City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
--

For the fifth straight year, a week of Philadelphia high school all-star games will begin with a look at the next group of talented young ballplayers.

The Jr. All-City Classic, held tonight at Imhotep Charter HS, features 40 rising freshmen spread out over two games, beginning at 6:30 PM.
The past four Jr. ACCs have showcased quite a few players who have gone on to become high-major Division I recruits.

The inaugural event in 2012 drew future Penn State signees Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens, while the following year had a few top-50 players in Quade Green and Trevon Duval, along with David Beatty, Daron Russell and Eric Ayala. Last year’s event had some of this year’s top freshmen, including Mikeal Jones (Roman), Eric Dixon (Abington) and Khyree Temple (Academy Park).

Here are this year’s rosters, with middle school in parenthesis:

Game One

White Team
Ahmir Adams (St. Martin de Porres)
Zahmere Carroll (Chester Community Center)
Travis Coleman (Cedarbrook)
John “Tre” Dinkins (PS DuPont)
Rahmee Gilbert (Chester Community Center)
Ahmir Harris (St. Martin de Porres)
Nasir Lett (Anderson)
James Ramsey (Austin Meehan)
Yasir Stover (Spruance)
Kevin Young (St. Raymond’s)

Black Team
T.J. Berger (Westtown)
Jaleel Christian
Gabriel Harvey (Freire Charter)
Chris Garland (St. Raymond’s)
Rahdir Hicks (Malvern Prep)
Tairi Ketner (Pennwood)
Micah Mazzccua (Wordsworth Academy)
Mason Mosley (Clearview, N.J.)
Semaj Oliver (Roosevelt)
Jalen Stinson (GESU)

Game Two

White Team
Damir Baez (Chester Community Center)
Jordan “Noah” Collier (Clearview, N.J.)
J'yare Davis (Sanford, Del.)
Lynn Greer III (Marlton, N.J.)
Zahree Harrison (Cedarbrook)
A.J. Hoggard (Brandywine)
Nymire Little (St. Katherine Drexel)
Xavier Pina (Monongahela, N.J.)
Lance Ware (Life Center, N.J.)
Tyrese Watson (Independence)

Black Team
Hakim Byrd (St. Martin de Porres)
Jah’keish Demby (Prestige Academy, Del.)
Eddie Evans (Willingboro, N.J.)
Ahmad Fair (Finletter)
KeShauan Hammonds (Holy Cross)
Montez McNeil (Loyola Blakefield, Md.)
Donovan Rodriguez (Spruance)
Elijah Taylor (St. Martin de Porres)
Kieves Turner (Malvern Prep)
Sam Wylie (KIPP West)