PHILADELPHIA- “Are my guys playing hard tonight?” Charles Monroe, Director of the Philly USA All-City Classic only had time to ask that question.
Monroe started the event 22 years ago and the 2016 edition showcased some of the area’s best young basketball talent Friday night at Girard College.
The Classic featured three games for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors respectively. Each game pitted the best public school players against the best non-public players, featuring many from the Catholic League and Inter-Ac.
Neumann-Goretti's upcoming sophomore Chris Ings and Archbishop Wood's upcoming junior Seth Pinkney talk about the event
Monroe aimed to create an opportunity for young basketball players to receive exposure to talent evaluators, scouts and the media in order to help them reach the next level.
Over the years there have been many future NCAA and NBA stars playing in the games, including the teams’ name sponsors Wayne Ellington Jr. and Rasual Butler.
For Monroe, the best stories are those of unknown prospects displaying breakout performances and moving on to bright futures.
The event’s motto is “bring your game, not your name,” and the 2016 edition of the All City Classic was no different than years past.
Some of the highest-flying dunks, incredible shots and spectacular defensive plays were products of the efforts of future Catholic League and Inter-Ac stars.
In the first game, Neumann-Goretti’s Christian Ings impressed on both ends of the court. A rising sophomore and speedy guard, Ings gracefully flew around the court scoring and finding his teammates. He was recognized as the game’s defensive player of the game for his hustle and number of steals.
Another sophomore Catholic League standout was team MVP Mikeal Jones of Roman Catholic. Jones will be a key for the Cahillites in the coming years, as evidenced by his 17-point performance.
Neumann-Goretti's Chris Ings presented with Defensive Player Award by event organizer Charles Monroe
Roman Catholic's Mikeal Jones is presented with MVP honors by Monroe
Seth Pinkney was the second Catholic League MVP crowned on the day in the second game.
Pinkney is a rising junior for Archbishop Wood and stands at 6’9”. He navigates the floor well as a big man and is working on his post game. Much of his impact is on the defensive end of the court.
In the rising senior game, many Catholic League and Inter-Ac players contributed to the first win for Team Ellington’s non-public squad.
Archbishop Ryan’s Izaiah Brockington scored 18 points and secured the defensive honors.
Archbishop Wood's Seth Pickney stands with his MVP award
Guards Jarrod Stukes and Collin Gillespie, of La Salle College High School and Wood respectively, displayed great shooting and basketball IQ. Stukes and Gillespie commanded the court and each recorded a number of assists.
Archbishop Ryan's upcoming sophomore Amin Bryant finishes for a lay-up
Archbishop Ryan's upcoming senior Izaiah Brockington tries for the old-fashioned 3 point play
Former Haverford forward now upcoming Westtown junior Cameron Reddish with a slam
Inter-Ac big men Nick Alikakos and Evan-Eric Longino each grabbed plenty of rebounds while also finding the hoop a time or two.
Alikakos hopes his Episcopal Academy Churchmen can outlast Longino’s Germantown Academy Patriots this season for an Inter-Ac title.
To answer Monroe’s question: yes, his guys played their tails off on Friday night.
Up and down every roster the play was phenomenal and the future of high school Philly basketball looks quite bright.
Presentation of trophies for the class of 2017
ALL CITY CLASSIC 2016 GAME ROSTERS
Freshman Game (Class of 2019)
Public
Dahmir Bishop (Imhotep Charter)
Eric Dixon (Abington)
Hakim Hart (Kingsway)
Chereef Knox (Imhotep Charter)
Jamil Riggins (Imhotep Charter)
Donta Scott (Imhotep Charter)
Ja’Quil Stone (Math, Civics & Sciences)
Lucas Monroe (Abington)
Fatayn Wesley (Imhotep Charter)
Jihad Watson (Del-Val Charter)
Non-Public
Amin Bryant (Archbishop Ryan)
Mark Bradshaw (Archbishop Carroll)
Zach Crisler (La Salle)
Imere Harris (West Catholic)
Christian Ings (Neumann-Goretti)
Mikeal Jones (Roman Catholic)
Konrad Kiszka (La Salle)
Seth Lundy (Roman Catholic)
Julius Phillips (Archbishop Wood)
Myles Robinson (Friends’ Central)
Sophomore Game (Class of 2018)
Public
Justin Anderson (Academy New Church)
Allen Betrand (Fels)
Antwuan Butler (Del-Val Charter)
Ed Croswell (Math, Civics & Sciences)
Corey Greer (Camden)
Robbie Heath (Abington)
Bernard Lightsey (Imhotep Charter)
Marcus Littles (Academy New Church)
Maurice Murray (Timber Creek)
Will McNair (Parkway CC)
Non-Public
Matthue Cotton (St. Benedict’s)
Darius Kinnel (St. Joseph’s Prep)
Dymir Montague (Neumann-Goretti)
Tyree Pickron (Archbishop Wood)
Seth Pinkney (Archbishop Wood)
Kharon Randolph (Haverford School)
Christian Ray (Octorara)
Cameron Reddish (Westtown)
Sam Sessoms (Shipley)
Kyle Thompson (St. Joseph’s Prep)
Junior Game (Class of 2017)
Public
Kevin Anderson (St. John Neumann)
Malik Archer (Math, Civics & Sciences)
Johnny Eden (Simon Gratz)
Tamir Green (Constitution)
Mahki Morris (Del-Val Charter)
Clifton Moore (Hatboro-Horsham)
Daron Russell (Imhotep Charter)
Koby Thomas (Imhotep Charter)
Lonnie Walker (Reading)
Maurice Waters (Constitution)
Non-Public
Nick Alikakos (Episcopal Academy)
David Beatty (St. Benedict’s)
Izaiah Brockington (Archbishop Ryan)
Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Neumann-Goretti)
Collin Gillespie (Archbishop Wood)
Quade Green (Neumann-Goretti)
Evan-Eric Longino (Germantown Academy)
Anthony Ochefu (Westtown)
Marc Rodriguez (Father Judge)
Jarrod Stukes (La Salle HS)