Photos: Jack Verdeur, Ryan Nix, Zack Beavers & Lou Rabito
By: Marc Narducci
Before heading to Xavier, George School’s Kachi Nzeh has some unfinished business in the Friends League
With recruiting behind him, George School 6-9 senior Kachi Nzeh has been able to concentrate on his final high school season and what a year it has been. Next season Nzeh will be competing in the Big East for Xavier.
He made the commitment in September.
“It was a lot of pressure, coaches wanted me to make a decision, while others were still trying to recruit me,” Nzeh said. “I am grateful, but it was stressful.”
Of course, Nzeh has nobody to blame but himself for all the recruiting attention. His continued development brought lots of attention, not to mention offers.
He says he had 20 scholarship offers.
Nzeh says it came down to Xavier and St. Louis. Among the other schools recruiting him were VCU and Iowa. Yet it was Xavier that made the biggest impression.
“I felt Xavier really was after me and was trying the hardest to recruit me,” he said. “Even though they came in later in the process, they really pushed, and I appreciated that.”
He also got a good vibe when visiting the campus.
“When I visited, I was welcomed with a lot of hospitality,” he said. “The campus is beautiful and the staff, led by coach (Sean) Miller is great and it was a really good family atmosphere there.”
He is also excited about playing in the Big East.
“It’s a big level with great teams, coaches and players and they send multiple guys to the NBA,” he said. “I feel it is an honor and privilege to play in the Big East and for Xavier.”
George School senior Kachi Nzeh #15 - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur
Kachi Nzeh will play at Xavier next season - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur
Of course, he has plenty of business to take care of before looking toward his college career.
On Tuesday, George School defeated Academy of the New Church, 75-52, to move into first place in the Friends League with a 6-1 mark.
“This was a big win for us as a team,” Nzeh said. “We lost to ANC three times last year and it was something like a chip on our shoulder. Everybody for us played great.”
Luke Bevilacqua, a 6-10 sophomore, led the George School with 17 points and Nzeh added 16. Luke Melniczak, a 6-3 sophomore, came off the bench to score 12 points, hitting four, three-pointers.
“Luke really stepped up in a big way,” Nzeh said.
In addition, seniors Dante Weise and Carson Mastin each scored seven points.
“We came with the game plan that we would not be selfish, and everybody would touch the ball,” Nzeh said. “We played as a team and struck to script and played extremely hard.”
Nzeh understands that several teams have the ability to win the title in what appears to be a balanced Friends League race.
“The Friends League championship is up for grabs,” Nzeh said. “We are in first place and now there is a target on our back and when the playoffs come, it will be a big restart.”
The playoffs are coming soon.
The fourth and fifth place teams will play on Feb. 3.
The semifinals are Feb. 7 with the finals on Feb. 10.
George School vs. Academy of the New Church - PSD Gallery by Jack Verdeur
George School vs. ANC - PSD Highlights by Jack Verdeur
One more note on George School. Last week the Cougars earned 72-52 win over Shipley. Nzeh led the way with 20 points. Bevilacqua, had 19, 6-4 junior Christian Bliss added 16 and Weise scored 12.
Milestone win for Westtown coach
Westtown scored an 89-38 win on Tuesday over Abington Friends, earning coach Seth Berger his 350th career victory, all at the same school. Sophomore guard Jayden Forsythe led the way with 23 points.
The Moose, despite losing to 6-7 senior Matt Mayock with a season-ending wrist injury, remain a major contender for Friends League title, but the eight-time defending champ, won’t be the overwhelming favorite as it has been in past seasons.
“All the players are starting to step up to the challenge of our schedule without Matt Mayock,” Berger said. “Our kids are playing harder and making better decisions.”
Westtown head coach Seth Berger - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito
Another Big week for Friends Select
Friends Select had a 63-51 win over Shipley on Tuesday, improving to 4-2 in the Friends League. Christian Kirkland, the 6-7 senior, had 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Marshall added 13 points and 5-10 senior Temir Davis had 11 points and three steals.
Davis has continued to come on strong as the season has progressed.
“Temir has been playing out of his mind,” Friends Select coach Percell Coles said. “He is doing everything, scoring at a high level, creating for his teammates, playing great defense and his motor is so high. He is always communicating with the guys.”
Friends Select had a 66-41 win over Abington Friends. Davis had 19 points, Kirkland scored 12 and senior guard Che Ewell added 11.
Friends Select Basketball - PSD Gallery by Zack Beavers
ANC Update
Despite the 75-52 loss to George School, Academy of the New Church remains among several Friends League contenders, with a 5-1 league record.
In the loss on Tuesday, 6-3 senior Deywilk Tavarez scored a game-high 19 points, along with grabbing six rebounds, while fellow 6-3 senior Jarell Keel added 16 points and six rebounds.
In an earlier 77-46 non-league win over the Perkiomen School, Tavarez had 12 points nine assists, six rebounds and six steals and 6-6 junior Bahsil Laster had 16 points and five rebounds. Keel provided 14 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Tavarez continues his excellent senior season, averaging 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Laster is averaging 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, while 6-3 freshman Dior Carter averages 9.6 points and Keel is averaging 9.2 ppg.
ANC vs. George School - PSD Gallery by Jack Verdeur
Shipley Update
Shipley will be looking to rebound from a couple of Friends League losses against contenders. Last week the Gators lost 72-52 to George School in a game that was more competitive than the final score suggests. Shipley trailed by just eight points entering the fourth quarter before being outscored 24-12.
Senior guard Darrien Grady led the way with 16 points. He shot 5-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. The other double-figure scorer for Shipley was 5-10 freshman Kody Colson, who had 10 points.
One Monday, Shipley was again competitive in a 66-54 loss to Lawrenceville. The Gators trailed by just three points after three quarters before being outscored 23-14 in the fourth period. Grady led the way with 14 points and 5-10 junior William Littles added 12.
Grady was again the leading scorer in Tuesday’s 63-49 loss to Friends Select with 11 points, while Colson and 6-3 senior Justin Powell added 10 each.
Senior Night at Germantown Friends
Tuesday it was senior night at Germantown Friends, where the Tigers lost 68-44 to Friends' Central. Besides senior night, this was the return of Friends Central 6-3 junior Muhsin Muhammad.
Before this season Muhammad transferred from Germantown Friends to Friends Central.
It was a balanced attack by Friends Central that led to the win. Reid Belcher and Collin Bowman led the winners with 13 points and Muhammad added nine.
For Germantown Friends, 6-0 freshman Jordan Dill had 13 points and 6-2 junior Darius Frazier added 12.
Germantown Friends honored its two seniors, 6-4 Amir Staten and 5-10 Jaden Palmer-Waldron.
Germantown Friends vs. Friends' Central - PSD Gallery by Ryan Nix
Last week, Germantown Friends earned its first Friends League victory with a 73-46 win over Moorestown Friends. Dill had 25 points and Naz Tyler added 21 for the Tigers.
Friends League Standings (Through Tuesday Jan. 24)
George School 6-1
Academy of the New Church 5-1
Westtown 4-2
Friends Select 4-2
Friends Central 3-3
Abington Friends 2-3
Shipley 2-4
Germantown Friends 1-5
Moorestown Friends 0-6