BOYS BASKETBALL: Player Standouts and Strong Potentials Lead This Weeks Friends School League Notebook

By Marc Narducci

(Photos by: Lennie Malmgren, Mike Nance, Colleen Claggett, Lou Rabito , Kathy Leister & Ryan Nix)

Germantown Friends – A young team with strong potential

It’s been tough sledding in the Friends League for Germantown Friends in Friends League competition, but that could be said of many teams.

The competition in the league is simply outrageous.

The Tigers’ 11-9 overall record shows they have had success this season, and in another year, they should be even more competitive in the Friends League, where they began the week 1-5.

A reason for such optimism is that many of the key performers will return next year.

The team’s leading two players are a junior and an eighth grader.

The junior is 6-3 Muhsin Muhammad, who is averaging 22.5 points per game.

“He is one of those guys who had incredible offensive talent,” GFS coach Shawn Werdt said of Muhammad. “A big load of scoring we feel is on his shoulders.”

Muhammad can hurt teams in a variety of ways.

“He can get downhill and finish at the run and when he is making three’s, he is really hard to guard,” Werdt said.

The eighth grader, 5-11 combo guard Jordan Dill, also has been difficult to guard. He is averaging 17 points per game.

“I haven’t seen anything like it, and I don’t know if I will after this year,” Werdt said of Dill’s impressive production. “For an eighth grader to put up 17 points per game and have the confidence and moxie against grown men in the league we play is outrageous.”

The Tigers suffered a key setback when 5-11 senior Matt Johnson, who had been the top player in the program the previous three years, suffered a fractured back in late November.

Originally thought to be out for the year, Johnson has shown grit in returning and is giving the Tigers about 15 minutes a game off the bench.

“Our guys grew with his absence, but as a team we really missed him,” Werdt said.

Before the injury, Johnson was receiving Division III interest, but schools are apparently hesitant.

Friends' Central vs. Germantown Friends - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren

Friends' Central vs. Germantown Friends. (Game Highlights/Lennie Malmgren for PSD)

Werdt says he is confident that Johnson can be a quality Division III player, but schools are taking a wait-and-see attitude as he returns from the injury.

The toughness he has shown in returning, should be something that any future school would have to be impressed with.

Amir Staten, a 6-4 junior, is the Tigers’ other double-figure scorer, averaging 10 points per game.

This season, all nine teams are eligible to compete in the Friends League tournament.

The first postseason game between the 8th and 9th place teams is Feb. 9.

Werdt is hoping to stay out of the 8-9 game and finish among the top seven.

It’s a realistic goal for a young team that has shown great development and with Johnson back in the lineup, an interesting squad to watch over the next few weeks.

Westtown’s Lively a McDonald’s All-American

Westtown 7-1 senior Dereck Lively was named to play in the McDonald’s All-American game last week.

That was certainly no surprise since the Duke commit is considered among the top two high school players in the country.

He became the third Westtown player to earn this honor.

The others are in the NBA after being lottery picks – Mo Bamba of the Orlando Magic and Cam Reddish of the New York Knicks.

“It is definitely exciting and has been one of my goals and dream to be part of the McDonald’s All-American game,” Lively said in a phone interview.

(More of the conversation with Lively will be featured in next week’s Friends League notebook).

The McDonald’s All-American game will take place March 29 in Chicago.

Westtown senior Dereck Lively. (Photo/Mike Nance for PSD)

Westtown strong in non-league game

On Sunday Westtown stepped out of conference to beat the Hill School, 61-43. Quin Berger, who may have increased his stock more than any local senior, scored 21 points including 18 during the second half when Westtown made a comeback. He also had four rebounds and three assists.

Lively was a beast on the boards with 22 rebounds, along with 10 points and two assists.

Penn State commit Jameel Brown added 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Abington Friends vs. Westtown - PSD Gallery by Mike Nance

Academy of the New Church wins showdown

While Westtown has obviously established itself as the top team in the Friends League (and one of the top in the area), Academy of the New Church lost a competitive game two weeks ago to the Friends League seven-time defending champs.

So, ANC is hoping for rematch in the postseason after that 77-68 loss. ANC made a statement last week for being the top contender to Westtown with a 72-69 home win over the George School.

The game was tied entering the fourth quarter when the Lions outscored George School, 19-16.

Anthony McCall, ANC’s 6-4 senior standout, finished with 19 points, shooting 9 of 14 from the field.

Junior point guard Elmarko Jackson contributed 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, while also making 3 of 6 three-pointers. Junior guard Isaiah Milien also scored 11, hitting 3 of 5 three-pointers.

Gabe Harris, a 6-8 senior, provided 10 points and five rebounds.

ANC vs. George School - PSD Highlights by Colleen Claggett:

This is the type of balanced attack that has enabled ANC to enjoy such a successful season to date.

For George School, 6-4 sophomore Christian Bliss scored 26 points while highly recruited 6-8 junior Kachi Nzeh added 15 points.

The depth of the Friends League is demonstrated by this game, which in many leagues would have been a battle for first place.

ANC followed that win over the George School with a 95-31 win over Moorestown Friends, as McCall had 19 points. Twelve players saw action for the Lions.

Shipley showing progress

Shipley has shown progress on the defensive side in recent matchups. Last week junior combo guard Darrien Grady was the only player for Shipley in double-figures with 11 points in the Gator's 38-36 loss to Friends Select. He also contributed five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

The Gators shot 12 for 43 from the field (28 percent) and displayed some serious defense in the loss.

Even though Shipley lost to Lawrenceville, 77-64 last week, 6-8 junior Raijon DiSpensa was dominant on the boards. DiSpensa had 20 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass. He also added six assists, while scoring four points.

Graddy led the way with 23 points while 6-1 junior Imanuel Jackson totaled 10.

Three-point shooting for Shipley wasn’t at its usual rate – 8 for 24.

Shipley Junior Darrien Grady. (PSD photo by Lou Rabito)

Big week for Friends Select’s Kirkland

It was another big week for Friends Select 6-7 junior Christian Kirkland. In the aforementioned 38-36 win over Shipley, he had a double-double: 14 points and 11 rebounds. He also added two blocked shots. Isaiah Marshall, a 6-1 freshman, added nine points and five rebounds.

In their 79-46 win over New Foundation, Kirkland had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Kirkland is averaging a double-double: 16 points and 11 rebounds, in addition to one blocked shot per game in what has been a really strong junior season.

Also in the win, Marley Ewell, a 5-10 junior guard, contributed 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and four steals and showed his range by hitting two long three’s. Senior guard Quaye Agoyo, who we spotlighted last week, scored 15 points. Junior guard Temir Davis had 12 points, four assists and two steals and Marshall added 10 points and five rebounds.

Friends Select junior Christian Kirkland. (PSD photo by Ryan Nix)

Elmore strong for Moorestown Friends

Moorestown Friends got to step outside the rugged competition of the Friends League and gave up with a convincing W – a 73-27 victory over Gloucester Township Tech.

Andrew Elmore, a 6-3 forward, led the way with a double-double: 16 points and 10 rebounds, not to mention four steals.

Even though the Foxes lost the next game to Academy of the New Church, Elmore had a big game with 18 points and eight rebounds.

First Friends League win

Abington Friends defeated Germantown Friends 69-57 for the Kangaroos first Friends League victory this season.

A key was the play off the bench of 5-10 junior Angel Otero, who had 17 points, five assists and one blocked shot.

“He was a difference-maker for us,” Abington Friends coach Jon Wessel said. “That was his best game of the season.”

Abington Friends also received an efficient 15-point performance from Kaydin Ford, who shot 5 of 9 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Ife West-Ingram, an emerging 6-5 wing player, added 12 points.

Abington Friends was a team hurt by injuries earlier this season but seems to be ready to take that next step.

This is another team that could be coming on after earlier injuries and is playing its best basketball of the season.