BOYS BASKETBALL: 2023 Philadelphia Catholic League Boys Basketball Quarterfinal Preview & All-Catholic Selections

Photos/Videos: Mike Nance, Zack Beavers, Jeremy Park, Lennie Malmgren, Krystal Williams, Colleen Claggett

By: Rich Flanagan

PHILADELPHIA – In what could be one of the most exciting postseasons in recent memory, the Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals officially tip off on Friday and the league has a wealth of parity that should make this bracket all the more intriguing.

Reigning champion Neumann-Goretti earned the top seed after defeating No. 2 seed Roman Catholic by two on Feb. 3 while No. 3 Archbishop Ryan and No. 4 Archbishop Wood will also host quarterfinal matchups. The Saints are looking to become the first repeat champion since the Cahillites won in 2018-19 and to no one’s surprise, those two programs have captured a combined 19 titles since 1999.

Here’s a breakdown of all four quarterfinal games as the Philadelphia Catholic League’s best vie for a spot to play at the Cathedral of College Basketball:

No. 8 Archbishop Carroll vs. No. 1 Neumann-Goretti

Last time they met: Neumann-Goretti won, 72-61

Last time they met in the playoffs: Neumann-Goretti won, 73-55 in the 2017 Philadelphia Catholic League Quarterfinals

Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree had a monster game with 22 points and 21 rebounds while Quade Green added 14 points in the Saints win six years ago. Justin Anderson (NJIT) led the Patriots with 14 points and Khari Williams – who played at Millersville – also had 14. Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard was limited to five points on that night. Back in 2014, they played in the semifinals as Ja’Quan Newton scored 15 points and Lamarr “Fresh” Kimble added 17 points and the Saints won 67-62 against Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. (11 points), former Temple big man Ernest Aflakpui (14) and the Patriots.

Neumann-Goretti vs. Archbishop Carroll - PSD Gallery by Mike Nance

These two teams have had their fair share of postseason matchups, including the 2015 PIAA Class 3A Championship Game, and this one has the potential to be very close. Robert Wright III, the 6-foot junior and Baylor commit, did not play in the first matchup against the Patriots but he’s healthy and ready to take the Saints on another deep postseason run. He’s averaging 21.2 ppg on the season and, despite missing two games due to illness during the league season, he expects to be in postseason form much like he was in leading Neumann-Goretti to the title as a sophomore. He avg. 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.0 steals and made 25 three-pointers in league play. The two-time First Team All-Catholic selection has 11 games where he surpassed the 20-point mark and is approaching 1,000 career points.

Backcourt mate Khaafiq Myers was named Second Team All-Catholic and may have been at his best when Wright was out. He had 14 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in the regular-season game against Archbishop Carroll then followed that up with 16 points, nine boards, nine assists and three steals in the win over Roman Catholic. He avg. 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals during league play. Sultan Adewale, the 6-8 senior forward, could play the part of Cosby-Roundtree in this one as the biggest player on the court but also one of the most versatile. He’s avg. 14.4 ppg this season and tallied 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks against the Patriots. Amir Williams, the 6-6 junior forward and Saints best corner threat, made 24 three-pointers in league play and had 16 points versus Archbishop Carroll. The Saints won double-digit league games for the 18th time in the last 19 seasons under Co-Coach of the Year Carl Arrigale, who is looking to extend his all-time record of Philadelphia Catholic League titles (12).

Neumann-Goretti junior Robert Wright III, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Jeremy Park

Archbishop Carroll is in the Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals for the first time since 2020 when it dropped a heartbreaker to Archbishop Wood in overtime. Francis Bowe’s squad got 26 points from Tairi Ketner (Albany), 14 from John Camden (Virginia Tech) and 13 from Amiri Stewart (Wilmington University), and his current team has the versatility and shooting prowess to match that group. Everything begins and ends with Dean Coleman-Newsome, the 6-4 senior guard and Second Team All-Catholic pick who avg. 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists with 21 three-pointers in league play. Coleman-Newsome was one of five Patriots who made at least 16 three-pointers during the league season: Jake West (30), Nasir Ralls (21), Blake Deegan (20) and Ian Williams (16). This motion offense posted performances like 19 treys against La Salle, 14 vs. Conwell-Egan and 11 in a win over Bonner-Prendergast.

Bowe’s offense relies on a pass to the wing with double down screens on the opposite side that can free up multiple, open shooters and present driving lanes for Coleman-Newsome and West, the 6-2 sophomore guard and Third Team All-Catholic selection who is avg. 13.8 ppg this season. When this offense is orchestrated to perfection, it has yielded terrific results and put the Patriots on the cusp of returning to the Palestra for the first time since 2018. West shot 8-for-15 from the floor with four three-pointers and finished with 21 points, five rebounds and three assists while Ralls, a 6-2 freshman, hit four treys of his own and had 20 points in the loss to the Saints. The Patriots are coming off a 66-61 win over Father Judge in the opening round as Coleman-Newsome poured in 17 points and seven rebounds and Williams, the 5-10 freshman point guard, had 14 points including three three-pointers, four assists and three steals. Susquehanna University commit Seamus Rogers sank a pair of treys and West dished out seven assists to go along with six points.

Archbishop Carroll senior Dean Coleman-Newsome, Second Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

Expect a lot of points in this one and a final possession in the closing seconds to seal the victory isn’t out of the question.

No. 7 Cardinal O’Hara vs. No. 2 Roman Catholic

Last time they met: Roman Catholic won, 59-41

Last time they met in the playoffs: Roman Catholic won, 82-55 in the 2022 Philadelphia Catholic League Quarterfinals

Daniel Skillings Jr. was the best player on the floor in this postseason matchup last season with 31 points and 11 rebounds and he performed like the MVP he was in that game. Don’t be surprised if Skillings’ former teammate, Xzayvier Brown does something similar in this one. The 6-1 St. Joe’s signee and two-time First Team All-Catholic pick avg. 17.4 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals and shot 21-for-41 from behind the arc while hitting 51.6 percent of his shot attempts from the field in league play. The four-year starter has had his moments in big games but after winning a state title as a junior, the last remaining obstacle is the coveted Philadelphia Catholic League plaque.

Brown had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the regular-season win over the Lions and was one of five players in double figures along with fellow St. Joe’s signee Anthony Finkley (12 points), Shareef Jackson (12), Jermai Stewart-Herring (11) and Erik Oliver-Bush (10). Jackson, the 6-7 sophomore forward who was selected Third Team All-Catholic, also had 11 rebounds and five blocks in that game and Finkley drilled four three-pointers.

Roman Catholic senior Xzayvier Brown, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams

Stewart-Herring, an athletic and versatile 6-5 senior who transferred in from St. Elizabeth High School (Del.) has been a welcomed addition as evidenced by his 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals during league play. He can hit from deep but he’s found success when getting downhill and finishing above the rim. After failing to reach the title game a year ago, head coach Chris McNesby – with two league and three state titles to his name – is hoping to reach the final for the first time in two years.

A year removed from a loss to the Cahillites but also the first PIAA state tournament appearance in program history has made Cardinal O’Hara more driven to find additional postseason success. Ryan Nemetz led the Lions to their second consecutive win over Bonner-Prendergast in the first round of the playoffs, this time a 69-60 triumph. Iona signee Izaiah Pasha leads the team at 16.7 ppg this season and during league play he has been even better with 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. The 6-5 rangy guard is the Lions best rebounder and he shot 48.5% from the field while making 16 treys against PCL foes. Pasha is the first Cardinal O’Hara player named First Team All-Catholic in consecutive seasons since Jeff Randazzo in 1998-99.

Pasha – who was the only Cardinal O’Hara player in double figures (16) the last time the team played Roman Catholic - is a taller guard who can play above the rim, but he does so many things well and that has made this offense, which has four double-digit scorers, immensely effective. Aasim Burton (12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals) has been everything and more since arriving from Math, Civics & Sciences, and given this offense another dimension. Pearse McGuinn has grown into a sensational stretch four who can also control the glass and act as a rim protector. The 6-8 junior forward could be a tough matchup for Finkley or Jackson with his ability to score (12.6 ppg), shoot (11 treys in league play), rebound (5.1) and block shots (2.7).

The unsung hero of the Lions is 6-foot senior guard Josh Coulanges, who is avg. 11.4 ppg and nailed a team-best 24 three-pointers during the league slate. He can light it up in a hurry and when the quartet of Pasha, Burton, McGuinn, and Coulanges get hot, it tends to be a long night for the opposition.

Cardinal O'Hara senior Izaiah Pasha, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

Brown against Pasha will be an excellent matchup to watch but don’t be surprised if Stewart-Herring – one of the premiere defenders in the league – guards Pasha, who had 18 points, six boards and six assists in the first-round win over the Friars. There are too many X-factors to watch in this one but there’s a lot of familiarity between teams in this game.

No. 6 West Catholic vs. No. 3 Archbishop Ryan

Last time they met: Archbishop Ryan won, 63-61

Last time they met in the playoffs: Archbishop Ryan won, 59-55 in the 2022 Philadelphia Catholic League Semifinals

The Burrs and Raiders will meet for the second straight season after playing an incredibly close semifinal matchup at the Palestra last season. Thomas Sorber had 17 points and six rebounds while Michael Paris had his best game of the season with 13 points as head coach Joe Zeglinski got his first semifinal victory after going 0-for-4 in his previous attempts.

Archbishop Ryan advanced to its first Philadelphia Catholic League title game since 2008 in what was seen as a breakthrough game.

Archbishop Ryan junior Thomas Sorber, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Colleen Claggett

Fast forward to this season and Archbishop Ryan is hosting a quarterfinal matchup for the first time since 2017 when Izaiah Brockington and Matiss Kulackovskis took down Marc Rodriguez and Father Judge. The Raiders won 10 league games for the first time since 2006, Zeglinski’s senior season that saw him miss most of it after suffering a knee injury during the football season. The Archbishop Ryan alum helped the Raiders win their final two regular-season games that season and scored 12 points in a quarterfinal victory over the Crusaders then tallied 16 in his final high school game in a semifinal loss to Roman Catholic at La Salle University.

Even with the loss of key seniors in Luke Boyd (West Chester University) and Jalen Snead (Gwynedd Mercy University), Zeglinski may have the most complete lineup of his tenure to not only get back to the championship game but even win the first title in program history. Sorber, the 6-foot-9 junior forward, is avg. 18.3 points per game and was named First Team All-Catholic for the second consecutive season. During league play, he was sensational avg. 17.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 59.5% from the field. He’s the best big man in the league and he has played like it all season long, which doesn’t bode well for the Burrs who have size on the perimeter but will most likely double when he catches the ball in the post.

Archbishop Ryan vs. Archbishop Carroll - PSD Gallery by Colleen Claggett

Darren Williams (16.3 ppg) vaulted into a First Team All-Catholic selection with his superb play. He hit 40 three-pointers and avg. 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals in league play. The 6-4 junior lefty is one of the elite shooters in the league but his versatile game has made him multifaceted.

Paris elevated his game during the run to the league semifinals a season ago and he’s continued that push as he is avg. 11.7 ppg from his starting point guard spot. The 5-11 senior lefty dished out 4.4 assists during league play and helped spur the Raiders win over the Burrs during the regular season. Archbishop Ryan trailed by nine with 58 seconds remaining and starters Jaden Murray and Rocco Morabito had fouled out. Paris shot 8-for-11 from the free-throw line and finished with 16 points. Sorber had a monster game with 19 points, 16 boards and seven blocks, and Williams shot 6-for-11 from floor with four three-pointers and finished with 21 points.

The corps of Sorber, Williams and Paris make the Raiders lethal but Murray is an improved presence on the baseline and glass, and shooters like Morabito (11 three-pointers in league play) and sophomore lefty Mark Gallagher allow Archbishop Ryan to spread teams out.

Gone from West Catholic’s first visit to the Palestra since 1999 are Nasir Griffin (East Stroudsburg) and twin brothers Kareem and Kaseem Warson, both of whom are playing at Cal State Bakersfield. After a season of so many firsts, the Burrs continued their rise into one of the league’s true contenders by winning nine league games. This marks the first time West Catholic has had winning league records in consecutive seasons since 1999 and 2000. Miguel Bocachica, the 2022 Philadelphia Catholic League Coach of the Year, has two returning starters from that team and they have played every bit like players who helped bring about so much history during last season’s incredible run.

Coppin State signee Adam “Budd” Clark had 19 points, six rebounds and five steals while Temple signee Zion Stanford chipped in 18 points, 11 boards and two blocks in that loss to the Raiders on Feb. 3. The tandem combined for 775 points during the regular season and that led them to make First Team All-Catholic, marking the first time West Catholic has had two players named to the first team in back-to-back seasons in program history. The list of accolades keeps growing but the one thing missing from this team’s résumé is a title, and Stanford (18.1) and Clark (17.9) are a duo that put together a postseason to remember.

Stanford closed out the regular season by scoring 31 points against Conwell-Egan then pouring in 28 points to a win over Archbishop Wood, a game that saw Third Team All-Catholic Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui sink the game-winner at the buzzer.

West Catholic vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Gallery by Krystal Williams

West Catholic senior Adam “Budd” Clark, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Krystal Williams

The 6-5 senior forward avg. 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks during league play and surpassed 1,000 career points this season to become the first Burrs player since Imere Harris in 2019 to accomplish that feat. Clark – who also reached the 1,000-point mark earlier this season – avg. 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.6 steals in league play and has turned himself into one of the most dynamic floor generals in the past two seasons. Wilbanks-Acqui (12.3) could be the difference maker in this one as he commands attention at 6-3 with the ability to score inside and out and control the backboard. Watch for 6-5 senior forward MJ Branker Jr. and 6-2 senior guard Amyr Walker, who hit 12 three-pointers during league play and had 15 points against Roman Catholic earlier this year.

No. 5 St. Joe’s Prep vs. No. 4 Archbishop Wood

Last time they met: Archbishop Wood won, 77-63 (OT)

Last time they met in the playoffs: St. Joe’s Prep won, 76-49 in the 2012 Philadelphia Catholic League Quarterfinals.

The Hawks and Vikings haven’t played in the postseason in 11 years and in that matchup, a win by St. Joe’s Prep, several of the programs’ heralded greats donned the floor. Steve Vasturia, who scored a school-record 1,764 points before going on to an accomplished career at Notre Dame, and Miles Overton, who scored 1,133 career points before playing at Wake Forest then Drexel, were juniors and combined for 31 points in the win while Pat Smith – who scored 1,148 points and played at Cornell – finished with 11 points for the Vikings.

St. Joseph's Prep vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Gallery by Zack Beavers

Much has changed in that time as William “Speedy” Morris is no longer roaming the sideline and Archbishop Wood has won its only two Philadelphia Catholic League titles under the direction of John Mosco.

A season after losing point guard Justin Moore (Drexel) along with Tyson Allen (Montclair State University), Mike Knouse (Lock Haven University) and Bahsil Laster - who transferred to the Academy of the New Church – from a team that advanced to the PIAA Class 6A Tournament title game, the Vikings are hosting a quarterfinal matchup for the third time in the last four years (no quarterfinals in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Last season, the Vikings lost at home to Archbishop Ryan in the most exhilarating matchup of the quarterfinals and they think they have just what it takes to get back to the Palestra. Jalil Bethea leads the Philadelphia Catholic League with 23.5 ppg and that consistency translated to being named league MVP, becoming the third Archbishop Wood player to win the award in the last seven seasons joining Collin Gillespie and Rahsool Diggins (twice). He shot a remarkable 56.4% from the field and hit 32 shots from deep during league play. He scored in double figures in every league contest, including nine 20-point performances.

Archbishop Wood junior Jalil Bethea - 2023 Philadelphia Catholic League MVP - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

His best game of the season came against the Hawks as he poured in a career-high 40 points (26 after halftime) to lead the Vikings to an overtime win. He sank six treys and corralled 10 rebounds while becoming the first Philadelphia Catholic League player to score 40 in a game since Isaiah Wong tallied 44 against Neumann-Goretti on Jan. 11, 2019. Bethea has meant everything to the Vikings’ success this season and as he goes, so does Archbishop Wood. East Stroudsburg commit and 6-8 senior forward Carson Howard avg. 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds during league play and showcased an improved assertion to get his own offense either down low or with jumpers inside the arc. He had six of his 10 points in overtime against the Hawks and chipped in 16 rebounds and three rejections. Milan Dean (9.5 ppg) has made his presence felt in year two on the varsity roster and the 6-3 sophomore guard had 17 points in that win over St. Joe’s Prep. Senior Gus Salem made 13 three-pointers and 6-3 junior guard Josh Reed did a little bit of everything in avg. 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists during league play.

The Hawks are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and Jason Harrigan, the Co-Coach of the Year this season, has produced quite a turnaround after St. Joe’s Prep only won two league games a season ago. Jaron McKie, the son of the Temple University head coach who avg. 16.6 ppg this season, became the first Hawks player to be named First Team All-Catholic since Darius Kinnel in 2018 and the first St. Joe’s Prep sophomore selected to the first team since Vasturia in 2011. The 6-2 guard made 35 three-pointers and shot 41 percent from the outside during league play. He’s so much more than a shooter this season shown in his preference to get the basket but his undeniable ability to hit a pull-up jumper. He also avg. 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals in league play.

Tristen Guillouette and Jalen Harper were both named Second Team All-Catholic this season. Guillouette, the 6-9 junior forward in his second season with the Hawks, avg. 10.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks during league play and has been the dominant force Harrigan’s team needed inside.

St. Joe's Prep sophomore Jaron McKie, First-Team All-Catholic - PSD Photo by Zack Beavers

He was phenomenal against the Vikings in the regular season with 13 points, nine boards and seven blocks. Harper has burst onto the scene as a junior and the 6-3 junior, while not known for his shooting, can attack the rim at will. He avg. 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in league play. The Hawks also boast several shooting threats who flourished during the league season in 6-2 junior Matt Gorman (23 three-pointers), 6-1 sophomore Jordan Ellerbee (14) and 5-11 sophomore Olin Chamberlain Jr. (10).

This has the makings of being the most captivating game of the weekend and should be extremely entertaining.

2022-23 PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-CATHOLIC TEAM

Most Valuable Player: Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood

William Speedy Morris Co-Coach of the Year: Carl Arrigale, Neumann-Goretti; Jason Harrigan, St. Joe’s Prep

First Team

Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood

Robert Wright III, Neumann-Goretti

Thomas Sorber, Archbishop Ryan

Xzayvier Brown, Roman Catholic

Jaron McKie, St. Joe’s Prep

Izaiah Pasha, Cardinal O’Hara

Adam Clark, West Catholic

Zion Stanford, West Catholic

Darren Williams, Archbishop Ryan

Sultan Adewale, Neumann-Goretti

Second Team

Dean Coleman-Newsome, Archbishop Carroll

Khaafiq Myers, Neumann-Goretti

Carson Howard, Archbishop Wood

Tristen Guillouette, St. Joe’s Prep

Laquan Byrd, Father Judge

Jermai Stewart-Herring, Roman Catholic

Jacen Holloway, Devon Prep

Jalen Harper, St. Joe’s Prep

Anthony Finkley, Roman Catholic

Michael Paris, Archbishop Ryan

Third Team

Horace Simmons, La Salle

Jake West, Archbishop Carroll

Shareef Jackson, Roman Catholic

Kevin Rucker Jr., Bonner-Prendergast

Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui, West Catholic

Philadelphia Catholic League Final Standings:

Neumann-Goretti (12-1)

Roman Catholic (11-2)

Archbishop Ryan (10-3)

Archbishop Wood (9-4)

St. Joe’s Prep (9-4)

West Catholic (9-4)

Cardinal O’Hara (8-5)

Archbishop Carroll (7-6)

Father Judge (6-7)

Bonner-Prendergast (4-9)

Devon Prep (3-10)

La Salle (2-11)

Conwell-Egan (1-12)

Lansdale Catholic (0-13)