Philly Live I Preview: Key Player Match Ups
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 Bez Abdul Bez Abdul 6'0" | CG Imani Christian Academy | 2024 State PA from Imani and a combination of 6’0 G ‘25 Olin Chamberlain Olin Chamberlain 6'0" | PG St Joseph's Prep | 2025 State PA Jr and 6’2 G ‘25 Jaron McKie Jaron McKie 6'2" | SG St. Joseph's Prep | 2025 State #74 Nation PA from St. Joe’s. But the outcome will probably be determined by what happens between 6’11 F/C ‘25 Alier Maluk Alier Maluk 7'0" | PF Long Island Lutheran | 2025 State #62 Nation NY and 6’9 C ‘24 Tristen Guillouette Tristen Guillouette 6'9" | C George School | 2024 State PA . 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.
- Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 5:50 pm on Court 1
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 Gabe Cupps Gabe Cupps 6'1" | PG Centerville | 2023 State #80 Nation OH (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 Thomas Sorber Thomas Sorber 6'9" | C Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State #58 Nation PA was one of the top performers in the area as a sophomore and tilts the defense with his inside game. 6’3 G ‘24 Darren Williams Darren Williams 6'4" | SG Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State PA 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.
- Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 5:50 pm on Court 2
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 Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA & 6’3 G ‘24 Josh Reed Josh Reed 6'3" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State PA . 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.
- Friday 17th @ JeffersonU 7 pm on Court 3
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 Dajuan Wagner Jr Dajuan Wagner Jr 6'4" | PG Camden | 2023 State #1 Nation NJ & 6’0 Cian Medley Cian Medley 6'0" | PG Camden | 2023 State NJ . The first of Camden’s double guard duels is versus 6’1 ‘23 Xzayvier Brown Xzayvier Brown 6'1" | PG Roman Catholic | 2023 State #233 Nation PA & 6’0 ‘24 Toby Ojukwu Toby Ojukwu 6'2" | PG Norcross | 2024 State GA 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 Dajuan Wagner Jr Dajuan Wagner Jr 6'4" | PG Camden | 2023 State #1 Nation NJ & 6’0 Cian Medley Cian Medley 6'0" | PG Camden | 2023 State NJ will take on ‘24 duo 6’0 Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL & 5’11 Khaafiq Myers Khaafiq Myers 5'10" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA . 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.
- Camden vs Roman: Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 8:40 pm on Court 2
- Camden vs Neumann-Goretti: Sunday 19th @ JeffersonU 12:30 pm on Court 2
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 Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui 6'0" | CG West Catholic | 2023 State PA aka “Whop” against 6’2 ‘24 Ace Buckner Ace Buckner 6'1" | PG La Lumiere | 2024 #195 Nation IN & 6’3 ‘24 Carter Jackson Carter Jackson 6'2" | SG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH 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.
- Saturday 18th @ St. Joe’s Prep 12:30 pm on Main Court
Math, Civics, and Sciences (PA) vs Trenton Catholic (NJ)
Yes, basketball is a team sport. But 6’2 G ‘24 Aasim Burton Aasim Burton 6'3" | CG Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA bka Flash against 6’2 G ‘24 Deuce Jones Deuce Jones 6'1" | PG College Achieve | 2024 State #221 Nation NJ 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.
- Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 4 pm on Court 3
Imhotep (PA) vs St. Thomas Aquinas (NJ)
This is quietly one of the best games on the Saturday slate. 6’7 W ‘23 Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA plus 6’0 G ‘23 Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA and 6’2 G ‘24 Ahmad Nowell Ahmad Nowell 6'0" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2024 State #36 Nation PA 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 Terrell Pitts Terrell Pitts 6'4" | SG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State NJ (13.5 pts, 5.1 rebs, 1.8 stl), 6’3 G ‘24 Jaden Kelly Jaden Kelly 6'4" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2024 State NJ (10 pts, 1.7 stl), and 6’7 F ‘23 Jalen Pichardo Jalen Pichardo 6'6" | SF St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State NJ (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.
- Saturday 18th @ JeffersonU 5:10 pm on Court 2
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 Jackson Hicke Jackson Hicke 6'5" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA was already a skilled scorer but now they can afford to move him off-ball with the strides that athletic 6’5 W ‘23 Charlie Thornton Charlie Thornton 6'4" | SF Radnor | 2023 State PA has made as a ball-handler. On the Railsplitters, 6’3 G/W ‘23 Jameer Trout Jameer Trout 6'3" | SG Abraham Lincoln | 2023 State PA 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.
- Sunday 19th @ Jefferson U 4 pm on Court 3
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.