City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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Welcome to City of Basketball Love’s inaugural attempt at cobbling together preseason rankings for all four of Pennsylvania’s boys’ basketball classifications.

And while we continue today with Class AAA, Class AAAA will follow later this week — all just in time for Friday’s season-opening scraps.

(Other Previews: Class A | Class AA | Class AAA | Class AAAA)

Once the first full week of games is played, we’ll be back with weekly updates of our rankings, beginning on Dec. 14 and appearing on Mondays the rest of the way.

As for a quick glimpse at Class AAA, we’re going with reigning state champion Neumann-Goretti as our preseason No. 1 — ostensibly since Carl Arrigale’s Saints return starters Quade Green, Zane Martin, Vaughn Covington and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. All four sport offers or have signed with Division I programs.

Green and Martin, along with recent grad and Saint Joseph’s freshman Lamarr “Fresh” Kimble, represented the Saints on last spring’s Class AAA all-state squad.

Since Imhotep Charter sits right behind N-G in the preseason No. 10, the 2015-16 season should be spiced by plenty of Philadelphia hardwood chatter.

Brief glimpses of our preseason top 10 appear below, with PIAA district and last season’s final record displayed in parentheses. Only those schools competing for PIAA state championships are eligible for ranking purposes.

NR — not ranked; OW — others to watch

CITY OF BASKETBALL LOVE’S PRESEASON STATE-WIDE BOYS’ BASKETBALL RANKINGS — CLASS AAA

1. Neumann-Goretti (12, 29-2) — final 2015 ranking: 1

Notables: Certainly advantageous to have four starters back from a gifted outfit that captured state gold — all of them Division I prospects — but that’s the position veteran Saints skipper Carl Arrigale is in since Quade Green, Zane Martin, Vaughn Covington and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree remain in black-and-gold.  

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. Dover (Del.) (@ Widener)

2. Imhotep Charter (12, 22-10) — final 2015 ranking: 3

Notables: Return of all-state blur Daron Russell and backcourt partner Jaekwon Carlyle have brought plenty of bounce to Andre Noble’s Panthers, who reached state semis last season before falling to Neumann-Goretti. Arrival of 6-5 Koby Thomas from Mastery Charter North is another plus for these guys.

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. Allderdice (@ Widener)

3. Mars (7, 26-3) — final 2015 ranking: 9

Notables: All-state double-double machine John Castello (17.8 ppg/15 rpg) headlines a Mars lineup that returns all five starters from the group that last season reached the state quarters. Vets Alex Gruber and Christian Schmitt also averaged double digits, while Robby Carmody is one of the Keystone State’s top sophs.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.

4. Beaver Falls (7, 23-4) — final 2015 ranking: 10

Notables: With bookend 6-6 all-state forwards Josh Creach (17.7 ppg/12 rpg) and Donovan Jeter (17.5 ppg/11 rpg) still around (and merely juniors) following a run to the second round of states, Doug Biega’s Tigers will begin the 2015-16 season in splendid shape. Somewhere, former BFalls great Joe Namath is smiling.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Union at Ellwood City Tip-Off.

5. Archbishop Carroll (12, 23-7) — final 2015 ranking: 2

Notables: Class AAA player of the year Derrick Jones may be thrilling UNLV fans these days with his ability to attack and destroy rims, but don’t look for Paul Romanczuk’s Patriots to disappear from Pennsy’s hoops map. All-state lead guards Josh Sharkey and Ryan Daly, both Division I signees, are poised and ready to carry the load.

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. Academy of the New Church (@ Widener)

6. New Castle (7, 22-6) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: Ralph Blundo’s Red Hurricanes, thanks to the return of four starters, will continue to display plenty of bluster following run to state quarters. The Hooker brothers, Marquel and Marcus, front a fast-paced outfit that’s small yet remarkably athletic. In other words, typical New Castle bunch.   

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Perry Traditional Academy.

7. Strong Vincent (10, 17-9) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: Perhaps this is finally the year when a sizable portion of Pennsylvania truly learns about Strong Vincent, the Union officer and Erie County native who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. The bonus? Getting the chance to watch junior guard David “Little Motown” Morris flash his skills.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. McKeesport (@ Hempfield Tip-Off)

8. Steel-High (3, 23-6) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: If we learned anything last season, it’s to never underestimate any squad piloted by the Rollers’ remarkably successful Rick Binder. Return of starters Jaqui Jenkins, Jaron Grayer and Malachi Young provides Binder with valuable chess pieces. Will be deeper and bigger than club that reached second round of states.  

Season-opening game: Dec. 8 vs. Trinity.

9. Lewisburg (4, 21-3) — final 2015 ranking: NR

Notables: Beginning their second season in the Class AAA ranks, a thrilling postseason run would be a neat way to send all-state forward and four-year regular Sam Allen (21.9 ppg/10.4 rpg) barreling off to the next level. John Vaji’s Green Dragons also have multi-year starter Matt Fedorjaka ready to go, too. 

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. Shikellamy.

10. Allentown Central Catholic (11, 17-11) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: While Dennis Csensits has a number of talented youngsters bouncing about the practice floor these days at ACC’s venerable Rockne Hall, one veteran still present during the Vikings’ workouts is senior guard Zay Jennings (19.7 ppg). Catch these guys early, because they’re only going to get better and better.  

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Simon Gratz (@ Souderton Tip-Off)

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OTHERS TO WATCH: Bishop McDevitt (3, 22-6), Cocalico (3, 16-8), Crestwood (2, 20-4), Del-Val Charter (12, 17-9), Glen Mills (1, 18-8), Highlands (7, 13-14), Manheim Central (3, 25-5), Milton Hershey (3, 12-11), Octorara (1, 25-3), Scranton Prep (2, 24-4), Shamokin (4, 18-8), Somerset (5, 21-4), West Mifflin (7, 19-3), West York (3, 18-8).