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 AAAA, Classes A, AA and AAA ran earlier 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 AAAA, we’re going with reigning state champion Roman Catholic as our preseason No. 1 since Chris McNesby’s Cahillites return starters Tony Carr, Nazeer Bostick, Paul Newman and D’Andre Vilmar from the group that victimized Philly playmate Martin Luther King 62-45.

Carr subsequently was tagged Pennsylvania’s Class AAAA player of the year, receiving all-state recognition along with Bostick. Both players signed letters of intent with Penn State during November’s early period.

Stir in Haverford School transfer Lamar Stevens, a two-time all-state selection and the third Roman player to sign with Pat Chambers’ Nittany Lions, and McNesby’s Cahillites have the personnel necessary to withstand a series of challenges — while piling up plenty of positive results along the way.

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 AAAA

1. Roman Catholic (12, 29-2) — final 2015 ranking: 1

Notables: Extremely difficult not to anoint Chris McNesby’s remarkably talented Cahillites as CoBL’s preseason No. 1, especially since Roman returns all-state selections Tony Carr and Nazeer Bostick from a club that last March collared state gold. Arrival of all-stater Lamar Stevens from Haverford another huge plus.

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

2. Allderdice (8, 26-3) — final 2015 ranking: 4

Notables: With remarkably strong all-state lead guard Ramon Creighton headlining an experienced crew also featuring athletic senior twins James and Tim Jackson, skipper Buddy Valinsky spiced up the slate in an effort to prep his Dragons for another lengthy postseason engagement. Reached last season’s state semis.   

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

3. Parkland (11, 28-2) — final 2015 ranking: 10

Notables: Andy Stephens’ Trojans return just about everybody from the group that reached Round 2 of the state playoffs — including all five starters — but it might take Parkland time to hit full stride. Especially since veterans Devante Cross and Kenny Yeboah are playing football. Sam Iorio and Kyle Stout also mighty good.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Stroudsburg.

4. Chester (1, 14-11) — final 2015 ranking: NR

Notables: Can only imagine how difficult and how grueling preseason workouts have been at Chester, especially since Larry Yarbray’s program did not reach last season’s state playoffs. Marquis Collins and Maurice Henry front a huge side, but the return of lead guard Kahleeq Campbell (knee) is an absolute must.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Sanford (Del.)

5. Reading (3, 24-6) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: Motivated by their early departure from last season’s state tournament — Reading conceded the final eight points of its 61-59 opening-round loss to Pennridge — Rick Perez’s Red Knights are determined to atone. Presence of junior phenom Lonnie Walker certainly is a mighty good place to start.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. South Philadelphia (@ York Tip-Off)

6. York (3, 26-5) — final 2015 ranking: 9

Notables: Having hoisted the past two District 3-AAAA championship trophies — and three of the last five — Troy Sowers’ Bearcats are aiming to become the first big-school, three-peat winner since Reading (1955-57). Could happen, too, since vets Montrel Morgan, Trey Shifflett and Kris Johnson return.

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Williamsport in York Tip-Off.

7. Archbishop Wood (12, 18-6) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: On a rapid upward ascent since long-time Neumann-Goretti assistant John Mosco assumed command two seasons back, Wood appears ready to contend for Philly Catholic League titles and much more. Trio of Tommy Funk, Collin Gillespie and flashy soph Tyree Pickron will give Mosco’s Vikings a chance.

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. McCaskey (@ Holy Family)

8. Downingtown West (1, 24-6) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: Sporting all sorts of size and skill, Jason Ritter’s optimistic and enthusiastic Whippets are hoping to build on state playoff experience they gathered before falling to eventual champ Roman Catholic in Round 1. Ivy League-bound 6-5 Ryan Betley (Penn) and 6-8 Josh Warren (Cornell) are the West cornerstones.   

Season-opening game: Dec. 4 vs. Freire Charter.

9. Martin Luther King (12, 23-9) — final 2015 ranking: 2

Notables: While Sean Colson figured retooling was in order since his entire starting lineup departed after last year’s loss to Roman Catholic in the state final, Jabri McCall’s sudden return from the private sector meant the Cougars had their lead guard back in the fold. Nasir Bell and Rasool Samir also have experience.

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

10. Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1, 26-4) — final 2015 ranking: OW

Notables: Although Jim Donofrio’s Colonials lost plenty following last season’s run to the state quarters, returning senior and Rider-bound Xzavier Malone will have the home fans wound up. While Michael Lotito is another familiar face in PW’s lineup, 6-5 wing Simeon Fryer has checked in from Upper Dublin.    

Season-opening game: Dec. 5 vs. West Chester Rustin.

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OTHERS TO WATCH: Abington Heights (2) 22-4, Carlisle (3) 16-7, Cedar Crest (3) 27-4, Central Bucks West (1) 17-7, Central Dauphin East (3) 14-10, Chartiers Valley (7) 23-4, Coatesville (1) 17-11, Conestoga (1) 22-7, Emmaus (11) 12-13, Harrisburg (3) 22-9, Hazleton (2), 20-6, LaSalle College (12) 21-7, Lower Merion (1) 17-12, McCaskey (3) 23-11, Nazareth (11) 13-13, North Allegheny (7) 24-4, Pennsbury (1) 25-7, Pine-Richland (7) 17-6, Plum (7) 17-6, Ridley (1) 23-7, St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 18-5, State College (6) 13-11, Williamsport (4) 14-10.