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BOYS BASKETBALL: Strong Play Continues as Standout Players Rise to the Occasion in This Week's Friends School Round-Up (1/18)

By Marc Narducci Photos by: Kathy Leister, Ryan Nix, Lou Rabito, & Lenny Malmgren, 01/21/22, 1:00AM EST

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Photos/Videos: Ryan Nix, Tommy Muir, Lou Rabito, Kathy Leister & Lennie Malmgren

By: Marc Narducci

 

FRIENDS SCHOOL -

George School’s Kachi Nzeh on track for basketball success:

Kachi Nzeh of the George School is making up for lost time. A 6-8 junior, Nzeh didn’t begin playing organized basketball until the eighth grade.

Before that, he concentrated on track and for good reason. Nzeh was an outstanding performer in the 400 meters, winning a Junior Olympic championship in Iowa as an eighth grader.

Yet as he continued to grow, running track became harder and injuries took their toll.

So, with some good advice, he decided to pursue basketball.

“I was getting in a rut with track and my mom suggested playing basketball,” Nzeh said.

Good choice.

This season he is averaging 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots,1.4 steals and 1.0 assists. He is shooting 62.7 percent from the field and 72.7 percent from the foul line. His per-game plus-minus is +16.4.

He began playing at Upper Darby, but after 10th grade transferred last year to George School and reclassified as a sophomore.

Now he has continued his growth and the big names are noticing. He currently has 18 power five offers and the list is expected to keep growing.

“I think he is somebody who a lot of people are still getting to know since he hasn’t played organized basketball that long and he will continue to improve,” said George School coach Ben Luber. “He is such a hard worker and determined to keep improving.”


George School junior standout Kachi Nzeh (PSD photo by Kathy Leister)

Nzeh’s track background has certainly helped in hoops. After all, before entering high school he ran 49,81 in the 400 meters.

“I feel running up and down the court, I am one of the fastest big men,” he said.

That results in several transition opportunities.

Almost as fast, has been the recruiting process.

Nzeh says recruiting has been an interesting experience. Originally, he wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of attention.

“It was a bit overwhelming at first but as I have gotten to know more coaches and people, it has become more fun,” he said.

He said he would like to make his college decision after playing AAU basketball this summer for the New York Renaissance.

Nzeh admits that at times he got caught up in seeing how he was ranked among his peers but realized that wasn’t helping his game.

“Before I was too caught up in rankings and things of that nature,” he said. “At some point people will see you play, and I have to focus on myself and just being the best I can be.”

Currently the George School is 7-1, 2-0 and may be the biggest challenger to favored Westtown in the Friends League.

“I think we’re one of the teams that can give teams a run for their money,” Nzeh said. “There are several great teams in our league, and I think we will be fine if we stick to the script.”

For Nzeh, the immediate goal individually, is to continue to improve his perimeter skills and his handle. He said that Luber and the coaching staff have been working with him tirelessly on his shooting and feels it has paid off.

“Two things I am working on is my footwork and my mid-range game,” he said. “Also working on my handle as well.”

As those skills develop, he will become even more dangerous. As it is now, few opponents are able to handle him down low and good luck in keeping up with Nzeh in the transition game.

The other thing that is developing his his leadership, something that has taken a major step up this season.

“I was new last year, and it was rough and I was getting used to what was going on,” he said. “Now I am kind of like a voice of the team.”

He is also the heartbeat, somebody who plays as fast as one would expect from an ex-track standout.

 

Westtown at the Hoophall Classic:

Last week’s 83-67 Friends League win over Germantown Friends for Westtown could be a potential playoff preview. Center Dereck Lively had 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. Lively, a 7-foot Duke commit is ranked as the No. 2 player in the senior class. Guard Quin Berger added 16 points and five rebounds and 6-6 junior sharpshooter Matt Mayock had 11 points.

Westtown then went 0-2 in the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts. This brought together some of the top teams in the country. Both losses were close to top teams so, this should help the Moose in the future.

 In a 67-65 loss to Vertical Academy of North Carolina, Lively had a monster effort – 22 points and 20 rebounds, while shooting 10-for-14 from the field, including one three-pointer. Lively also blocked six shots. Penn State commit Jameel Brown had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists and three steals while senior guard Berger added 14 points.

Westtown trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter before earning a 17-9 advantage over the last eight minutes in a comeback that just feel short.

In its next game, Westtown suffered a 60-50 loss to one of New Jersey’s top teams, Gil St. Bernard.

Berger exploded for 26 points in 24 minutes. He shot 10 for 20 from the field. The rest of the team was just 12 for 35.

The difference was three-point shooting. Westtown was 10 for 27, while Gil St. Bernard was 13 for 26.

How talented was the field at the Hoophall Classic?

Camden entered No. 1 in the country according to MaxPreps.com, and ended up going 1-2. This is one of the best showcases in the country. So, despite the L’s, the experience should pay off for Westtown.

“We definitely played better in Game 2, took much better care of the basketball, and executed in half court,” coach Seth Berger said. “Sometimes the other team just makes shots, but I thought our effort and focus was excellent in Game 2 after being sloppy in Game 1.”

Accountability was the big word for Westtown.

“We talked about the 3 levels of accountability, 1) avoid accountability, 2) accept responsibility and 3) take ownership,” Berger said. “Our kids and staff never avoid accountability.”

And that is exactly what happened.

“Accepting responsibility happens after the event, taking ownership is before the event. I think we have been doing 2) and not 3),” Berger said. “That’s the next step for our team. Hopefully, we all got better up there, including the coaches.”

 

Back-to-back wins by Friends Select

Friends Select earned an impressive 53-44 win over Germantown Friends. Quaye Agoyo, a 6-3 senior and team leader, had 15 points and 6-7 junior Christian Kirkland provided 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. For Germantown Friends Jordan Dill, a 5-11 eighth grader, had 17 points and Muhsin Muhammad scored 13.

Friends Select followed that with a 59-47 nonleague win over Cresto Ray as Kirkland had 23 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots.

ANC’s Jackson, McCall continues strong play

On Tuesday Academy of the New Church stopped the Friends Select’s momentum with a 77-53 win. Elmarko Jackson, a 6-3 junior, who is among the top point guards in the area, scored 28 points. Jackson shot 11 for 19, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also had eight assists, seven rebounds and get this, seven steals.

This was just a continuation of an excellent junior season. Through 13 games, Jackson is averaging 17.7 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

Anthony McCall, a 6-4 senior, continued his fine play with 17 points (7 of 11 from the field), five rebounds and three assists.

McCall is averaging 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds.

ANC vs. Friends Select - PSD Game Highlights by Tommy Muir:

ANC head coach Kevin Givens Says defense led to team win. (video/Tommy Muir)

ANC forward Anthony McCall talks about 2nd half shift. (Video/Tommy Muir)

FSS head coach Percell Coles talks about take-aways from the game. (video/Tommy Muir)

Freshman comes up big for George School

George School had its own way in a 66-29 win over Moorestown Friends and a key to the win was a career-high 15 points from 6-0 freshman Luke Melniczak.

Key wins for Shipley:

The Shipley School, won two consecutive league games, beating Abington Friends, 55-53 and Friends Central 63-51.

In the win over Abington Friends, junior point guard Darrien Grady was unstoppable. He shot 7 for 10, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Imanuel Jackson, a 6-1 junior, scored 16 points (hitting 8 of 9 free throws) and 6-8 Junior Raijon DiSpensa had seven points and 10 rebounds.


Shipley junior point guard Darrien Grady in game vs Germantown Friends.(photo by Lou Rabito for PSD)

Standings through Tuesday, Jan. 18

Westtown 4-0, 13-6

ANC 2-0, 8-4

George School 2-0, 7-1

Shipley 3-2, 5-6

Moorestown Friends 1-1, 1-3

Friends Select 1-1, 7-2

Friends Central 0-2, 3-8

Abington Friends 0-3, 8-5

Germantown Friends 0-3, 9-7