City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2016-17 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed so far can be found here.)

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When Lower Merion’s remarkably successful Gregg Downer finally unveiled his outfit’s 2015-16 roster sometime late last fall, the Aces’ rabid fan base, opposing Central League coaching staffs and much of southeastern Pennsylvania probably took a second look. Maybe more than that.

Geez, even Lower Merion hoops great and sure-fire Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant may have had a puzzled look stretched across his face once the news reached southern California.

It wasn’t difficult to see why those reactions took place, though, especially since Downer’s club included a handful of freshmen. That’s right, five freshmen.

Fast forward some 12 months and you’ll quickly discover that Downer expects to play a half-dozen sophomores once the season commences in early December — and he plans to test those maturing youngsters against a typical Lower Merion schedule.

And that means he’s pieced together a tough non-league schedule to complement the Aces’ perennially rugged, 16-game Central League slate. Essentially, it’s the standard Lower Merion approach — even if Downer's roster features plenty of youngsters.

Again, the emphasis is on ‘plenty.’

Good thing, then, that seniors Noah Fennell and Terrell Jones are still around to provide sage advice as Lower Merion’s sizable sophomore class endures its on-the-job training.

Helps explain why Downer, even two months out, is taking a wait-and-see approach.

While those freshmen received an up-close look last season as the Aces (18-10) reached the District 1 Class AAAA semifinals and advanced to the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs.

Lower Merion, however, had a brief state stay as Simon Gratz edged Downer’s group in overtime (63-61) in the opening round of the 32-team event.

Although several of those freshmen played in that game — along with Fennell and Jones — how they adapt to the spotlight and much-larger roles is the nagging question.

“I don’t know,” Downer said. “We’re going to have six sophomores on the court, so there’ll be some youth in there that’s going to take time to get ready.

“We have two very sound players, first-team all-league-type players, that are seniors, Terrell and Noah,” Downer continued. “How that youth does with pretty minimal varsity experience is going to be important.”

Regardless, even the veterans already know a steep learning curve is to be expected — and navigated.

“Last year we had five freshmen make varsity, it’s like the first time that’s ever happened, so like two or three of those kids are going to need to come out and play well,” said Fennell, the 6-1 senior with the sparkling deep jumper who is receiving interest from high-end academic hammers NYU, Chicago and Franklin & Marshall.

Walking on at a Division I program is another possibility.

“With me and Terrell playing, it’s really good to see those people perform,” Fennell added. “That’s kind of what we want to do, we want to get them on the ball.”

So, with Fennell ably manning one backcourt spot and the energetic 6-4 Jones relentlessly working the backboards and providing needed size up front, Downer has two dependable pieces with loads of experience already plugged in.

“I think Noah, truthfully, is one of the best shooters in the state,” Downer said. “Jones is a Division II prospect. Both of them are very seasoned and have a lot of experience. In some ways, we’ll go as far as they will take us, sprinkled in with the younger kids.”

And those two definitely will need to play consistently well night-in and night-out as Lower Merion tries to reload without the likes of 6-8 Jeremy Horn, 6-6 Dion Harris and nifty lead guard K.J. Helton. Others such as Zack Magill and Eli Needle also departed.

So, here come the youngsters.

Two of Downer’s sophomores — 6-1 Steve Payne and 6-3 Jack Forrest — logged playing time in the Aces' loss to Simon Gratz and split a half-dozen points. Jones, meanwhile, dropped in nine.

Everyone else who scored in Lower Merion’s state opener is gone.

“Me and Terrell definitely want to set the tone for this team,” Fennell remarked.

“If Terrell or I have a bad game, it affects the team. So we want to come out like full throttle and have the younger guys help us out.”

Count on Payne getting his chances.

Guards Theo Henry, Matt O’Connor and Darryl Taylor also may be in Lower Merion’s youthful mix — they also were on the varsity roster last season — along with Forrest.

“He’s going to be handed the ball at the point as a 10th-grader, which hasn’t happened a lot over my career,” admitted Downer, who has won 514 games and three PIAA titles since taking over at Lower Merion in 1990. “That’s a big responsibility. There’ll be some bumps along the way, but he is very talented.

“The hope is all of those sophomores will get nothing but better and we’ll see some rewards next year and the year afterwards.”

How about this season? Since Downer is directing traffic, rewards could happen this year.

“It’s really awesome,” Fennell said. “I think one of the things Downer always says is Kobe kind of set the tone for how we want everyone to play. It’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of getting in the gym and grinding it out. Since then, Downer’s had like 500 wins and a lot of great players go through the program. So, he’s as good as they come.

“You have to trust what he’s doing,” the hard-working Fennell added. “He’s seen more basketball than any of the players on the team, so there’s a lot of trust from the players and we trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

And, like he has for years, Downer will test his youthful charges against their Central League playmates and a collection of potent nonleague opponents such as West Chester Rustin, Shipley, Allentown Allen and returning state quarterfinalist Carlisle.

A trip to suburban Allentown for Parkland’s Holiday Tournament also is on tap. In addition to the host Trojans, Harrisburg is to be part of that four-team field.

“I believe in that John Chaney theory,” Downer said. “You've got to battle-test the guys and I don’t believe in playing a soft nonleague schedule. Sometimes that hurts you the way things go into the computer, with the way they seed the district, but my opinion is you’re not going to win at the district level unless you’re battle-tested.”

Winning at the Central League level also figures to be a tough go, especially since Downer believes the Aces will be chasing the likes of Penncrest and Conestoga. Strath Haven, with big man John Harrar in the middle, also figures to contend. Ridley, which also lost plenty, may need time to reload.

Youthful side or not, Downer hopes to have the Aces somewhere near the top.

“There’s a lot of parity in the league and we hope to be in there somewhere fighting for a playoff berth,” Downer suggested, despite his club’s youthful makeup.

Why not, though? The Aces usually are in there somewhere, contending for something.

They also do plenty of winning, too.