Candidates:
Hayk Gyokchyan
Matt Crozier
Lenny Young
Velton Jones
Andrew Rogers
Ellis Rogers
Lamar Jackson
Tyrell Taylor
Jamal Wilson
Jim Kelleher
Mark Wedderburn
Zach Tansey
Wes Kirkland
Will Kirkland
Courtney Stanley
Mike Bradley
Jim Mower
Matt Williams
Joe Meehan
Eric Brennan
Sergino Mystil
First Cut for Best Players from Class of 2008
Matt Crozier
Lenny Young
Velton Jones
Andrew Rogers
Tyrell Taylor
Jamal Wilson
Zach Tansey
Wes Kirkland
Will Kirkland
Courtney Stanley
Mike Bradley
Jim Mower
Matt Williams
Joe Meehan
Eric Brennan
Final 10 Best Players from Class of 2008:
1. Jim Mower-Great Shooter. Uses his athleticism to complement every facet of his game (contesting jump shots, driving to basket-he does not just jump to dunk the ball, but rather whenever it can help his team win a game)
2. Jamal Wilson-Great athlete, showed decent stroke from deep, can handle the ball. Highly uptempo player. Only knock on him is that it is such a joke he was ever listed at 6'5. He stands probably 6'2.
3. Andrew Rogers-Not enough pure talent as the other two, but a phenomenal ball handler who almost managed to win a PCL title.
4. Lenny Young-Inconsistent play in the postseason (see 20 plus scoring output in the semi's followed by a poor showing in the big time versus Ryan for the title game). Still very strong with the ball and a capable scorer.
5. Will Kirkland-Can hit from deep. Very underrated. A D1 basketball player, albeit just slightly.
6. Velton Jones-Won a title game. Committed to Robert Morris University. Also won a Public League championship when he was a sophomore. For better or worse, he is the face of the transition period in North Catholic basketball.
7. Courtney Stanley-Very overrated player. Is not a D1 talent. Rebounds well, but does not score, nor does he look to score. Essentially creates a situation where his team is playing 4 on 5 on offense.
8. Matt Crozier-Big and has soft hands
9. Eric Brennan-Strong and runs the court well.
10. Zach Tansey-Displayed nice ability to shoot the ball this season
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Very Early PCL Power Rankings
Our Pre-Pre-Pre Season PCL Power Rankings (regardless of class system)
1. Monsignor Bonner-Return everything, excepts Siter, whom they probably improve upon with the increased minutes that will be given to Kiefer Francis. Need to develop at least 2 bench players, although they have many players with the potential to be a good bench player (Brandon Fulton, Scott Slade). Henry Smith is arguably the league's most underrated player, a D1 talent. Lijah Thompson should figure to be greatly improved as he continues to learn the game, Jamal Melvin is a returning All Catholic, and Brian Boyle is a great player to round out a starting five.
2. Roman Catholic-They lose to much down low (both Kirklands) and also some leadership (departure of Courtney Stanley) to warrant being number one, even with the league's best player since Eddie Griffin in Malik Wayns. Wayns proved that he is anything but immaculate during this year's PCL playoffs, and teams are going to be coming for him all season. Raheem Brookins is great, but a little out of control at times. The telling point for Roman is whether or not Anthony Mayo and Rasi Jenkins can develop into serviceable players down low. Both have great size, and need to add skill to that as well. Aaron Brown should figure to give them points and rebounds down low once more. Next year's Roman team is not as good as this past year's, and Bonner's is only better.
3. Neumann Goretti- As talented as anyone once more, but can they put all the pieces together? It is my guess that they cannot, as Scooter Gillette will continue to struggle, Tony Chenault will not adapt to the point and Daniel Stewart will not dominate (he also needs to hone is free throw skills). They need point guard play and they need to develop better game preparation skills.
4. Carroll- Losing some in the backcourt, but also replacing it with a year older super sophomore in Juany'a Green. Will be interesting to see if they add another impact freshman like Green again. D.J. Irving is not a pure PG, and is very short for a shooting guard (maybe 5'8?) but has a filthy nice stroke from deep. Down low they have Festus.
5. There are three teams under consideration here. Prep, La Salle, North,. Doughterty just does not have enough talent, but Zaahir Allen is a gamer. Prep has the least talent, but the best coaching, and some players from an undefeated JV squad, as well as the return of 2 injured junior forwards who saw some varsity time last season. La Salle has the best player in C.J. Aiken, but (and this is why this is a Pre-Pre-Pre Season PCL rankings list) he is rumored to have academic issues and might leave the school. La Salle simply has not shown enough will to win in past seasons to be ranked high, but neither did Carroll or Bonner coming into this past season, and look where they are now. Without other good players to assist Aiken though, I cannot in good conscience give La Salle this position. North has the most talent, but no seniors. But hey, Bonner had one senior coming into this season and look where they wound up. That leaves North and the Prep as the two remaining candidates. I give it to North here. A theme I noticed all season is that by a player's sophomore season, he is ready to role with the big boys, even if they were not as freshman. Rahkeem Christmas is ready to hang with the big boys this season, and North could by scary come playoff time.
Closing notes:
Carroll could easily find themselves ousted from these rankings if their players do not mature. All of last season one could not help but to notice some of the attitudes the players had, and this starts with Andre Wilburn. A very good player, but also at times a bit of complainer on the court. Maturity needs to be seen from that team. The only team outside of Roman and Bonner that could ever enter into the number one spot at this point is, however, not Carroll or even Neumann. Assuming every thing went right in terms of player development for either of those two schools, neither has the all around talent that North has. If Christmas develops, Harris adds outside play, and the juniors play like seniors, North would have a bona fide chance to once more call themselves PCL champs, as well as the number one overall team on my power rankings, which we all know is of the utmost importance to any team.
1. Monsignor Bonner-Return everything, excepts Siter, whom they probably improve upon with the increased minutes that will be given to Kiefer Francis. Need to develop at least 2 bench players, although they have many players with the potential to be a good bench player (Brandon Fulton, Scott Slade). Henry Smith is arguably the league's most underrated player, a D1 talent. Lijah Thompson should figure to be greatly improved as he continues to learn the game, Jamal Melvin is a returning All Catholic, and Brian Boyle is a great player to round out a starting five.
2. Roman Catholic-They lose to much down low (both Kirklands) and also some leadership (departure of Courtney Stanley) to warrant being number one, even with the league's best player since Eddie Griffin in Malik Wayns. Wayns proved that he is anything but immaculate during this year's PCL playoffs, and teams are going to be coming for him all season. Raheem Brookins is great, but a little out of control at times. The telling point for Roman is whether or not Anthony Mayo and Rasi Jenkins can develop into serviceable players down low. Both have great size, and need to add skill to that as well. Aaron Brown should figure to give them points and rebounds down low once more. Next year's Roman team is not as good as this past year's, and Bonner's is only better.
3. Neumann Goretti- As talented as anyone once more, but can they put all the pieces together? It is my guess that they cannot, as Scooter Gillette will continue to struggle, Tony Chenault will not adapt to the point and Daniel Stewart will not dominate (he also needs to hone is free throw skills). They need point guard play and they need to develop better game preparation skills.
4. Carroll- Losing some in the backcourt, but also replacing it with a year older super sophomore in Juany'a Green. Will be interesting to see if they add another impact freshman like Green again. D.J. Irving is not a pure PG, and is very short for a shooting guard (maybe 5'8?) but has a filthy nice stroke from deep. Down low they have Festus.
5. There are three teams under consideration here. Prep, La Salle, North,. Doughterty just does not have enough talent, but Zaahir Allen is a gamer. Prep has the least talent, but the best coaching, and some players from an undefeated JV squad, as well as the return of 2 injured junior forwards who saw some varsity time last season. La Salle has the best player in C.J. Aiken, but (and this is why this is a Pre-Pre-Pre Season PCL rankings list) he is rumored to have academic issues and might leave the school. La Salle simply has not shown enough will to win in past seasons to be ranked high, but neither did Carroll or Bonner coming into this past season, and look where they are now. Without other good players to assist Aiken though, I cannot in good conscience give La Salle this position. North has the most talent, but no seniors. But hey, Bonner had one senior coming into this season and look where they wound up. That leaves North and the Prep as the two remaining candidates. I give it to North here. A theme I noticed all season is that by a player's sophomore season, he is ready to role with the big boys, even if they were not as freshman. Rahkeem Christmas is ready to hang with the big boys this season, and North could by scary come playoff time.
Closing notes:
Carroll could easily find themselves ousted from these rankings if their players do not mature. All of last season one could not help but to notice some of the attitudes the players had, and this starts with Andre Wilburn. A very good player, but also at times a bit of complainer on the court. Maturity needs to be seen from that team. The only team outside of Roman and Bonner that could ever enter into the number one spot at this point is, however, not Carroll or even Neumann. Assuming every thing went right in terms of player development for either of those two schools, neither has the all around talent that North has. If Christmas develops, Harris adds outside play, and the juniors play like seniors, North would have a bona fide chance to once more call themselves PCL champs, as well as the number one overall team on my power rankings, which we all know is of the utmost importance to any team.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Bud Gardler out at O'Hara
Bud Gardler steps down at O'Hara. This is great news for the Lions because it prevents them from continuing a spiral downward. They can now look for a new coach, who will be more of a players coach and could potentially enlist the talents walking the streets of Delaware County (Gardler's teams frequently featured some of the lesser talented players in the school because many did not want to play for him). Whomever becomes the new coach will have 2 choices for success:
1. Recruit the catholic basketball players in Delaware County and attempt to build a team much like the one currently over at Saint Joe's Prep.
2. Recruit Chester, and develop a controversial program.
Either choice will have its ups and its downs, but you can be certain that both issues will be addressed during interviews for candidates.
1. Recruit the catholic basketball players in Delaware County and attempt to build a team much like the one currently over at Saint Joe's Prep.
2. Recruit Chester, and develop a controversial program.
Either choice will have its ups and its downs, but you can be certain that both issues will be addressed during interviews for candidates.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Top 5 Players in the Class of 2011
The theme in basketball these days goes like this---big is better. That is why at the end of this season it was evinced that the best player of the class of 2011 resides over at Roman Catholic High School. Powerful 6'2-5? PF Aaron Brown is the number player at this point in time. Blessed with soft hands, post moves-a rarity for young bucks these days, and more power then some seniors, this kid is a true gamer and a competitor (nearly led Roman over Chester). Unfortunately, Brown has very limited upside. He is at the absolute best 6'5, although he may be more like 6'3 or 6'4. He was listed by hoopscooponline as being 6'7, but that is not true. He could run as small as 6'2. I have no knowledge of his parent's height, but I do not like his chances of maintaining this ranking heading forward. For Brown to maintain this position (assuming he does not grow more than 2 more inches---which may not happen since I have also gathered that he is 16) he will need to develop guard skills. A jump shot, ball handling will be important, but the most important thing for Brown will be the development of speed---an ability to get up and down the court each possession and then to develop agility to blow by his defender off the dribble. To do this, Brown would need to sacrifice his strength to shed some pounds. If I were him though, my advice would be this: live for the present, not some implausible NBA dream. Unfortunately, without growing to at least 6'6, I cannot see Brown being a D1 player, there are plenty of D2 schools that will give him a diploma and a chance to play a game it would appear he loves. He should mold himself into a Kasheef Festus type player, and simply be a bull for Roman over the next three years. Another thing to live about Brown is his ability to jump.
The Rankings:
1. Aaron Brown-Roman Catholic
2. Juany'a Green-Carroll
3. Xavier Harris-Northeast Catholic
4. Rahkeem Christmas-Northeast Catholic
5. Aquil Younger-West Catholic
Almost there (no particular order)
Jaylen Bond-La Salle
Eddie Joyner Mitchell-La Salle
Lamont McLaurin-Cardinal Dougherty
Steve Philips-La Salle
Scott Slade-Monsignor Bonner
Lamin Fulton-Neumann
The Rankings:
1. Aaron Brown-Roman Catholic
2. Juany'a Green-Carroll
3. Xavier Harris-Northeast Catholic
4. Rahkeem Christmas-Northeast Catholic
5. Aquil Younger-West Catholic
Almost there (no particular order)
Jaylen Bond-La Salle
Eddie Joyner Mitchell-La Salle
Lamont McLaurin-Cardinal Dougherty
Steve Philips-La Salle
Scott Slade-Monsignor Bonner
Lamin Fulton-Neumann
Jack Oneill Transfers
Episcopal Big Man Jack Oneill transfers to reigning PCL champs, Northeast Catholic High School.
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