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Prepping for Preps '16-17: PIAA Class 2A Preview

12/05/2016, 12:00pm EST
By Michael Bullock

Tamir Green (above) and Constitution start the season atop the 2A rankings after making it to the semifinals last year. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

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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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.

As one might expect — given the participants as well as what’s happened in the not-so-distant past — southeastern Pennsylvania squads get the early nods in Class 2A.

That said, we’re going to start with Constitution sitting in the No. 1 spot since Robert Moore’s uber-competitive Generals return a pair of all-state selections in lightning-fast 5-8 senior guard Tamir Green and powerful 6-6 senior forward Maurice Waters, among others. Plus, the remarkably consistent Philly Public League program is angling for its third state title in four seasons.

Since No. 2 Math, Civics & Sciences, which last season split four bouts with Constitution, has all-stater Malik Archer and several others back from its memorable journey to the PIAA Class A title game, these two could spend 2016-17 jumping back and forth between Class 2A’s top spots.

A Church Farm side sporting plenty of talented experience rounds out the powerful southeastern Pennsylvania trio parked atop the Class 2A poll.

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.

Brief glimpses of our preseason top 10s 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 2A

1. Constitution (12, 18-12)

           Notables: Since Constitution always wants to be competing for championships at whatever level, Moore goes out of his way to locate a series of hammers that will continually test his Generals. And what better way to start than to open on back-to-back nights against Philly Catholic League toughies Archbishop Ryan and Neumann-Goretti. While all-starters Green (19.0 ppg) and Waters (14.3 ppg/10.5 rpg) will provide plenty of pop in the backcourt and up front, respectively, more help will come from the junior tandem of 6-0 guard Hakim Hudson and 6-5 forward Leeron Wills-Worthy, as well as freshman Champ Hammonds.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at Archbishop Ryan.


Kwazhere Ransom (above) hit several clutch shots for MCS during their state championship run. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

2. Math, Civics & Sciences (12, 15-15)

           Notables: Although Dan Jackson’s Mighty Elephants suffered through their share of early learning experiences in 2015-16 — facing a rugged schedule, MCS was 9-13 in regular-season play — those lessons definitely paid off with a late-season run to a state final. While all-stater Archer (15.7 ppg) headlines an experienced group of returnees — he pocketed 21 points in the Elephants’ 71-60 loss to Kennedy Catholic — Jackson also welcomed back regulars such as 5-10 senior Saheed Peoples (8.6 ppg), 6-0 junior Kwahzere Ransom (8.7 ppg) and 5-11 senior Tymair Johnson (7.8 ppg). Maqi Watson, a 6-7 transfer from Parkway Center City, adds needed length up front since Edward Croswell departed for St. Joseph’s Prep.

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

3. Church Farm (1, 22-5)

           Notables: Marc Turner’s Griffins always seem to be in the middle of most Class 2A postseason discussions and that was again the case last season when Church Farm bounced into state play after capturing District 1 gold for the fifth time in six seasons. One opening-round loss to Parkway Center City later, they were done. Since Turner has a quality nucleus returning — seniors Augustus Veniukevicius, James Lawton and Faustas Kulbickas were three of the Griffins’ top four scorers in 2015-16 — there’s plenty to like about his latest group. How far Church Farm can go, however, may depend on the continuing development of 6-9 John Bol Ajak, an imposing sophomore up front with a massive wingspan.

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

4. Sewickley Academy (7, 26-4)

           Notables: Yet another program that was elevated to the 2A classification following a lengthy yet successful run at Pennsylvania’s smallest-school level, Sewickley Academy was just one victory shy of playing for last season’s Class A state championship. Only problem was Win Palmer’s Panthers just happened to bump into eventual champ Kennedy Catholic. With a terrific senior backcourt returning intact — 5-10 all-state lead guard Chris Groetsch (18.8 ppg) and 6-3 athlete Justin Pryor (14.2 ppg) — Palmer’s group appears poised for another dandy season. Big man Declan Hickton, who checks in at 6-4, also returns to a Panthers lineup that’s anticipating increased production from 6-3 sophomore Nate Ridgeway.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 vs. Thomas Jefferson.

5. Holy Cross (2, 16-10)

           Notables: Although Holy Cross was in and out of the PIAA’s Class AA tournament a season ago in quick fashion — Trinity was responsible for ending the Crusaders’ 2015-16 season — Al Callejas always seems to have something brewing in suburban Scranton. So, why should the 2016-17 campaign be any different? With four of his top five scorers returning, Callejas figures to put yet another competitive side on the floor — even if the Crusaders need some time to get going. Expect Holy Cross’ nucleus to include veteran guards Matt Nelson and Patrick Galvin, while 6-6 Malachi Phillips and 6-4 Bailey Simrell will provide a nice 1-2 up front.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 vs. Abington Heights.

6. Bishop Canevin (7, 20-7)

           Notables: Since Kevin Trost and his Crusaders claimed the Pittsburgh program’s first state tournament victory in a decade or so last season — before falling to eventual champ Aliquippa in Round 2 — there’s plenty of optimism surrounding a surging program that won just four games in 2013-14. Why? The return of standout senior guards Mitchell King (17 ppg) and Walter Bonds (11.5 ppg), both double-digit scorers as juniors, are two significant reasons. A tough WPIAL Section 3 slate including dustups with Sewickley Academy and Our Lady of Sacred Heart will test Canevin throughout the regular season.

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

7. Bishop Guilfoyle (6, 16-10)

           Notables: While Guilfoyle’s run to a third straight PIAA Class A football championship may put Marauders hoops on indefinite hold, once Chris Drenning has everybody available he should be able to field a quality side — if everyone returns from a youthful club that reached states. Senior 5-10 guard Josh Trybus (14.7 ppg) was the only Marauder to reach double digits regularly, but others such as 6-2 senior Andrew Irwin (7.9 ppg), 6-0 junior Mark Conrad (7.8 ppg), 5-10 senior Evan Chadbourn (6.9 ppg), 6-3 junior Nick Scaramozzino (6.6 ppg), 6-5 senior Luke Frederick (7.0 ppg) and 6-2 A.J. Labriola (5.0 ppg) posted solid numbers. Plenty of ifs in play right now for a perennially tough program.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 12 vs. Bishop McCort.

8. Shenandoah Valley (11, 19-9)

           Notables: Fresh off a season highlighted by a well-deserved run to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals — Robbie Miller’s bunch ousted St. John Neumann and Delco Christian before colliding with Constitution — plenty of positive vibes are gushing from a Blue Devils program that also captured the Schuylkill League’s Division III crown. One plus is the return of high-scoring 5-10 senior guard Joel Santana (22.5 ppg), whose productive play down the stretch landed him on the Class A all-state squad. Miller’s early rotation also should feature 6-2 seniors Jermaine McNeil and Isaiah Alvarez, both of whom started last season for the fast-closing Devils.

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

9. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7, 16-6)

           Notables: While Mike Rodriguez’s club had its season ended in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs, his latest group of Chargers has a terrific cornerstone in place in athletic 6-5 senior Ethan Harrell. Harrell can protect the rim defensively and finish above it, but he’s also capable of knocking down some deep, deep looks. Although all-section choice Collin Neville has moved on, OLSH should get help from 6-0 senior guard Romnn Shell, a transfer from Ambridge. We’ll get needed feedback from the Chargers’ league matchups, since ranked clubs Sewickley Academy and Bishop Canevin reside in the same WPIAL section.

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

10. North Penn-Mansfield (4, 15-10)

           Notables: Call last season a rebuilding year or whatever, but it was mighty unusual not to find North Penn-Mansfield among the teams in the PIAA’s 2015-16 Class A tournament field. Since veteran head coach Kipper Burleigh welcomed back everyone, however, the Tigers should be primed for another postseason run and not an early exit from the District 4 playoffs. All-state pick Brock Burleigh (20.4 ppg/10.1 rpg), a 6-5 senior and the son of the head coach, headlines a group of returnees that also includes 6-5, 280-pound senior Shane Kelly (13.8 ppg/10.1 rpg). Derrick Herbst (7.6 ppg) and Konnor Manikowski (9.6 ppg), a pair of 6-0 seniors, are among the backcourt veterans Kipper Burleigh can depend on.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9-10 at Loyalsock Tip-Off.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Cambridge Springs (10, 19-5), Clarion-Limestone (9, 21-3), Cochranton (10, 10-13), Coudersport (9, 23-4), Greensburg Central Catholic (7, 24-3), Jeannette (7, 18-8), Marian Catholic (11, 11-12), Ridgway (9, 23-5), West Middlesex (10, 20-9), Wilmington (10, 12-12).


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