City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
--

Here are the standouts from the 22nd edition of the All-City Classic, which took place on Friday night at Girard College:

Justin Anderson (2018/Franklin Learning Center, Pa.)
Anderson, who played last season at Academy New Church but finished out the school year at FLC, caught fire in the second half of the sophomore game, scoring all of his dozen points after the break to help lead the Public squad to a 75-63 win in the middle game. The 6-foot-3 guard, one of three players with 12 points for the Pub squad, knocked down two 3-pointers to show off his shooting range in addition to his ability to score around the rim.

Kevin Anderson (2017/St. John Neumann)
Fresh off a breakout Under Armour Association session in Los Angeles with We R1, this Williamsport product did more of the same during his pit stop in Philly. Anderson got his Non-Public team started with a bang, hitting a 3-pointer and converting on a couple drives to the rim for seven quick points. He added another three later in the game, and also showed off some impressive athleticism with an open-court slam.

Izaiah Brockington (2017/Archbishop Ryan)
In an up-and-down game such as this one, a bucket-getter like this All-Catholic League selection is always going to thrive. Tonight, Brockington was no exception, scoring 16 points to lead his team to a win. He did drill one triple, but as usual got most of his work done attacking the rim. The 6-foot-4 combo guard provided one of the highlights of the night as well, throwing down a tough dunk in transition before corralling a steal and weaving through the defense for an and-one finish to help seal the victory. With Ryan losing a strong senior class, look for Brockington to contend for the PCL’s scoring title next season.

Eric Dixon (2019/Abington)
Dixon tied with Hart, scoring 16 points in the Public Team’s victory, and Dixon got most of those by bullying his way to the hoop in the paint. Dixon burst onto the scene at Abington last year, using his size as a great advantage, and he did so again Friday night. While Dixon also rebounds well, he does more than just the typical rising sophomore big man. He is not afraid to step out to 15 feet and knock down jumpers and he also is a very capable ball handler and passer.

Collin Gillespie (2017/Archbishop Wood)
Gillespie proved why he is strongly looked at as one of the purest point guards in the gym. Gillespie demonstrated excellent handle and a good feeling for the game, finding open teammates for baskets. Gillespie also showed off some range, knocking down multiple shots from beyond the arc. The 6-0 guard has a high basketball IQ and simply makes his teammates around him better with his unselfish play. Gillespie has been experiencing some D-I interest from coaches and if he keeps this play up, Gillespie could be a steal for whatever school he decides to attend.

Hakim Hart (2019/Kingsway N.J.)
Hart tied for a Public Team high with 16 points and was named the game’s MVP. The only New Jersey high school player in the freshman game, Hart showed his scoring prowess by getting to the rim. He also did something which is not always easy in games where players don’t necessarily know each other: Hart did a solid job of running the point and facilitating his team’s offense.

Chris Ings (2019/Neumann-Goretti)
Surprise, surprise, Neumann-Goretti has another promising guard in its program. Ings looks like he could be on his way down the path of great guards at the South Philly institution, as he scored nine points and won the 2019 game’s Defensive Player Award. Ings still has some time to go and players in front of him before he can be a star for the Saints, but if he keeps playing defense like he did on Friday, he should be able to earn some minutes next season.

Mikeal Jones (2019/Roman Catholic)
Jones’ name is one that will be heard a lot on the Philadelphia high school basketball scene for the next few years, and he showed why Friday. Jones had a game-high 18 points and was named MVP of the Non-Public team. The 6-7 forward proved to be tough to defend, especially when he had some room in front of him in transition; much more than just a post presence, he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and hit the mid-range jumper as well. Jones is going to be relied on much more heavily next season at Roman, which lost four seniors including forwards Lamar Stevens and Paul Newman.

Chereef Knox (2019/Imhotep Charter)
Imhotep was very well represented on Friday. Five of the 10 players on the Public Team’s roster are set to be sophomores at the school next season. And while they all had their moments – including a high-flying alley oop finish from forward Donta Scott – Knox put together the best game of them all. A smooth 6-5 wing, Knox was arguably the most polished player in the youngest age group. He used his frame to get to the rim and also showcased his jump shot.

Christian Ray (2018/Octorara)
Ray came into this game after a stellar sophomore season for Octorara and he showed the fans exactly how good of a player he is. Ray showcased a great handle, including hesitation moves to get his defender off balance. Ray’s great playmaking ability opened up opportunities for other teammates to score on many occasions. Ray was also in the midst of the fastbreak several times and was a big reason for a lot of the points scored for his team while he was on the court. Ray possesses the size (6-4) to continue to be successful for Octorara and if he keeps working on all facets of his game, Ray could be a solid contributor at the collegiate level.

Sam Sessoms (2018/Shipley School, Pa.)
Like Gillespie one of the true point guards in the event, Sessoms’ drive-and-dish game was on full display for the Non-Public team in the sophomore game. Slightly short in stature (5-9) but with a strong build, Sessoms has the ball on a string and has a variety of hesitation and slip moves he’ll utilize to get past the defense and find the open man. But in addition to being a dime-getter, Sessoms showed he can score it as well, knocking down two 3-pointers en route to 10 points on the evening. Mid-major D-I coaches are going to love his game and his mentality next summer.

Talek Williams (2017/William Allen)
It did not take long for Williams to put the fans on their feet with his high flying dunks during warm-ups and in the beginning of the game. Williams used his athleticism to fill the wings on fast breaks, making him a big threat to finish for a quick two off the break. The 6-2 guard also used his athleticism on the defensive side of the ball as well, using his big hops to block shots from driving opponents. If Williams can get the rest of his game to develop around his athletic ability, even more Division I coaches may be giving him a strong look.