Under Chavis, Smith helped engineer a resurgence at Bishop McDevitt alongside Jamil Manigo. Both Smith and Manigo were named Pa. All-State Class 3A First Team selections. Smith avg. 16.2 points which included five 20-point performances and he never finished with less than 10 points in any game this season. The 6-foot-1 lefty began his career in the Roman Catholic program but transferred to Royal Avenue prior to his sophomore year and was a starter from the moment he arrived. He finished with 1,203 career points, second-most in school history, and will play a Division 1 program next year (undecided).

Chavis did not know the true potential Smith, a third team choice last season, had but the intensity he showed during that tryout was enough to convince him this young guard had what it took to help change a program.

While he had been in the Lancers program since his freshman year, Manigo had a lot of work to do in order to eventually become an all-state selection, but with the help of Chavis and teammates like Smith he eventually evolved into that type of player.

“Jamil was a work in progress when I got there,” Chavis said. “We saw potential in him and we tried to push him to the point where he could be the best version of himself. At the beginning, he fought against it but toward the end, especially last year when he started having success individually, he started to buy in more. It was more of a war for him to believe in his teammates and coaches while continuing to work hard.”

Before Smith and Manigo were named to last year's team, the last Lancers player to be named to the Pa. All-State Team was Tyrell Long in 2014. 

This group appeared to be on its way to winning the program’s ninth state title but the PIAA basketball tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, the Saints (24-4) put together a strong season hitting 292 three-pointers in 28 games (10.4 per game). Some of their strong three-point shooting performances were against Bonner-Prendergast (14-for-20) and Skyridge High School (Utah) in the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas (19-for-30).

All of those open jumpers and fluid offense began with Hall at point forward. The 6-8 St. Joseph’s commit, who began his career at Cardinal O’Hara, avg. 10.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists this season. He also hit 42 three-pointers and shot 40 percent from beyond the arc. 

“You always get a different view of Jordan from a lot of different people,” Arrigale said. “I think most of the time it comes on the short end because people look at his points per game and they say, ‘How is that kid going to St. Joe’s?’ They don’t realize he’s our leading rebound and assist guy. He pays big guys and wing guys. His versatility was crucial to our success.”

Byrd, a Marist commit and a member of the last Neumann-Goretti team to win a state title (2018), avg. 14.7 points and 2.0 steals while draining 43 three-pointers and shooting 41 percent from deep.

The 5-10 guard had 23 points vs. Archbishop Carroll in the regular season and was an electrifying player in the Philadelphia Catholic League over the last three seasons.

Young’s maturation from a player who Ariggale thought might never be a part of the rotation as a sophomore to one who led the way at the Palestra was astounding.

“Cam might be one of the most improved guys in the area and in the program,” Arrigale said. “When he was a sophomore, I wasn’t sure he’d ever play for us because he wasn’t getting it. He came back after that summer and you saw the light go on. He’s a good leader and the night he had in the Catholic League final is something he’ll have forever.”

Miller transferred in from Martin Luther King before the season and immediately gelled with Hall, Byrd and Young by avg. 14.1 points and 2.8 steals. The 6-1 guard figures to be the focal point of the Saints offense next year and he had his share of standout contests including a 24-point performance against Archbishop Wood and a 17-point game against Roman Catholic in the league title game.

Smith and Manigo culminated their careers by making the Pa. All-State Team, but according to Chavis, they would not have had this type of individual success without their supporting cast of fellow seniors who were integral to Bishop McDevitt’s success.

“I think without their teammates they wouldn’t have been able to have their own success individually,” Chavis said. “Their teammates get a lot of credit for that. I know people don’t talk a lot about their accomplishments but if not for Glenn Smith, Shamir Mosley or Kevin Young guarding or pushing them in practice, it wouldn’t have been possible. I think they feel the same way as well. They pay respect to the players who sacrificed for success.”

For this group of Saints, Arrigale stressed how winning the Philadelphia Catholic League title reestablished the program was one of the best in the state and hopefully set them on a path to once again add to the program’s total.