Lehigh Valley Prospects To Follow Continued
The Lehigh Valley boom of talent, as we said, has been bolstered through expansive population growth in the last few years and will only continue to get better as places like Forks Twp(Easton Schools), Hanover(Bethlehem), Saucon Valley, Macungie(Emmaus) and other…
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Continue ReadingThe Lehigh Valley boom of talent, as we said, has been bolstered through expansive population growth in the last few years and will only continue to get better as places like Forks Twp(Easton Schools), Hanover(Bethlehem), Saucon Valley, Macungie(Emmaus) and other districts continue to rapidly expand via suburbanization. It’s not just the public schools that benefit, either–Beca, Central and Notre Dame also reap the rewards. Today, we look at 5 more players to watch in a HOT Lehigh Valley basketball scene.
Sina Ramin | G | Nazareth
Ramin enjoyed a breakout junior year for the Blue Eagles. He’s a strong guard and a confident ballhandler in transition who can get to the rim and finish through contact. Active hands and good basketball IQ on defense–Especially good on the top of the press for Nazareth. He’s going to be one of the top senior guards in Northampton county this coming season. Had a season high 26 vs a good Bethlehem Liberty team.
Marcus Drysdale Marcus Drysdale 6'6" | SF Bethlehem Catholic | 2026 State PA | 6’5″ | F | Bethlehem Catholic 2026
Drysdale exploded on the scene as a freshman as one of the top players for a solid Golden Hawks team. Likely the top prospect the “Boys of Madison and Dewberry” have seen in some time. He gets at the rim and draw contact to get to the line but can also step back and hit from beyond the arc. As he gains confidence and experience, expect him to be one of the top inside-outside players in the Lehigh Valley, if not all of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The future is bright for Becahi with Drysdale and classmate Joshua Benka-Coker Joshua Benka-Coker 6'7" | PF Bethlehem Catholic | 2027 NJ lining up for a big three year run. Drysdale had 18 vs Allentown Central Catholic as his personal “Hi, Hello, How Are You?” game of his freshman year.
Matthew Machalik | 6’1” | G | Palmerton
PHS has had its legends over the years, most notably the late Dr. Bob Mlkvy—“The Owl Without a Vowel”— but their tough-as-nails dual sport star led the way once again as a junior–We could have copied and pasted the entire post from last year… Machalik, who also is the star QB on the Palmerton football team, had a fantastic junior season and crossed 1,000pts. He’s a big bodied guard with a nice first step to the rim and is a confident shooter from beyond the arc. He’s grown and inch and put on about 10lbs, which should make him even tougher to contain this winter. He’s got D1 interest in football but if he wanted to, he could easily play college basketball. Palmerton is having “That Run” and he’s driving the bus for one more go.
Brayden Hosier | 5’10” | G | Palmerton
Hosier built on a big sophomore campaign by going for double digits in all but two games, which were blowout wins. He’s the ice to Machalik’s fire. The two play off each other well and combine physicality and finesse. Hosier is also a confident shooter from deep and can run the floor. He’s at his best floating around the perimeter as a catch and shoot prospect. Exploded for 27 vs Notre Dame and had 17 vs Math,Civics and Science.
Dainn Vassallo | 6’2″ | F | Notre Dame Green Pond
Vassallo upped his contributions offensively as a junior as a rough and tumble post player for the Crusaders. The 6’2″-240 lb football prospect is a bruiser in the post on both ends, an effective rebounder and played some of his best basketball of the season down the stretch run, posting big games vs Saucon Valley and Palmerton to go with his season high of 21 vs Bangor. Should be one of the top post players in the Colonial League this winter and should see his offensive production rise with more opportunities under the basket coming his way.