archbishop Ryan (PA) Friday will be a match up between runner ups from Ohio’s state Division 1 and the Philadelphia Catholic League. This is Centerville’s debut performance outside of Ohio in over a year and they are loaded. 6’2 G‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="867934" first="Gabe" last="Cupps"] (Indiana commit) and 6’7 F ‘23 Rich Rolf (Charlotte commit) are the headliners. Cupps will run the show for the Elks, balancing his facilitation with scoring. Rolf is a face-up forward. For the Raiders, two rising juniors will lead the way. 6’9 C ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1213553" first="Thomas" last="Sorber"] was one of the top performers in the area as a sophomore and tilts the defense with his inside game. 6’3 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1192641" first="Darren" last="Williams"] was more of a connector in ‘21-22, but will likely be called on to play off of Sorber offensively while slowing down Cupps on the other end. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 5:50 pm on Court 2</li> </ul> Salesianum (DE) vs Archbishop Wood (PA) The Sallies and the Vikings match up well on paper. Each will feature 2024 guards combos with similar archetypes - 6’4 G ‘24 Isaiah Hynson & 6’3 G ‘24 Kareem Thomas for Salesianum and 6’4 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1189096" first="Jalil" last="Bethea"] & 6’3 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1483181" first="Josh" last="Reed"]. Hynson comes into his second season as the starting PG, having played the same role for We-R1 16U, while Reed was more of a defensive stopper as a sophomore before running point with Philly Revolution 16U. They’re both physical guards who use their size to create space and will likely defend one another. Bethea and Thomas are the snipers who came off the bench last year and will need to round out their offensive games for their respective squads, after key off-season departures. Jalil plays with Team Final EYBL 16U and Kareem is with We-R1 Select. This should be a good one to get the evening slate started. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 7 pm on Court 3</li> </ul> Camden (NJ) vs Nuemann-Goretti (PA) & Roman Catholic (PA) Camden is crossing the Ben Franklin bridge and wants all the smoke. They have one of the toughest schedules of the weekend, playing 3 of the top 4 PCL teams from this past season. We appreciate a guard play in the City of Brotherly Love and Camden has a great pair in 6’3 [player_tooltip player_id="850751" first="Dajuan" last="Wagner Jr"] & 6’0 [player_tooltip player_id="850757" first="Cian" last="Medley"]. The first of Camden’s double guard duels is versus 6’1 ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="991334" first="Xzayvier" last="Brown"] & 6’0 ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1477719" first="Toby" last="Ojukwu"] in the night cap. They’re both two way guards, only Brown has a higher usage rate. He and DJ have been going at it since before they were in high school. They both played up on 15U (KLow for X, Team Final for DJ) when they were still in 8th grade. With Roman’s leading scorers and best perimeter defender from ‘21-22 off to college, Toby will get a crack at the consensus 5 star prospect while Cian will probably pick up Xzayvier on defense. On Sunday, 6’3 [player_tooltip player_id="850751" first="Dajuan" last="Wagner Jr"] & 6’0 [player_tooltip player_id="850757" first="Cian" last="Medley"] will take on ‘24 duo 6’0 [player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"] & 5’11 [player_tooltip player_id="1123910" first="Khaafiq" last="Myers"]. DJ needs no introduction, but Cian ties everyone else into the offense with his shifty handle and quickness. Due to Camden’s size at other positions, the duos will likely be assigned to one another. Rob will have to control the score for NG as Fiq controls the pace and tries to slow down Wagner. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Camden vs Roman: Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 8:40 pm on Court 2</li> <li>Camden vs Neumann-Goretti: Sunday 19th @ JeffersonU 12:30 pm on Court 2</li> </ul> West Catholic (PA) vs St. Ignatius (OH) When the Burrs face the Wildcats, it’ll be 5’10 ‘23 Adam “Budd” Clark & 6’3 ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="991381" first="Shemar" last="Wilbanks-Acqui"] aka “Whop” against 6’2 ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1222353" first="Ace" last="Buckner"] & 6’3 ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1222357" first="Carter" last="Jackson"] in another double guard duel. Budd is the straight floor general through and through, and Whop is a combo guard who can easily go for 20. Though Ace is more of a PG and Carter is a SG, like Whop, neither of them were primary options as sophomores. So it’ll be interesting to see how they strike a balance versus an aggressive West Catholic backcourt. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saturday 18th @ St. Joe’s Prep 12:30 pm on Main Court</li> </ul> Math, Civics, and Sciences (PA) vs Trenton Catholic (NJ) Yes, basketball is a team sport. But 6’2 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1187956" first="Aasim" last="Burton"] bka Flash against 6’2 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1050395" first="Deuce" last="Jones"] is a 1v1 to look forward to on Saturday afternoon. 2 different styles of play, 2 different demeanors. Deuce is use to carrying a heavy workload on offense and thrives in it. He was born in it…molded by it…. He’s not afraid to let you know it either. This is Flash’s debut as “the guy.” The playmaking he contributed last season was complimentary. Now it’s the centerpiece of MCS’s attack. Burton isn’t as much of a talker, but he’s here for the fight too. This will be more of a chess match than a straight up duel. If Deuce lures Flash into trying to keep up point for point, it could get ugly. But if Flash plays his game and gets everyone involved, MCS can pull out the win. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 4 pm on Court 3</li> </ul> Imhotep (PA) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (NJ) This is quietly one of the best games on the Saturday slate. 6’7 W ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] plus 6’0 G ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="991339" first="Rahmir" last="Barno"] and 6’2 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1281786" first="Ahmad" last="Nowell"] for Imhotep is an easy sell. The STA Trojans are coming off of their best season in program history and match up well with the Panthers. After losing two seniors to D1 basketball (Harris/Seton Hall, Silas/Wofford), Aquinas will be led by 6’4 G ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="992525" first="Terrell" last="Pitts"] (13.5 pts, 5.1 rebs, 1.8 stl), 6’3 G ‘24 [player_tooltip player_id="1153996" first="Jaden" last="Kelly"] (10 pts, 1.7 stl), and 6’7 F ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="1013072" first="Jalen" last="Pichardo"] (10.1 pts, 10.7 rebs, 1.4 stl). Pitts is no stranger to Philly, having played his first two years in the Catholic League at Bishop McDevitt (RIP). Both teams are relentless on defense. So that might slow the pace. But they have the coaching and talent to generate points in the half court. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 5:10 pm on Court 2</li> </ul> Lincoln (PA) vs Radnor (PA) It’s the wing combinations in this one. Radnor got all they could handle from Imhotep in the 5A state playoffs and now they’ll get a piece of the Public League runner ups. This time around, they have more versatility in their attack. 6’5 W ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="1119137" first="Jackson" last="Hicke"] was already a skilled scorer but now they can afford to move him off-ball with the strides that athletic 6’5 W ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="1212678" first="Charlie" last="Thornton"] has made as a ball-handler. On the Railsplitters, 6’3 G/W ‘23 [player_tooltip player_id="1379459" first="Jameer" last="Trout"] will shoot the lights out if they let him and 6’6 W ‘24 Naseem Wright is liable to do the same in addition to going federal on a hard closeout. If and when Radnor gets Lincoln into the half court, how well they defend Trout and Wright off-ball without giving up layups will be significant. Conversely, who draws the Hicke and Thornton assignments? Trout on Hicke and Wright on Thornton should be fun. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sunday 19th @ Jefferson U 4 pm on Court 3</li> </ul> For the full schedule and updates on the event, follow @PhillyHSLive on twitter & IG. For more basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter/IG @CGraham_Sports.