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Prepping for Preps '16-17: Suburban-One League Primer

12/06/2016, 6:00pm EST
By Josh Verlin

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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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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The biggest high school league in District 1, the Suburban One League for all intents and purposes operates as three separate leagues, who all happen to play a league tournament at the end of the regular season. The American, Continental and National divisions of the SOL each bring something different to the table, and there’s no clear overall favorite heading into the season.

It’s a slightly reshuffled league from a year ago, as both Upper Merion and Norristown left the American Division for the Pioneer Athletic Conference; Quakertown shifted from the Continental to the American, as did Hatboro-Horsham; William Tennent went from the National to the Continental, leaving the National and Continental divisions with seven teams apiece and the American with eight.

Here’s a look at how each of the three division races should should up this year, as well as players to watch:


Ahmin Williams (above) and twin brother Ahmad will become primary contributors for the Colonials this year. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Suburban-One American
Favorites
The division champ each of the last three seasons, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (13-1 SOL-American) will have to replace one of the best scorers in the district in Xzavier Malone, the rangy 6-4 guard who averaged 20 points per game for the District 1 AAAA champs and is now spending his freshman year as a reserve at Rider. Junior twins Ahmad and Ahmin Williams, a muscular pair of 6-1 guards, will go from key reserves to leading scorers; how good the Colonials will depend on their development as well as that of 6-10 sophomore Naeem McLeod, who's made big strides in his game the last few months.

Though the Colonials might have momentum on their side, they don’t boast the highest-profile player in the league. That honor belongs to Hatboro-Horsham and senior Clifton Moore, a 6-10 wing who went from mostly-unknown prospect to Indiana commit in the span of five months during the offseason. An unlikely state qualifying team a year ago, the Hatters won’t take anybody by surprise this time around, with Moore and fellow senior Jay Davis now dealing with the weight of expectations after making the state tournament for the first time in 13 seasons.

Dark Horses
Cheltenham, last year’s runner-ups (10-4 SOL-American), graduated a big class of seniors and will have to replace most of its varsity minutes, returning only senior Trevonn Pitts from the main part of the rotation while losing college players in shooting guard Khalil White (Penn State-Harrisburg) and forward Justin Sutton (Elizabethtown). But head coach John Timms has a group that plays an uptempo, aggressive, confident style of basketball that will put opponents out of their game plan, and they thrive off transition buckets and highlight-reel plays. If nothing else, they’ll be fun to watch.

Two more programs to keep an eye on are Wissahickon and Upper Moreland, both of which went 5-9 in league play a year ago. Wissahickon has a strong perimeter group led by senior Zach Gelman, though head coach Kyle Wilson is going to rely heavily on a junior group that includes 6-4 Chaz Owens and 6-4 Zach Reiner, two versatile wing/forwards who will provide a lot of production for the Trojans. The Bears, on the other hand, will rely more on 3-point shooting, led by seniors Damian Washington (6-5) and Casey Decker plus juniors Ryan Coyle and Brett Brossman; 6-3 senior wing Shane Stone and 6-2, 295-pound Ryan Villaneuva give them some athleticism and bulk in the frontcourt, respectively.


Indiana commit Clifton Moore (above) is the highest-profile recruit in District 1. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Players to Watch
Clifton Moore drew scores of coaches to his games this summer, and it was easy to see why. Lanky and athletic at 6-10 with a guard's game, he's a big wing with unlimited potential. Indiana locked up his commitment, and now he's going to have big expectations each time he takes the floor as a senior. ...Plymouth-Whitemarsh junior twins Ahmad and Ahmin Williams were used by Jim Donofrio last year as defensive change-of-pace guards, but this year they get to show off their scoring ability as well. Colonials sophomore Naeem McLeod is a Division I prospect about to get his first taste of significant varsity action. ...Upper Moreland senior Damian Washington has great size for a guard at 6-5 and can really pour it in when he gets hot; will be a wanted commodity at the small-college level. ...Cheltenham senior Trevonn Pitts is a terrific athlete at 6-2, and the wing guard will have the ball in his hands a lot this year. Could put up huge number. Jack Clark (6-5) is an intriguing junior who's grown several inches the last year, but he needs to have a breakout year if he wants to have a shot at D-I. ...Wissahickon junior Chaz Owens is the son of former NBA veteran and Philadelphia 76er Billy Owens. The 6-4 wing is a strong inside-out player who's at his best in transition and attacking off the bounce.

Predicted Top 3
1. Plymouth-Whitemarsh
2. Hatboro-Horsham
3. Wissahickon


Collin MacAdams (above) and C.B. West have to replace their whole starting lineup from last year. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Suburban-One Continental
Favorites
The most wide-open of the three divisions, there’s no clear favorite heading into the season, as the top teams from a year ago all graduated key pieces. Pennridge (13-1 SOL-Continental) lost standout guard Danny Long (Monmouth baseball) and stretch forward Max Wagner (Kutztown) out of a group of five seniors, and defending league champions Central Bucks West (12-2) head coach Adam Sherman only has to replace his entire starting lineup from last year’s league championship squad, including do-everything wing guard Cal Reichwein. Hatboro-Horsham, which would have been the division favorite, switched to the American.

Though Pennridge and C.B. West are both replacing big pieces, both factor to be right there in the race yet again. The Rams have brothers Kyle Yoder, a 6-3 senior forward, plus Seth Yoder, a 6-2 sophomore guard, as well as seniors Ryan Kinky and Ryan Cuthbert all bringing significant varsity experience back -- Kyle Yoder, Kinky and Cuthbert were all starters -- and head coach Dean Behrens' group looks poised and ready for the season. C.B. West will be led by junior wing Collin MacAdams, a versatile 6-5 scorer, and rugged 6-3 forward Jake Reichwein, a varsity contributor a year ago and Cal's younger brother. Like Behrens, Adam Sherman always has a group that's ready to compete, with a system that emphasizes good ball movement and shot selection.

Dark Horses
Central Bucks South doesn’t have a lot in the size department, but the Titans have some talented guards to rely upon who will make them a threat. Senior Alex Karras (6-2) is a confident point guard with a smooth outside stroke; he’ll get a lot of help from fellow seniors Dan Tecce (5-7), Nate Johnston (6-3) and Colin Sauers (5-10), plus junior Nate Robinson, an athletic 5-11 guard who could be in for a breakout season.

North Penn gets a nice boost from the arrival of David Giuliani from Phil-Mont Christian, as the 6-5 senior forward was huge for the Falcons during their Bicentennial Athletic League championship run a year ago, but they lose J.J. Melchior to USciences. Sophomore A.J. Mitchell and senior Reece Udinski will make sure the Knights are still strong.

Players to Watch
Central Bucks West junior Collin MacAdams has put himself on Division I radars in the Ivy/Patriot and similar conference as he gained confidence this summer. At 6-5, with a good outside stroke and the ability to score well within 10 feet of the hoop, he'll have a big growing curve this year. ...C.B. East guard Matt Pattyson is a smart 6-3 lead guard with a versatile offensive game, he's deciding from several high-academic D-III options. ...Pennridge sophomore Sean Yoder has a mature game for his grade, rarely forcing things, and the 6-3 wing plays hard at both ends of the floor. ...North Penn senior David Giuliani is a workhorse of a forward, terrific within 15 feet of the hoop but he also can step out and knock down a triple when left open. D-IIs have offered. ...Souderton senior Michael Bealer is a 6-3 shooter with good size and athleticism. ...C.B. South junior Nate Robinson has a confident attitude on the court and isn't afraid to take his defender off the bounce and get to the hole, and he's a terrific shooter as well. ...William Tennent junior Pat McCauley led the league last year with 61 3-pointers.

Predicted Top 3
1. Pennridge
2. Central Bucks West
3. Central Bucks South


Eric Dixon (above) and Abington are gunning for their fifth straight SOL-National title. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Suburban-One National
Favorites

It’s been four straight seasons of Abington basketball atop the National division -- and what’s scary is, the Ghosts accomplished the feat last year despite relying heavily on a sophomore and two freshmen who are now arguably the best trio in all of District 1. Now a junior, point guard Robbie Heath is a third-year starter, and the 6-1 Australian-born guard is a solid outside shooter and ball-handler. But the really intriguing prospects are the sophomores: Eric Dixon, a 6-7, 250-pound lefty forward who was invited to a USA Basketball minicamp this summer, and Lucas Monroe, a 6-5 lefty guard who will take some point guard duties this year. Add in seniors Joe O’Brien (6-9), Eric Doughtery (6-6) and Rob Young (6-1) and head coach Charles Grasty might just have his best team yet -- and that’s saying something, considering the Ghosts went to the Class AAAA semifinals in 2014 and won the District 1 AAAA title the following year.

The two teams that tied for second a year ago with 10-4 league records will both once again be in the thick of things for a spot in the Suburban One playoffs. Despite returning only two starters from a year ago, Council Rock North has nine seniors and a new head coach with SOL-National experience in former Pennsbury/Ursinus standout Jesse Krasna. Point guard Noah Ehlin leads the way for a strong perimeter group that also includes junior Matt McCallister and Conwell-Egan transfer Drew Burton.

Pennsbury, on the other hand, is strongest in the frontcourt. Senior Mark Flagg, a 6-7 face-up forward, is one of four players his height or taller on the Falcons’ roster; Neshaminy transfer Billy Warren (6-7) gives head coach Bill Coleman another physical presence up front, as does 6-4 glue-guy senior Joey Monaghan. How good they’ll be this year will ultimately depend, however, on the play of the guards -- senior Tyler Sessa-Reeves and Addison Howard, plus 6-4 sophomore wing Gary Francis.

Dark Horses
Former CR North boss Derek Wright is now in charge at Council Rock South, and the Golden Hawks (5-9 SOL-National) return as many as four starters, depending on who’s in the lineup. They’ve got experienced guards in Kevin Newbert (6-3), Alex Nordenholt (5-11) and Austin Thomas (5-9) who can all play both on or off the ball, plus legitimate size up front in 6-6 senior Ryan Boyd; all four are being recruited by a variety of Division III programs.

Also senior-laden with some size is Bensalem (6-8 SOL-National), which added 6-8 Pennsbury transfer Isaiah Carpenter to a rotation that already included talented 6-4 senior wing Richard Dean, 5-11 senior Ward Roberts, 6-3 junior wing Kris Shields and 5-11 junior Tuakerser Douglas. Harry S. Truman (6-8) is led by the senior guard duo of 6-2 Danell Snelling and 5-11 Kelechi Ogbonna, multiple-year starters who will run the show for head coach Byron Conover.


Mark Flagg (above) is part of a towering Pennsbury front line. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Players to Watch
The Abington duo of Eric Dixon and Lucas Monroe are going to draw a lot of Division I coaches to the gym over the next two years before their recruitments wrap up. Dixon, a big-bodied (6-7, 250) forward, has a soft touch and a developed offensive game, averaging 15.5 ppg as a freshman, a new program record. Monroe, a 6-5 lefty point guard, didn’t look to score nearly as much as a sophomore (6.0 ppg) but should see a big step up this year. Robbie Heath, the junior point guard, has a shot at D-I as well with a big year. ...Pennsbury senior forward Mark Flagg has several D-II offers and has flirted with D-Is; the 6-7 stretch-’4’ has a nice inside-out game ...Bensalem senior Richard Dean isn’t the type to beat his own chest or command much attention in that way, but the 6-4 wing is the Owls’ leader and one of the most versatile scorers in the league. ...Truman’s Danelle Snelling is a jet of a guard with good size, and can score from all three levels. ...All three CR South guards -- Newbert, Nordenholt and Thomas -- are capable of carrying the way. Thomas is the best 3-point shooter, Nordenholt the best going north-to-south and Newbert the most patient and best passer of the three.

Predicted Top 3
1. Abington
2. Council Rock North
3. Pennsbury


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