BOYS’ BASKETBALL: The Players & Coaches of the Esteemed Philadelphia Catholic League Prepare To Grace the Hardwood For Another Rigorous Season

By: Rich Flanagan (@richflanagan33)

PHILADELPHIA –For the last decade, the Philadelphia Catholic League has risen above not only every other league within the city but across the state, for that matter.

Since 2009, at least one program from the Philadelphia Catholic League has won a state championship. The league has had even more success in recent years with at least two teams taking home state crowns over the last four seasons including Neumann-Goretti and Roman Catholic in 2017-18. The resilience and drive to make it all the way through the grueling league schedule has actually benefitted the PCL programs to be better prepared to go deep into March.

For Roman Catholic head coach Matt Griffin, whose team captured the PIAA Class 6A crown last year, the pedigree of the league has allowed players to be better able to handle what comes after high school.

Roman Catholic coach Matt Griffin & the Cahillites celebrate after winning the 2018 PIAA 6A State Title - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

Relive the excitement from the 2018 PCL Championship Roman vs. MBAP:

“The coaching is terrific and every game is a chess match,” Griffin said. “Every team is extremely competitive and it’s exhibited in how many teams get into the state tournament. It makes for a great environment for our players, especially those who want to play collegiate basketball because they’re prepared for what they’ll see as a result.”

Last season, Griffin led Roman Catholic (24-6, 11-2 PCL) to the PCL title in his second season. Point guard Lynn Greer (15.3 ppg) found Hakim Hart (15.1) for the game-winning basket with 1.6 seconds left to lift the Cahillites to a 51-49 victory over Bonner-Prendergast. Greer, a First Team All-Catholic selection, returns after having previously transferred to Oak Hill Academy in the spring. He’ll be joined by fellow First Team All-Catholic Seth Lundy (16.5 ppg), a Penn State commit, and Hart, a Second Team All-Catholic and St. Joe’s commit. Add in senior guard Gabe Perez as well as talented freshmen in guard Justice Williams and 6-8 forward Jalen Duren and the Cahillites are primed for another deep run.

Carl Arrigale and Neumann-Goretti (23-6, 12-1) fell in the PCL quarterfinals to St. Joe’s Prep but rebounded to win the PIAA Class 3A, their eighth state title in nine years. The Saints will be led by Rider commit Chris Ings (11.2 ppg), speedy guard Hakim Byrd and versatile forward Ja’Cor Smith, who scored in double figures in three of the team’s final six games. With Dymir Montague (Holy Family), Noah Warren (Lock Haven) and Marcus Littles (George Washington) gone, 6-foot-6 junior Cameron Young, 6-6 junior Jordan Hall and 6-7 sophomore center Eric Gentry will be called upon to step up.

Ings has helped continue a tradition of winning under Arrigale and a former Saint who taught him what it takes to excel in the PCL is current Kentucky guard Quade Green.

“Coach [Arrigale] stresses defense in practice every day,” Ings said. “He says we’re going to be a defensive team every year. That was the first thing they stressed. I came in as an out-of-control fast guard but playing with Quade taught me how to slow the game down and play my game no matter who is guarding me.”

Arrigale, who has been at the helm for 10 league titles which included six straight from 2009-14, feels that there’s not much disparity between the PCL programs this season.

“It’s been wide open,” Arrigale said. “Definitely last year and this year more than ever. Some of the other years, people knew who would win it. They knew it was possibly going to be us and somebody when we had that great run. We’re trying to climb back up the mountain.”

Chris Ings, Neumann-Goretti senior guard - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

Last year Neumann-Goretti won the 2018 PIAA 3A State Title - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

There will be plenty of new faces and even a new program welcomed into the PCL this season. Six new head coaches will be roaming the sideline.

Kevin Funston takes over a Bonner-Prendergast (25-5, 12-1) squad coming off its first trip to the league title game in 30 years. They also reached the PIAA 5A semifinals. Miami commit Isaiah Wong, the reigning PCL MVP, avg. 22.2 ppg a year ago and returns for his senior season alongside 6-9 forward Tariq Ingraham (12.6 ppg), a Second Team All-Catholic. They’ll be joined by guards Tyrese Watson and Donovan Rodriguez and shooter Mike Perretta.

Wong, who came over from Notre Dame (N.J.) a season ago, has relished the opportunity to play in a league which boasts a wealth of talented players.

“Every game is good competition,” Wong said. “Every team has a player going to Rider and the next has a player going to Penn State. There are a lot of players going to D1 colleges. I like how it is.”

Archbishop Carroll (20-8, 10-3) will be under the direction of new head coach Francis Bowe, who fills in the spot vacated by Paul Romanczuk. Romanczuk had been the head coach since 2006, which included a state title in 2009. Last year, the Patriots lost in the league semifinals to Bonner-Prendergast before advancing to PIAA 5A quarterfinals. Gone are Justin Anderson (Phelps School), Derrell Jones (Phelps School), Keyon Butler (Chestnut Hill College) and First Team All-Catholic AJ Hoggard (Huntington Prep). Bowe will rely on 6-5 senior guard Luke House (11.2 ppg), 6-3 senior guard Kiyl Mack and 6-3 junior guard Ny’Mire Little.

2018 PCL MVP, Isaiah Wong, MBAP senior guard - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister

Miguel Bocachica will have some talent at his disposal at West Catholic (8-14, 3-10). The first-year coach, who takes over for Jason Hasson, will lean on 5-11 senior shooting guard Imere Harris (17.0 ppg), 6-0 senior point guard Samier Kinsler (9.3) and 6-3 sophomore guard Isaac Brito. Gone is 6-6 sophomore forward Zaakir Williamson, who transferred to Calvert Hall (Md.).

Allen Powell, point guard for La Salle College HS - PSD Photo

La Salle (15-8, 8-5) will have a new head coach for the first time since 2005 as Mike McKee steps in for former coach Joe Dempsey. McKee will be aided by the presence of 6-9 forward Zach Crisler (8.8 ppg), a Rice commit, and point guard Allen Powell (9.9), both Third Team All-Catholic selections. Another player to watch will be 6-7 senior forward Konrad Kiszka, who had 16 points in a league quarterfinal loss to Roman last season.

Adam Bowen is the fourth different head coach at Conwell-Egan (9-16, 2-11) since Frank Sciolla, who won a state title with the Eagles in 2015, departed. He will not have the PCL’s leading scorer Patrick Robinson (24.3 ppg) or Eric Esposito (16.1), both of whom are now at Holy Family. The Eagles, who advanced to the second round of the PIAA 4A playoffs last year, will be led by seniors Sean Stokes and Terrance Jones.

Ryan Nemetz takes over at Cardinal O’Hara (11-12, 5-8) for Jason Harrigan. Harrigan, who had been the head coach for the last two seasons after a successful stint at Del-Val Charter which included a Public League title in 2015-16, led the Lions to the PCL playoffs for the first time since 2012. They defeated Archbishop Ryan in the opening round before falling to Bonner-Prendergast in the quarterfinals. After losing First Team All-Catholic Antwuan Butler (Austin Peay), who played at Del-Val Charter under Harrigan, and Garrett Ripp, the new-look Lions will be led by 6-1 junior guard Tre Dinkins and 6-0 junior guard Kevin Reeves (5.1 ppg).

Welcome to the PCL Devon Prep! - Photo courtesy of @athletics_devon

Devon Prep will begin its inaugural season in the PCL after coming over from the Bicentennial Athletic League. It’s the first school to join the league since Lansdale Catholic signed on in 2008 after leaving the Pioneer Athletic Conference.

The Tide finished 4-12 in the BAL last season under head coach Jason Fisher. Sophomore Eamon Walsh, who scored 12 points in a game against Bristol last season, is a player to watch.

After winning the PCL in 2017 behind Collin Gillespie (Villanova), Archbishop Wood (13-10, 8-5) lost to Archbishop Carroll in the league quarterfinals and did not reach the state tournament. Gone are First Team All-Catholic Andrew Funk (Bucknell), Second Team selection Tyree Pickron (Quinnipiac), forward Karrington Wallace (Central Connecticut State) and center Seth Pinkney (Montverde Academy). John Mosco’s group will be led by two sophomores in 6-1 point guard Rahsool Diggins (5.7 ppg) and 6-5 forward Daeshon Shepherd as well as 6-5 senior Julius Phillips (6.2).

#15 Jamil Manigo, Bishop McDevitt - PSD Photo

Bishop McDevitt (16-11, 4-9) is coming off one of its most successful seasons as it made the PCL postseason for the first time since 2014 and made a run to the PIAA 3A quarterfinals, where it lost to Neumann-Goretti. Lancers head coach Will Chavis will have 6-0 junior guard Robert Smith (15.2 ppg), a Third Team All-Catholic, and 6-3 junior forward Jamil Manigo (9.4 ppg) leading the way.

William “Speedy” Morris and St. Joe’s Prep (19-9, 7-6) are coming off an impressive season of their own. First, Morris notched his 1,000th career win on January 12 against Lansdale Catholic. The Hawks handled Neumann-Goretti to advance to the PCL semifinals at the Palestra before succumbing to Roman by three points. They reached the PIAA 6A Tournament, winning one game then falling in the second round. Morris will be without First Team All-Catholic guard Darius Kinnel (Hartford) and Second Team selections Ed Croswell (La Salle) and Kyle Thompson (West Chester).

SJP head coach Speedy Morris celebrates with his family after winning his 1,000th game last season - PSD photo by Zamani Feelings

Two holdovers from last year’s starting lineup are 6-4 senior guard Gabe Arizin (6.8 ppg) and junior guard Trevor Wall (9.6). Also keep an eye on 6-10 senior forward Jacob O’Connell, who is committed to Princeton. He played sparingly last season but should have a major impact. He showed flashes such as a 10-point outing in a win over Berks Catholic.

Father Judge (9-13, 1-12) finished last in the PCL and missed the playoffs for the first time in head coach Sean Tait’s tenure. Tom Quarry, who avg. 19.0 ppg and was named a Third Team All-Catholic a year ago, is at John Hopkins. Former starting forward Drew Riley (8.4) is also gone. Tait will still have some veteran leadership to work with in 6-0 senior guard Shane Dooley (13.3 ppg), the football team’s starting quarterback, and 5-9 senior backcourt mate Alphonso Chie. The Crusaders will also have some size inside in the form of 6-8 sophomore center Rymir Shaw.

Tait, who played at Judge under Bill Fox, noted how tough this league has become and how players from around the city want the opportunity to compete on teams playing in the state tournament.

“It just says that the top players in the Philadelphia area want to play in our league,” Tait said. “People want to say, ‘Is it a down year for the league?’ No, it’s never a down year because there are transfers or really good, young freshmen and sophomores coming in. Devon Prep is coming in and while I don’t know too much about them, one through 14 before, everyone had some sort of a college player on the team.”

Only two years removed from back-to-back trips to the PCL semifinals and an appearance in the PIAA 6A semis, Joe Zeglinski and Archbishop Ryan (11-12, 6-7) are coming off a first-round exit at the hands of Cardinal O’Hara. Senior guard Amin Bryant (6.9 ppg) is the only remaining starter from that state semifinal team. The Raiders return Third Team All-Catholic senior sharpshooter Colin Reed (12.3) and 6-0 junior guard Ja’Quill Stone (9.4).

#22 Shane Dooley, Father Judge senior - PSD Photo

#1 Amin Bryant, Archbishop Ryan senior - PSD Photo

Joe Corbett and Lansdale Catholic (7-16, 2-11) will be without high-scoring guard Jack Kusters (16.3 ppg), who is now at Penn State Altoona. The Crusaders will have to make up for that loss but 6-2 senior guard Kyle Kane (9.0) and 6-2 senior forward Nick Romero (5.8) should help with that.

The PCL looks primed to be a highly contested race to the end and expect a number of teams to make a run at the state playoffs as well. This is a league that has become almost synonymous with winning state titles over the last decade and Griffin feels that’s largely attributed with how competitive it has grown from top to bottom.

“I feel that the Catholic League games are a grind,” Griffin said. “I think that playing in a league this deep prepares you to play beyond. You become comfortable with being uncomfortable, essentially. You get comfortable playing against stiff competition and in tight games.”