Central League Playoffs: Sleeper Prospects to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Athletic League playoffs tip off Thursday night as Conestoga (3-seed) takes on Marple Newtown (6-seed) in one quarterfinal match-up. The winner of that game gets Lower Merion (2-seed). Meanwhile on the other side of the bracket, Penncrest (1-seed) awaits the winner of the Garnet Valley (4-seed) versus Springfield (5-seed) quarterfinal contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of <em>“sleeper”</em> prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who will have a substantial impact on the results of the Central League playoffs. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sean Benson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Penncrest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a3eb5f55b83"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In 2024-25 this quick and agile guard has been a tremendous surprise for the Penncrest faithful. Benson is averaging 12 points per night and has been a plus defender too. On offense Benson will pop threes and get to the rack on straight line drives. He can also work as a pass first primary ball handler. Benson recently posted 19 points (1 three) during Penncrest's defeat of Marple Newtown as well as 13 points (2 threes) in a win over Strath Haven. At the other end of the court, the combination of Benson's active hands and anticipation skills produces a host of steals that lead to easy buckets for Penncrest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2224494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a3ef05c5c7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hogan is a long and versatile shooting guard who stuffs the stat book for the Pioneers. For example, in January he registered a double double of 15 points and 10 rebounds against Marple Newtown. The last week he dropped 19 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in ‘Stoga's win over Haverford. Hogan (11 ppg.) is a multi-skilled prospect who is comfortable operating on the perimeter, at the high post or in the dunker spot. His jump shot is automatic at every level. Hogan's high IQ and finishing skills make him a fantastic pick-n-roll player. The trifecta of Hogan's size, physicality and tenacity enable him to turn offensive rebounds into points. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2765298,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rashyne Patterson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lower Merion ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a3ef05c5d10"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the first two months of his senior season, Patterson (11 ppg.) was having a solid campaign as a “glue guy” for the Aces. Then at the end of January, Patterson exploded for two extremely memorable performances. First, Patterson netted 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a key Central League victory over Garnet Valley. Next, Patterson registered a monster double double of 25 points (5 threes) and 10 boards as LM defeated Niagara Falls (NY). Patterson is a fast and athletic hybrid forward. He can score at every level, but his featured weapon is his watery 3-point stroke. Patterson is also an extraordinarily effective open court scorer. On defense, Patterson can guard 1 through 4 and is an underrated shot blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2762167,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mike Rush ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marple Newtown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2423459' first='PA' last='Hoops Academy'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a3ef05c5d9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rush is afreshman who has been starting since Marple's season opener. Yet somehow opponents and college coaches are still sleeping on this talented prospect. This 2028 boasts a ridiculously accurate 3-point shot with a quick release and unlimited range. He is comfortable shooting spot up triples and threes in transition as well as threes coming off baseline screens. Rush will also use a zipper cut to pop threes from the top of the arc and can knock down shots out of DHO action. In 2024-25 Rush is averaging 11 points per night. He posted a season high 23 points against Episcopal Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->