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BOYS' BASKETBALL: 2020 Visions Set on Achieving League and State Titles for All Philadelphia Catholic League Teams (Part 1)

By Rich Flanagan - Photos/Videos PSD Staff, 12/03/19, 10:15AM EST

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By: Rich Flanagan

Photos/Videos: Rich Flanagan, John Knebels, Angelise Stuhl, Kathy Leister, Mike Nance & Zamani Feelings

 

PHILADELPHIA –Before a 2017 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A Tournament second round matchup, Francis Bowe had the opportunity to take in an earlier game at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA before getting his team ready to play the nightcap. Bowe, then the head coach at Valley Forge Military Academy, watched Quade Green (Washington), Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Villanova) and defending champion Neumann-Goretti take on Holy Redeemer. He only needed to watch for a few minutes before realizing what his team would be against in the semifinals should the two programs meet.

He knew about the Philadelphia Catholic League from having been in and around basketball in the Delaware Valley for years. After witnessing portions of what would finally end in a 45-point drubbing by the Saints, Bowe knew what kind of talent the Saints had and also the league as a whole.

 Fast forward to the 2018-19 season and the young coach is standing across from heralded Neumann-Goretti head coach Carl Arrigale, with 10 PCL titles to his name, overseeing the Archbishop Carroll program vacated by Paul Romanczuk, who led the Patriots to the PIAA 3A title in 2009.

 On that January 13 evening, Bowe was leading his team in a league that had produced at least one state title winner every year since 2013. With a year of experience under his belt (and his own success to show for it), he now knows what it takes to compete on a nightly basis in the historic league.


Head coach Francis Bowe enters his second season at the helm of the Archbishop Carroll Patriots - PSD Photo by Mike Nance for PSD

 “You really do get in awe of the talent that’s on that floor,” Bowe said. “It’s coaching college basketball, basically. I really enjoyed it but boy do you get stressed out prepping for games.”

 While the league did not have a state title winner for the first time in six years, Bowe was part of a new influx of impressive young coaches who began putting their stamp of their respective programs. He was one of six new head coaches in the PCL last season and he kept the tradition of success that Romanczuk had established for over a decade. The Patriots (17-11, 9-5 PCL) advanced to the playoffs and nearly took down La Salle in the quarterfinals. They held a 17-point lead at one point but lost the game with six seconds to play. Archbishop Carroll had defeated the Explorers in the regular season on a buzzer beater by Second Team All-Catholic Luke House, now at California University of Pennsylvania. House is one of a few members of the Patriots program who moved on joining Kiyl Mack (Northern Vermont University – Johnson) and Third Team All-Catholic Ny’Mire Little, who transferred to Westtown.

Archbishop Carroll

The Patriots also advanced to the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals where they lost to league rival Bonner-Prendergast. It marked the third straight year they had advanced to the state quarterfinals and several members of Bowe’s inaugural season in the league will return. 6-7 senior forward Tairi Ketner, a Bryant commit who averaged 11.1 points per game, and 6-8 junior center Anquan Hill, who had 12 points against Roman Catholic and also has an offer from Bryant, will man the frontcourt. 6-2 senior Amiri Stewart, whose father, Terrence is the head coach at Georgian Court, who had 16 points vs. the Saints a year ago, will take Mack’s spot.


Archbishop Carroll Patriots finished with a 9-5 PCL record in 2019 and made it to the PIAA 4A quarterfinals - PSD Photo by Mike Nance for PSD

The biggest addition to the Patriots starting lineup will be 6-7 junior forward John Camden, who transferred in from Westtown just before the season. He had 18 points in a game against Boys’ Latin, but injuries derailed in his season under Bowe. Despite the injuries, the athletic forward, who already has offers from Florida, Syracuse, Xavier, Virginia Tech and Miami (Fl.), to name a few, has come back strong and Bowe believes “he’s getting better because of the injury. It’s making him work harder.”

Bonner-Prendergast

The Friars (22-6, 11-3) completed their most accomplished two-year run in school history last season. Under first-year head coach Kevin Funston, who took over for Jack Concannon, Bonner-Prendergast advanced to the league quarterfinals, where they fell to the Saints. Behind Isaiah Wong, the Miami (Fl.) freshman who won back-to-back PCL MVPs and became the first successive winner since St. Joe’s Prep’s Steve Vasturia in 2012 and 2013, and 6-9 forward Tariq Ingraham (Wake Forest), the Friars rolled to the PIAA 4A championship game before falling to Imhotep Charter, who claimed its third consecutive state crowns.

Bonner-Prendergast vs. Carroll PIAA 4A 2019 Highlights by John Knebels/PSD:

Wong was a prolific scorer, racking up 1,281 in two seasons with Bonner-Prendergast after transferring from Notre Dame (N.J.). Along with Ingraham (11.0 ppg), Ajiri Johnson, now a sophomore at Rider, and Mike Perretta, who hit a PCL-record 10 three-pointers against the Hawks, the Friars advanced to the league title game once, the state semifinals twice and the state title game last March. 

Despite all the talent that has moved on, Funston believes the Bonner-Prendergast program is beginning to develop into one that will be a consistent contender for years to come.

“I think this is going to be a statement year for the Bonner-Prendie program,” Funston said. “I’m excited for this year because this one of the more balanced teams that we’ve had. It’s kind of incredible to say considering the talent that we’ve had. Our senior class has been really strong.”

Two starters in the backcourt return in 6-3 senior Tyreese Watson and 6-1 senior Donovan Rodriguez. Watson scored 11 points in two state playoff games including the quarterfinal matchup with the Patriots. Rodriguez is a third-year starter who began as a defensive stalwart, guarding the best team’s player every night, and has developed into more confident scorer, as evidenced by his 19-point outing against the Saints in the league playoffs. 

MBAP 2019 PIAA 4A Championship Highlights by Angelise Stuhl/PSD:

Also being added into the mix is 6-1 junior guard Malik Edwards, who had 15 points in the state semifinals against Lower Moreland. Taking the main frontcourt spot previously filled by Ingraham is 6-5 senior forward and Georgian Court commit Christion Johnson. Camryn Stewart, a 6-8 sophomore forward who transferred from Conwell-Egan and had a 15-point game vs. Archbishop Wood last season, and 6-8 junior forward Gestin Liberis, who played junior varsity last year, should also be in the rotation.

Neumann-Goretti

While they defeated the Friars and advanced to the PCL semifinals after a one-year absence, it was a down year for Arrigale and Neumann-Goretti (21-8, 11-3). Led by Chris Ings, who finished with 1,157 career points and now plays at Rider, and forward Ja’Cor Smith, the Saints fell to eventual champion, Roman Catholic at the Palestra.  As has become a staple of their season under Arrigale, they prepared for the state tournament and advanced to the PIAA 3A quarterfinals where they were upended by upstart league rival Bishop McDevitt, 60-57. 

The loss marked the first time the Saints would not end their season with state title since 2013.

For Arrigale, it was a team that had its moments but never truly found itself along the way.

 “We just really never got where we needed to be,” Arrigale said. “We had moments with our consistency but we never got to the Neumann-Goretti type of basketball. Maybe that’s who we were. We were good enough to beat anybody but also could’ve been beaten by anybody.”

As he has time and again at the school in South Philadelphia, Arrigale has players who have learned from defeat and are primed to become part of a PCL and/or state title team. 

2019 Highlights of Neumann-Goretti's 73-62 victory vs. Bonner-Prendergast in the PCL Quarterfinals by Rich Flanagan/PSD:

St. Joe’s University commit Jordan Hall, a 6-7 wing who began his career at Cardinal O’Hara and avg. 9.7 ppg last season which included a 21-point game against Archbishop Carroll, is one of three Division 1 recruits in the Saints starting lineup. He joins 6-6 senior forward Cameron Young (Bowling Green), who scored in double figures in 13 games a year ago, and 6-6 senior forward Che Evans, a transfer from Dulaney (Md.) who avg. 20.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg. Those three give Arrigale a lot of versatility and athleticism on the wings.

Ings’ backcourt mate, 5-9 senior guard Hakim Byrd, was a Second Team All-Catholic selection who was second on the team with 12.4 ppg and erupted for 27 points against the Cahillites in the regular season. 6-5 junior forward Blaise Vespe, who transferred from St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) after his freshman year should also be in the mix and 5-9 sophomore Masud Stewart is “right on the fringe of playing a lot for us,” according to Arrigale. Another player to watch is 6-6 junior forward Eric Gentry, a defensive lineman from the Saints football team who has offers from Temple, Oregon and Tennessee, among others.

Roman Catholic

Roman Catholic (24-5, 13-1) not only beat the Saints but they trounced La Salle in the title game to win their second straight PCL crown and fourth in five years. To add to already remarkable season, the 2018-19 Cahillites became the first team in PCL history to have four players named First Team All-Catholic: Hakim Hart (University of Maryland), Seth Lundy (Penn State), Lynn Greer III and Jalen Duren. Hart scored 1,035 points in two seasons after transferring in from Kingsway (N.J.) after his sophomore year and Lundy, who was a part of three PCL title teams, capped his career with 1,150 career points.

Without Hart, Lundy, Gabe Perez (Chestnut Hill College) and Louie Wild, fourth-year head coach Matt Griffin, who also has a PIAA Class 6A title from 2018 to his name, will have a younger roster than he’s used to, similar to the one he had in his first season at the helm. Looking back on what those two players put together, he knows there’s more for the remaining group to build on and learn from.

 “They demonstrated a will to win that will hopefully resonate with our players and understanding what it takes to win,” Griffin said. “Those guys left a legacy behind that will forever impact Roman Catholic’s basketball program. Those are big shoes to fill but that’s part of running a program that you don’t have guys forever.”

Greer, the 6-3 floor general who has been named to an All-Catholic team in each of his three years at Roman Catholic, has had an interesting road to his senior season. He received an offer from Penn State before even playing a game for the Cahillites. As a sophomore he won a PCL and state title. Following the year, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy (Va.) but returned to the corner of Broad & Vine prior to the start of the season. While he was an integral part of the Cahillites run to second straight league title, he was ruled ineligible for the state tournament due to violating the PIAA’s new rules on transfers. The team suffered as a result and the season ended against the Explorers in the PIAA 6A quarterfinals.

2019 PCL Championship Roman vs. La Salle, First Half Highlight Video by Angelise Stuhl/PSD:

2019 PCL Second Half Highlights Roman vs. La Salle by Angelise Stuhl/PSD:

He avg. 14.2 ppg in 21 games last season and comes into his senior year with offers from Florida, Villanova, Wake Forest, Indiana and Miami (Fl.), among others. Griffin thinks his start point guard will put the finishing touches on a tremendous career.

“His mindset is that he wants to leave a legacy,” Griffin said. “I think that obviously he’s had a tremendous amount of success, especially being a guy that has been with me these last three years. He wants to finish off the year on a strong note. It’s interesting that his role has progressively gotten more difficult as the years have gone on. It will be his hardest year without having guys like Seth or Hakim.”

The 6-10 Duren fit the billing of a true big man from the outset, avg. 13.3 ppg in his freshman season. He showcased a variety of post moves on the offensive end, many of which ended in rim rattling dunks, while blocking and altering shots on the defensive end. He turned an outstanding first season of high school basketball into success with USA Basketball. He was the starting center on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship (avg. 10.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in six games). The other sophomore who should make big strides is 6-3 guard Justice Williams, who will move to the starting lineup after seeing time as a reserve last year. He had 15 points against Boys’ Latin in the District 12 6A title game.

Another guard who should see time is 6-0 freshman Xzayvier Brown. The young slasher from Philly is a name to watch in his first season. The Cahillites also received a boost from two transfers in 6-7 sophomore forward Christian Kirkland (Friends Select School), a skilled lefty, and 5-10 senior guard Nasir Lett, who began his career with Roman Catholic but transferred to Camden (N.J.) where he avg. 5.0 ppg including a few double-digit point performances.


Roman Catholic sophomore Jalen Duren averaged 13.3 ppg as a freshman - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings

La Salle 

Mike McKee won a PCL title with Roman Catholic in 1990 and he nearly led La Salle(26-4, 12-2) to its first one since 1991 in his inaugural year as head coach. With a wealth of experience at three different levels including several Division 1 assistant coaching gigs and an advance scout for several NBA teams including the Golden State Warriors, McKee led the Explorers to a 17-0 start to the year. After losing on House’s buzzer-beating jumper, La Salle lost to the Cahillites but they made a run to the title game, where they fell at the hands of McKee’s alma mater again.

Led by four players who went on to play collegiately, La Salle rebounded to advance to the PIAA 6A Tournament where they won three games including an infamous, third showdown with the Cahillites that they won, 55-47. The Explorers advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2014 but their run ended at the hands of Pennridge. The quartet of First Team All-Catholic selections Allen Powell (Rider), who led the team with15.3 ppg, and 6-7 forward Konrad Kiszka (Princeton), who avg. 12.5 ppg, along with 6-9 Second Team All-Catholic Zach Crisler (Rice) and Third Team pick Titus Beard (Georgian Court) put La Salle back in contention for the league and state title. Forward Kahlil Diarrah, a key bench forward behind Kiszka and Crisler, is playing football at Morgan State.

While it took some time to get acclimated with the new group after taking over for Joe Dempsey, who departed after 14 seasons, McKee saw a team ready to learn and he also learned a lot from them.

“We didn’t really know each other and that takes time,” McKee said. “I think from my standpoint, those guys were open to teaching and that’s why we had success. There was a mutual trust that was built throughout that year. The guys this year have a better understanding of what we’re trying to do. We know what we’re up against and we have to do as well as we can.”

The lone returning starter is 5-11 senior guard Jake Timby. The lefty sharpshooter scored 15 points against the Cahillites in the PCL title game. He has been utilized primarily as a shooter for two seasons but his role should change significantly in his final year.

“He’s a very efficient player but he needs to let the game come to him. He needs his teammates to help him get good shots,” according to McKee.

Another player who should fill Beard’s role is 6-2 sophomore guard Sam Brown, the Explorers standout running back who rushed for over 600 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He showed flashes last season, most notably an 11-point game against Executive Education Charter. 5-11 senior combo guard Shane Holland will move into the starting lineup as will 6-5 senior forward Mike DiPietro.

La Salle defeats PCL foe Roman Catholic in the 2019 PIAA 6A Quarterfinals, Highlights by Kathy Leister/PSD:


No. 11 Jake Timby returns as La Salle's only starter from the 2019 season - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

Bishop McDevitt

While the Explorers enjoyed a resurgence, Bishop McDevitt (21-8, 11-3) put together one of the greatest seasons in school history. Third-year head coach Will Chavis deserves a lot of credit for what he has been able to do with the Lancers and the 2020 class has been essential to that. In Chavis’ first season, Bishop McDevitt went to the PCL playoffs for the first time since 2014. Last season, they built on that by making their first trip to the Palestra since 1989. From there, the core group of Jamil ManigoRobert SmithAhmir HarrisShamir Mosley and Kevin Young carried the Lancers to the PIAA 3A semifinals. They had to go through Arrigale and Saints and the Lancers rose to the occasion.

Bishop McDevitt’s historic run ended with a loss to Trinity but Chavis recalls how the expectations have shifted his he first came in and started working with this group of seniors.

“It’s been special for me to see them grow up,” Chavis said. “When I first came to McDevitt, they were small, little guys but now they’re growing up into young men that their parents can be proud of and that we can be proud of. They’re maturing a lot. It’s a different feel from them over the last couple years. You’re seeing their personalities start to come out.”

2019 PIAA 3A Semifinal Highlights, Bishop McDevitt vs. Neumann-Goretti by John Knebels/PSD:

Manigo avg. 15.0 ppg on his way to being named First Team All-Catholic and Smith followed up a Third Team selection with a Second Team choice after avg. 14.2 ppg which included a 35-point performance vs. Fairmount Heights (Md.). Harris came over to the Lancers with Smith as sophomores from Roman Catholic, where Harris was a member of the JV team and Smith the freshmen team. Mosley, one of the best sixth men in the PCL, had 16 points in the state semifinals and could move into the starting lineup.  The Lancers will be without two starters who graduated in Cameron Gardner (Community College of Philadelphia) and Seneca Willoughby (Rocktop Academy).

Smith notes that, despite the recent success, the losses are fueling his teammates the most.

“They made us grow because we know what we have to overcome and what we lost,” Smith said. “We always keep that in the back of our heads and the mistakes that we made.”

There will be even more depth for Bishop McDevitt this season. 6-8 sophomore guard/forward Alassane Amadou, a transfer from Quakertown, is a versatile player who can play a variety of positions. Look for 6-4 junior guard Quin Gilyard, 6-0 sophomore Trent Middleton and 6-4 freshman Terrell Pitts to be key contributors this season.


Bishop McDevitt senior Robert Smith averaged 14.2 ppg for the Lancers last season - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings

Archbishop Wood 

Since John Mosco took over in 2014, Archbishop Wood (20-9, 9-5) has continued to climb the ranks of not only being one of the premiere teams in the PCL but in all of PA. Led by a group of talented sophomores, the Vikings reached the league playoffs but fell to Bishop McDevitt. They didn’t stop there as they made a deep run in the PIAA Class 5A Tournament to the title game before being upended by Moon. The only senior, Julius Phillips (Chestnut Hill College), who was also a member of Mosco’s only state title team in 2017 alongside Collin Gillespie (Villanova), Matt Cerruti (Lock Haven), Tyree Pickron and Seth Pinkney (both at Quinnipiac), has moved on but the core remains intact for another run.

 Compared to Gillespie’s team of 2017, Mosco knew the expectations for this group of sophomores were not as high but their performance has now raised the bar.


First Team All-Catholic junior guard Rahsool Diggins averaged 17.6 ppg for Wood last season - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

“Last year was fun seeing them grow up in front of your eyes and only seeing one senior leave while taking them to the state final,” Mosco said. “We had more expectations, of course, with Collin, Matt and that group being seniors. We lost a lot of close games before we got to the state playoffs.”

Start with First Team All-Catholic Rahsool Diggins. The 6-1 junior point guard is a third-year starter and is coming off a season in which he avg.17.6 ppg. He’s one of the most electrifying guards in the league and can fill it up at times like he did scoring 32 points vs. O’Hara then 35 against PIAA Class A champion, Sankofa Freedom in back-to-back nights. He holds offers from Florida, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Xavier and DePaul, among others, and should add to that with another strong year.

The other two juniors joining him in the starting lineup are 6-5 combo wing Daeshon Shepherd (14.7 ppg), a Second Team All-Catholic, and 5-11 guard Jaylen Stinson (14.1), a Third Team All-Catholic. Shepherd, who holds offers from Temple, Richmond, George Washington, La Salle and St. Bonaventure, had 22 points in the PIAA 5A title game and has been in the rotation since his freshman year. Stinson, with offers from Rider, Hofstra, Robert Morris, Iona, Siena, to name a few, had 17 points against defending champion Abington Heights in the state semifinals. He began his career at the Haverford School.

The biggest addition to the Vikings rotation will be 6-5 junior wing Marcus Randolph. The transfer from Willingboro (N.J.) avg. 20.2 ppg last season and possesses a lethal jumper from deep. The lefty holds offers from Richmond, La Salle, Hofstra, Temple, Bryant, among others. Other players who should help in the rotation are 6-6, 250-pound junior center Robert Jackson, a defensive lineman for the football team, and 6-5 junior forward Muneer Newton.