Game Recap: Phelps 110, Erie Prep 92

Phelps moved to 2-0 on the young season with a commanding win over visiting Erie Prep Academy. The Lions got out to a 20-plus point lead in the opening half behind a torrid effort from senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2949318' first='Xavier' last='Blake'] (33 points), fending off an early second-half comeback effort to coast to the home win. [player_tooltip player_id='2547010' first='Braedon' last='Ellis'] knocked down eight 3s en route to 29 points to lead EPA.    Blake got off to a roaring start and never looked back, scoring Phelps' first 13 points of the game en route to 22 in the opening half and 33 for the game. The Canadian southpaw got himself going from beyond the arc, connecting on three early 3s, seemingly each of increasing difficulty. He showed off his downhill ability with a vicious poster (and another attempted one) in transition while contributing on the other end with his blend of length, twitch, and quickness within the Lions' stifling pressure defense. His combination of positional size and dynamic two-way ability make it easy to see why several mid-majors have begun prioritizing him since his move from north of the border.     Ivery popped off the bench and made an instant impact, helping blow open what was a back-and-forth game in the opening minutes into a 20-point lead before halftime. A slender southpaw scoring guard, he was a consistent force causing turnovers and working toward the rim in transition, bouncing off contact and showing burgeoning athleticism as a finisher while also knocking down all 10 of his free throw attempts. The native of Ohio stood out with his poised decisionmaking in a game that got a bit hectic for stretches. He also flashed ability to space the floor out to the perimeter, showing a soft touch despite unorthodox mechanics on his shot. Ivery has already drawn recruitment at the mid and high major levels, with the potential to reclass back to 2028 as well should he desire more time to develop before college.     Helping to break the game open off the bench, Martin entered the game with an abundance of energy that blended with his high-level intersection of size, length, and athleticism to make an easy complementary impact on the margins. The Pittsburgh-area product finished with 18 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from the field (7-for-8 FT's), showing off his nose for the ball whether on the glass, as a cutter, or flying around defensively. He showed improving touch and a naturally high release on a pair of smooth jumpers (one from beyond the arc). Martin's natural physical gifts and ability to impact games without the ball in his hands make for an enticing long-term outlook that's already drawn attention up to the high-major level.     A new name in the state, Ellis made sure to make himself known with his play on Sunday despite the loss. He got the scoring started with a deep heave to beat the shot clock buzzer, which proved to be a sign of things to come as he would go on to splash in eight 3's en route to his 29 points. The post-grad by way of Rhode Island showed a quick, confident, and repeatable release while also helping initiate offense as a ballhandler and showing nice overall toughness in the floor game. We'll have to see more over the course of the winter to get a great feel for his projection but more shooting performances like Sunday's are sure to draw intrigue from a wide range of college programs.     While he wasn't the leading scorer, Saroya looked to our eyes to be the most intriguing long-term prospect on the Erie Prep roster. A smooth wing forward originally from Canada, he showed an effortlessly fluid shooting stroke while knocking down four 3's, relocating intelligently to open space and showing comfortable range out beyond the arc. He showed poise and IQ as a decisionmaker both on the perimeter and attacking off the bounce, also offering some secondary ballhandling to help initiate offense in the halfcourt. Saroya's blend of size, shooting, and overall polish to his skillset make it a bit puzzling why he's yet to draw any interest of note on the recruiting trail.     Another key piece off the bench in a deep Phelps rotation full of intriguing young talent, Woodard shined with his inherent knack for finding his way to the front of the rim. The Canadian guard used his herky-jerky handle and slick first step to consistently create advantages on the perimeter and touch the paint, finishing with graceful dexterity while also flashing improving decisionmaking ability as a playmaker for others. We'll be tracking his perimeter shooting moving forward, but Woodard's positional size and dynamic downhill abilities make for a pretty clear D1 prospect assuming steady development in the years to come.     Despite the loss, Anyiam-Osigwe made his presence felt throughout with an alluring blend of activity, athleticism, and versatility up front. A native of Nigeria and a post-grad by way of California, the rangy forward showed a diverse skillset, standing out particularly as a high-IQ passer from a variety of spots on the floor. He guarded a variety of positions while also showing comfort attacking slower forwards off the bounce and taking smaller matchups down into the post. While he didn't convert from long range, he did flash a fluid stroke with signs of touch to develop moving forward. A 4.0 student, Anyiam-Osigwe should draw intrigue from a wide variety of programs across levels over the course of the winter.     It's inherently difficult for freshmen to make an impact in prep school games but Koffi managed to do so in his limited minutes while contributing to the first half run that would prove to be the decisive point in the game. The latest of a long line of Canadian prospects to matriculate at Phelps, he immediately helped swing the momentum with his penchant for blowing up opposing plays and forcing turnovers defensively. Koffi also showed enticing athleticism on an explosive transition dunk. We'll learn more about his overall skillset in the years to come but his defensive exploits are likely to make him a popular name for D1 coaches down the line.

Phelps moved to 2-0 on the young season with a commanding win over visiting Erie Prep Academy. The Lions got out to a 20-plus point lead in the opening half behind a torrid effort from senior guard Xavier Blake Xavier Blake 6'4" | CG/SG The Phelps School | 2026 State PA (33 points), fending off an early second-half comeback effort to coast to the home win. Braedon Ellis Braedon Ellis 5'11" | PG/SG Erie Prep Academy | 2026 PA knocked down eight 3s en route to 29 points to lead EPA.