PAISAA Quarterfinals: Phelps School 90, Malvern Prep 61

Fourth-seeded Phelps School came out hot and never looked back, defending home court and moving on to next week's PAISAA semifinals with a resounding win over #5 seed Malvern Prep. Senior guard and Buffalo commit [player_tooltip player_id='1486760' first='Jahrel' last='Vigo'] led the way with an explosive 29 points while star sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2703264' first='Logan' last='Chwastyk'] led Malvern with 18.    As the more talented team, it was incumbent on Phelps not to come out lackadaisical, and Vigo made sure that wasn't a problem with his athletic two-way aggression to start the game. The Buffalo commit came out with 10 first quarter points on a pair of 3s and a pair of tough drives, setting the tone for a dynamic performance in which he largely got what he wanted offensively. Vigo was extremely efficient, shooting 12-for-17 from the field (3-for-5 3P) while operating as the Lions' primary ballhandler and playmaker in the halfcourt. He's playing at as high a level as anybody in the state right now and has Phelps looking like a strong contender for back-to-back PAISAA titles.     Vigo's running mate in the backcourt, Blake was dynamic in his own right on his way to a smooth 14 points. Blake helped set the tone during Phelps' initial onslaught, knocking down an early 3 and getting fouled on another while showing he could rise up and shoot over Malvern's guards at just about any time. He would show his explosiveness as a driver as the game went on, culminating in a runout tomahawk dunk to shut the door for good in the fourth quarter. Blake's spurtability as a scorer should bode well for his translation into Hofstra's free-flowing system.     Despite the lopsided score, Chwastyk showed he more than belonged while putting together a hard-earned 18-point performance. Matched up with an undersized frontcourt, he was effective using his length and burgeoning athleticism and physicality to go to work around the basket. He was able to create his own shot from the post or finish opportunistically off cuts or dropoff passes. Chwastyk flashed his touch and ballhandling ability in isolated opportunities and impressed on the defensive end with his comfort level when switched onto guards on the perimeter. With his sophomore season now in the rearview, Chwastyk continues to trend as one of the premier frontcourt prospects in his class.     Part of a deep stable of talented Phelps sophomores, Martin has been playing his best ball of the season as of late, earning his way to be a fulltime starter. He kept it up on Friday afternoon, using his physical tools and two-way activity to put up an efficient 13 points in a complementary role. Martin knocked down a smooth catch-and-shoot 3 from the wing to open the game before scoring 10 points in the second half on the strength of his instincts and athleticism as a cutter or crasher. His length, burgeoning strength, and explosive leaping ability make for a high-level combination, giving Martin a clearly high ceiling to grow towards as he works to refine his feel and skillset.     Continuing to come on strong down the stretch of his sophomore year, Valera Melo contributed 12 points in an efficient outing hampered only by foul trouble. A smooth complementary wing, he thrived on the margins as a floor-spacer, connective passer, and versatile defender. He showed his high-level shooting ability on a pair of 3s, showcasing an effortlessly smooth high release with strong instincts for relocating to open space. While the shooting is his calling card, Valera Melo also shows intriguing feel as a playmaker, making quick decisions on the catch to keep the defense scrambling. Defensively, he shows a consistent commitment to keep the ball in front and was also effective using his size and length to crash down on the glass. Valera Melo offers an enticing blend of floor and ceiling from a prospect standpoint and should continue to bubble onto high-major radars over the spring and summer.     Size and shooting always makes for a good recipe and despite the loss, Romanczuk showed that he offers both in spades. A quintessential stretch forward, he knocked down 4 3's on his way to 14 points, showcasing a textbook flick-of-the-wrist release with polished footwork and the confidence to let it fly over anything but the strongest of closeouts. He uses his size and strength to impact the floor game and also flashed some skill as an opportunistic shot-creator when run off the line. An accomplished pitcher already committed to Northwestern, Romanczuk would have been highly sought after from high-academic programs across levels should he have chosen the basketball route.

Fourth-seeded Phelps School came out hot and never looked back, defending home court and moving on to next week's PAISAA semifinals with a resounding win over #5 seed Malvern Prep. Senior guard and Buffalo commit Jahrel Vigo Jahrel Vigo 6'1" | CG The Phelps School | 2026 State PA led the way with an explosive 29 points while star sophomore forward Logan Chwastyk Logan Chwastyk 6'10" | PF Malvern Prep | 2028 State PA led Malvern with 18.