Catholic League MVP Candidates
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Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers for which 4 teams will make it to the Palestra. In addition to filling up the stat sheet, the Catholic League MVP is usually on one of the four. And because…
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Continue ReadingAsk 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers for which 4 teams will make it to the Palestra. In addition to filling up the stat sheet, the Catholic League MVP is usually on one of the four. And because the PCL is wide open, there are more legit preseason MVP candidates than usual. Here are my top 5 picks.
Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA | 6’4 G 2024 Archbishop Wood
As the reigning MVP, Bethea is an obvious favorite to repeat. He won the award last season with his volume scoring and some spectacular performances. This time around, he’ll have to do it with playmaking. Wood doesn’t have a traditional PG in their starting lineup to slow the game down when necessary, set Bethea up for movement threes, and facilitate for everyone else. So some of that responsibility will fall on him. His on-ball decision-making and balanced offensive approach will be vital to their success. If the future Miami Hurricane can handle that, the Vikings can return to the Palestra and MVP might once again be his. The PNR craft he flashed and his 3.9 assists as a junior are positive indicators that he will.
Shareef Jackson Shareef Jackson 6'9" | C Roman Catholic | 2025 State #249 Nation PA | 6’7 F/C 2025 Roman Catholic
In his first season as a full-time starter, Jackson earned third-team all-league honors and helped the Cahilites win the PCL championship. They wouldn’t have made it that far without him protecting the rim or creating second-chance opportunities for himself and the rest of the squad. So in order to win MVP, he’ll have to do that and more. Jackson will be the focal point inside the arc as Roman plays through him. Surrounded by shooters, he has the power & skill to be an automatic bucket inside the paint and the vision to kick out when the defense collapses. With that projected increase in usage, his 10.9 points, 8.8 rebound, 2.6 assists & 1.8 blocks from a season ago are sure to see an uptick and keep him in the MVP race.
Jaron McKie Jaron McKie 6'2" | SG St. Joseph's Prep | 2025 State #74 Nation PA | 6’2 G 2025 St. Joe’s Prep
As just a sophomore, McKie fought his way to first-team all-Catholic with 16.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists & 2.0 steals. His 43.3% from three was bolstered by 6.8 attempts per game. That efficiency plus some added versatility could be the recipe for his MVP candidacy. McKie is a nightmare running off of screens and scarier when he’s wide open spotting up. But what he’s able to do when forced to put the ball on the floor could be a huge factor for the Hawks this season. He’ll more than likely be their primary option on offense. So whether McKie becomes a secondary playmaker, gets to the paint more, or both; how he manages to round out his game is worth watching.
Khaafiq Myers Khaafiq Myers 5'10" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA | 5’10 G 2024 Neumann-Goretti
The recent St. Joe’s University pledge missed 6 games last season and still earned first-team honors with a balanced 11.1 points, 4.4 boards, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. Now that he’s completely healthy and has the keys to be NG’s primary initiator, it’s time for Myers to display the full range of his abilities. The dynamic, two-way guard is explosive enough to get to the cup without a screen, shifty enough to stop & pop for a mid-range pull-up, and virtuosic enough as a passer to keep everyone involved in the offense. His on-ball defense speaks for itself. With a young backcourt that includes two talented sophomores, the intangibles that Myers brings to the table will be just as significant as his numbers.
Thomas Sorber Thomas Sorber 6'9" | C Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State #58 Nation PA | 6’9 C 2024 Archbishop Ryan
As the only team that returns two first-team leaguers ( Darren Williams Darren Williams 6'4" | SG Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State PA ), the Raiders are the odds on favorite to win the PCL going into the season. And that still won’t take away from Sorber’s credentials in the MVP race. No one will have as much responsibility as Sorber does. He’ll be tasked with anchoring Ryan’s defense as a low post defender and shot-blocker, while being the centerpiece of their offensive attack. Sorber will have to battle the refs as well, because he’s just that much bigger and stronger than the vast majority of the other PCL big men. He carried that heavy usage exceptionally a season ago, putting up 17.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks compared to just 2.6 personal fouls. The future Georgetown Hoya just has to stay within himself and he’ll be just fine.
MVP Dark Horses
Aasim Burton Aasim Burton 6'3" | CG Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA | 6’2 G 2024 Cardinal O’Hara Kevair Kennedy Kevair Kennedy 6'1" | PG Father Judge | 2025 State PA | 6’0 G 2025 Father Judge Kevin Rucker Kevin Rucker 6'5" | SG Bonner-Prendergast | 2024 State PA Jr | 6’4 G/W 2024 Bonner-Prendie