City of Basketball Love

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
--

(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.)

~~~

Well, here we go again.

Back for the second year, City of Basketball Love is going to take another deep rip at splicing together preseason rankings for each of Pennsylvania’s six classifications.

If that seems like a bigger venture than last season, it is since PIAA has upped the number of classes for the first time in 30-plus years — jumping from four to six.

That’s right, six.

And while we begin today with Class A, check back for the remaining classifications as we crescendo toward the Dec. 9 start of the season.

Should be fun.

Once the first full week of games is played, we’ll be back with weekly updates of our rankings, beginning on Dec. 19 and appearing on Mondays the rest of the way.

As for a quick peek at what to expect in Class A, our preseason No. 1 is a Kennedy Catholic program coached by Rick Mancino that returns plenty from the talented squad that closed out last season with a 71-60 victory over Philadelphia’s Math, Civics & Sciences in the PIAA’s Class A championship game.

For those wondering, Math, Civics & Sciences will compete at the 2A level.

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 A

1. Kennedy Catholic (10, 28-2)

           Notables: Still plenty of talent pounding the basketball along Pennsylvania’s western boundary, where Mancino’s veterans include 6-1 Pitt-Johnstown recruit Drew Magestro (15.5 ppg/85 treys), slick 6-3 sophomore Maceo Austin (9.3 ppg), 6-4 Mohamed Konate (8.9 ppg) and 6-0 Channing Phillips (6.2 ppg). May have said goodbye to Class A player of the year and high-motored rim protector Sagaba Konate (West Virginia) as well as all-stater Jason Austin, but another lengthy postseason run likely awaits for Mancino’s Golden Eagles.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 16 vs. Maplewood.

2. Monessen (7, 21-5)

           Notables: Not many programs could bounce right back after losing a pair of all-state selections, but Joe Salvino’s high-octane Greyhounds have that chance since the quality backcourt tandem of 6-2 Justice Rice (16.3 ppg) and 6-2 Jaden Altomore (17.8 ppg) remains on hand. Rice, like the departed pair of Dwight Moore and Lavalle Rush, was an all-state selection last season. Motivation will come from the unpleasant memories generated by opening-round state loss to Farrell.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 9-10 at Upper St. Clair Tip-Off.

3. York Country Day (3, 23-1)

           Notables: Corey Stiles’ group enjoyed one of those magical runs last season, as the Greyhounds wheeled through a perfect regular season, captured the school’s first District 3 title and reached the second round of states. What’s frightening is York Country Day has almost every one of its key pieces back, including high-flying 5-11 senior DeAireus Brown — Brown landed an all-state nod in 2016 — 6-2 senior Jordan Ray and 5-9 junior D.J. Hamilton. Schedule is a bit meatier, but that should toughen this remarkably athletic bunch by the time February arrives.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 9-10 at Hanover Tip-Off.

4. St. John Neumann (4, 24-1)

           Notables: Should continue to be plenty of electricity buzzing about Williamsport’s East End throughout the winter months since two-time all-state choice Kevin Anderson is still bouncing around in a Neumann jersey. All the 6-3 Delaware recruit did last season was average 21 points and 10 boards as Michael Kirby’s Golden Knights captured their third straight District 4 title. While an early exit from the PIAA’s Class A playoffs was unexpected, Neumann should be able to bounce back — even though a tougher slate awaits. Junior Jaiden Lynch, a 5-11 guard, adds oomph to a Knights lineup that is 81-4 the past three years.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 13 at Montgomery.

5. Sullivan County (4, 22-5)

           Notables: While Glenn Vaughan’s experienced bunch probably will duke it out with St. John Neumann for District 4-A supremacy — they’ll collide twice during the regular season — these Griffins have more than enough firepower available to deal with most opponents. Start with 6-1 junior guard John Saxe, who posted nearly 15 ppg a season ago for a Sullivan County squad that reached the opening round of the PIAA Class A playoffs. Several other prominent players also return.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 9-10 at Towanda Tip-Off.

6. Saltsburg (6, 20-5)

           Notables: Although a fourth-place finish in the District 6-A tournament prevented Don Tritt’s surging Trojans from reaching states, the return of a handful of key performers has Saltsburg partisans amped up and ready to go. Not the biggest group, but the likes of 6-0 senior Nick Porter (20.1 ppg/50 treys), 6-1 senior Frank Plowman (14.4 ppg/73 treys) and 6-2 senior Jordan Booth (6.7 ppg/23 treys) are capable of filling it up — and from distance. Senior guard Dan Shirley (8.6 ppg) and junior big man Jake Roman (3.8 ppg) also logged valuable PT a season ago.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 9-10 at Leechburg Tournament.

7. Elk County Catholic (9, 28-1)

           Notables: Seems like Aaron Straub always has his Crusaders in the state-wide basketball discussion and, with a number of consistent players back from a balanced club that lost only in the second round of last season’s state playoffs, ECC obviously merits some chatter. Especially since Straub has pocketed more than 760 victories during his lengthy run on the Crusaders’ steady bench. More victories should follow, too, since players such as 6-2 senior Nate DaCanal, 6-0 senior Gabe Kraus and 6-1 senior Dan Stauffer are among Straub’s game-tested veterans.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 13 vs. Johnsonburg.

8. Faith Christian (1, 18-7)

           Notables: While a tough night at the free-throw line in a District 1-A semifinal-round scrap with Delco Christian helped bring the Lions’ 2015-16 run to an abrupt end, Faith should be right in the thick of the mix yet again as the 2016-17 campaign heats up. And the basis for that assessment is centered on the return of veterans such as Zeke Snowden, Landon Coyle and Charles Ervin. Competitive Bicentennial League season should have the Lions primed for postseason play.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 vs. Chester Charter.

9. Southern Fulton (5, 22-6)

           Notables: Always a factor in District 5’s postseason picture, last season was more of the same as Kent Hendershot piloted his Indians to a Class A crown and the second round of the state playoffs. Unfortunately, Southern Fulton ran into a Constitution club chasing its third straight PIAA crown. The really good news is yet another good run could be in store since the Indians have 6-3 all-state selection Dylan Gordon (17.0 ppg/8.2 rpg) back for his final season. Senior guard Carl Potter (6.5 ppg) and junior big man Branden Lynch (4.8 ppg) also return.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at Hancock (Md.).

10. Shanksville-Stonycreek (5, 23-2)

           Notables: Denied a spot in the PIAA’s Class A playoffs last season by a Southern Fulton squad that sidelined the Vikings in two overtimes in a thrilling District 5 semifinal, Robert Snyder’s veteran group hopes to rebound by stacking plenty of positive results in 2016-17. With at least four key players returning — 5-10 senior Jesse Bittner (12.4 ppg/31 treys), 6-0 sophomore Dawson Snyder (10.6 ppg/42 treys), 5-10 senior Aaron Smith (10.5 ppg) and 6-2 Will Brant — the S-S Express should be fueled up and ready to roll.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9-10 at Pine Grill Tournament.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Bishop Carroll (6, 18-9), Clairton (7, 17-5), DuBois Central Catholic (9, 16-9), Lourdes Regional (4, 18-7), Vincentian (7, 15-9).