Jake West Headed to Penn Charter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1136565' first='Jake' last='West'], the No. 25 ranked prospect in our Class of 2025 rankings, announced today via his social media accounts that he will be attending Penn Charter next year. If you recall, West let it be known back in early June that he was departing Archbishop Carroll and transferring to the George School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, why the change in transfer destination? One would imagine the hiring of [player_tooltip player_id='1466558' first='Brandon' last='Williams'] as Penn Charter's new head coach influenced that decision. For years Williams was the head coach of the extraordinarily successful 2024 [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] UAA grassroots team. He is one of the most respected basketball coaches in southeastern Pennsylvania.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>When I asked Williams via text about his excitement level over the news on West he replied, “It's through the roof.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>“Jake is pure point guard and makes everyone's job around him easier. How he plays really fits what I like to do. He pushes the pace offensively and applies pressure on the lane at all times in transition.”</em> Williams continued.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>“But he has a high IQ, so he knows when to slow things down when you need a good possession. And last but certainly not least. The kid plays with a chip on his shoulder. He wants to show he is the best guard on the floor every time he steps on the court. He takes it personal if you think otherwise. Those are my type of kids,”</em> Williams stated in his text.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During his sophomore season as a starter at Carroll this dead-eye shooter with underrated athleticism and elusive handles averaged 13 points, 3.5 assists and 3 rebounds per game. West shot 39% from behind the arc, making 47 threes on the season. After the 2022-23 season West was a 3rd Team All-PCL selection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West posted an outstanding 2023 EYBL grassroots circuit for [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] too. He averaged 15 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from deep. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West holds over a dozen division one offers. Included in that list are programs such as Florida State, Mississippi State, Lafayette, Drexel, Delaware, Penn, and Fairfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West will be a major addition to a Penn Charter lineup that looks better on paper with each passing week. A backcourt of West along with elite shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1271429' first='Kai' last='Shinholster'] (multiple DI offers) will be extremely difficult to contain. When you combine those two with standout stretch-4 [player_tooltip player_id='2235863' first='Matt' last='Gilhool'] (numerous DI offers), combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1486754' first='TJ' last='Bryson'], scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='991423' first='Jamal' last='Hicks Jr'] and underrated wing [player_tooltip player_id='1128370' first='Kevin' last='Cotton'], Penn Charter now has a lineup that should challenge for Inter-Ac supremacy this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->