PCL Newcomers of the Year

Just like in college, transfers have become a regular occurrence in high school basketball. Players from around the area flock every year to the Philly Catholic League, and below is a list of the top newcomers across the league throughout the season.    Making the move from Academy of the New Church (PA) of the Friends League, Newson made the transition look seamless while putting together a second team All-Catholic campaign. The rangy wing guard fit in perfectly to a high-octane, guard-heavy Saints rotation. His size, length, and athleticism allowed him to contribute consistently on the boards and as a versatile defensive presence. Offensively, he used his blistering first step to get downhill routinely and continued to make strides as a consistent jump shooter as well. Newson should continue to be on high-major radars heading into the spring and summer.     Maybe the biggest transfer splash in the area came in the form of Smith, a senior lead guard who had compiled quite the resumé through three years as a key contributor at Imhotep. Looking to challenge himself further in the PCL, Smith consistently ran the show for Roman and positioned the Cahillites for a run at league and state championships. He's a dynamic threat off the dribble with his ability to leave opponents in the dust getting downhill or stretch things out beyond the arc as a pullup shooter. On the other end, Smith is a constant pest with his ball pressure at the point of attack. The floor general projects as a focal point of the La Salle program moving forward as the first recruit in Darris Nichols' first full recruiting class.     Another senior transfer for Roman, Presley came in after three years as a focal point at Germantown Academy and thrived as a key role player on his way to All-PCL Third Team honors. The rugged lefty was a consistent matchup problem for most of the league, using his size and strength to finish efficiently near the basket but also having the skill to his faceup game and expanded range on his jumper to be able to punish bigger, slower defenders away from the rim. After a slight adjustment period, Presley became a regular double-figure contributor for Roman. He projects as a surefire scholarship-level prospect with a chance to catch on at the D1 level in the right role.     One of the bigger breakouts across the league from a prospect standpoint, Lugendo showed flashes of brilliance in a complementary role for a senior-laden Carroll group. Coming in from Haverford HS with relatively little experience or fanfare, the quickly-emerging forward looks to be one of the higher-upside frontcourt prospects in the league. He's brought the Patriots a physical and athletic presence near the rim while showing flashes of comfort on the perimeter on both ends of the floor. Still in the early stages of learning the nuances of the game, Lugendo is trending up as a scholarship-level prospect who could catch D1 attention as soon as this spring and summer.     Heading across the river after scoring over 1,000 points in three years at Thrive Charter (NJ), Gore made a smooth transition into the PCL as a consistent double-figure scorer for a Ryan team coming off a first round playoff victory. The lanky guard fit in seamlessly with his versatile two-way ability. He was able to play both on and off the ball with a natural knack for scoring from a variety of spots on the floor and growing comfort in his ability to make reads as a playmaker for others. Gore brings a toughness and intensity to the floor game with a consistent willingness to do the little things in order to help his team. Scholarship-level programs looking for a plug-and-play utility piece would be wise to give him a hard look.     Another Jersey native making the jump across state lines, Branson proved his mettle over the course of the year under a heavy load for a competitive Explorers group. The Medford Tech (NJ) transfer was handed the ball right away and tasked with a large dose of playmaking duties while also being called upon to score double-figures himself on a consistent basis. He shows a polished handle to get to his spots in either direction and a real sense for where the ball needs to be at a given time both in the halfcourt and transition. As he continues to prove himself as a consistent perimeter shooter, Branson will solidify himself as a scholarship-level recruit with a chance to vault into D1 conversations given his consistent rate of production.

Just like in college, transfers have become a regular occurrence in high school basketball. Players from around the area flock every year to the Philly Catholic League, and below is a list of the top newcomers across the league throughout the season.