Week 4 Philly Catholic League: Under the Radar & Underclassmen

Week 4 Philly Catholic League: Under the Radar &#038; Underclassmen

Chad Graham February 24, 2021 @ 01:27 PM

This week, I want to shine light on more of the league’s under the radar players plus an underclassman. Under the Radar [player_tooltip player_id="990958" first="Eric" last="Chamberlain"] 5’10 PG ’21 - West Catholic/ Mt. Pleasant Bulldogs “E” isn’t the biggest but causes problems for opposing teams with his ability to get underneath ball-handlers (4 stl/g) and keep opposing defenders on their heels with his dynamic offensive abilities. Even as a team defender, Chamberlain He routinely gets to his spots off the bounce (10 pts/g). Once he’s in the paint, he makes plays for others. [player_tooltip player_id="991125" first="Chris" last="Evans"] 6’3 SG ’21 - Neumann-Goretti/ K-Low Elite One of the most lethal shooters in the PCL, Evans is a guy you can’t leave open. The Neumann SG can catch-and-shoot from NBA range which spaces the floor for teammates. He makes opponents pay for helping off of him, like against Archbishop Carroll when he hit 5 of 8 threes. But when defenders closeout hard on him, he makes good decisions too. Chris averages 9 points on almost 7 three point attempts per game. [player_tooltip player_id="991202" first="Justin" last="Moore"] 6’2 PG ’22 - Bishop McDevitt/K-Low Elite Moore is a newcomer to the Catholic League and runs the show for Coach Chavis’s squad. His 13.6 pts/g and 5.1 ast/g are a result of his ability to make quick-yet-smart decisions. Justin lets the game come to him and is more concerned with making the right plays than scoring. So some games he led the team in points and in others he only took 7 shots. His leadership on the court is a big reason why the Lancers are 6th in the conference. [player_tooltip player_id="991309" first="Argel" last="Pettit"] IV 6’2 CG ’22 - Devon Prep Pettit was already accustomed to getting buckets when he played for Rustin (West Chester, Pa). So his 16 pts/g as a junior in the PCL shouldn’t be a surprise. "IV" at his best when he’s spacing the floor - spotting up and shooting off of movement (39% from 3). Once defenses are closing out hard or rotating, he displays the burst to get to the rim and finish through contact. [player_tooltip player_id="991311" first="Jalen" last="Snead"] The laidback junior turns into a purse snatcher at the point of attack. With his defensive awareness, he converts defense into easy buckets, averaging 2.7 steals and 4.7 deflections. But Jalen’s not simply a defensive specialist. His improved feel has helped him round out his game (9.7 pts/g, 4.2 reb/g, 5ast/g). As he gains confidence in his shot, he’s turning into the ultimate glue guy. Nix Varano 6'3 SG '22 - LaSalle/ Philly Pride Gold Varano can really stretch the floor. In four of LaSalle’s eight games, he’s hit three or more 3s. The second-year starter shoots 34.7% on the season, scoring 12 pts/g. Additionally, he’s easy to play with. Varano makes all of the hustle plays, makes the extra pass, rebounds and defends. He had 23 pts, 6 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals and 5 triples against Bishop McDevitt. Kellen Ward 6'4 Forward '21 - Lansdale Catholic The senior forward leads the Crusaders in scoring (8.2 pts/g), rebounds (8.8 reb/g) and blocks (2.0 blk/g). Ward likes to face up from the elbow and the mid post, then attack off the bounce. On the other end, he often guards the opposing team's best wing or post player. Yet he still manages to contribute as a team defender. Underclassmen Shawn Battle 5'10 PG '23 - Neumann-Goretti/ Team Final At this point, Battle is more well-known as a defensive back on the football field. The two-sport athlete averages 4.2 pts/g and 3.7 ast/g for the Saints. As their back-up PG, Battle has an explosive first-step, which he uses to create open looks for Neumann’s upperclassmen. His seasons highs are 9 pts vs Carroll and 6 assists vs Conwell-Egan. He’ll be able to showcase more of his game as he gains more responsibility on the court..