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’ll spend today revealing Class 4A — Classes 3A, 2A and A were unveiled earlier this week — check back periodically for the remaining classifications as we crescendo toward the season’s Dec. 9 start.

Should be fun.

As for our preseason No. 1, we’re going to give the early nod to an Imhotep Charter squad that was denied trips to Hershey’s Giant Center by a Neumann-Goretti bunch that wound up winning both times in the PIAA Class AAA title game.

Well, Neumann-Goretti’s in 3A.

And since Imhotep Charter is parked in the PIAA’s 4A classification — and Rhode Island recruit Daron Russell, a two-time all-state selection, is still bouncing all over the backcourt — Andre Noble’s Panthers are off to a mighty good start.

Factor in 6-6 senior and Robert Morris recruit Koby Thomas and the return to Philadelphia of former Archbishop Carroll standout and 6-3 South Carolina recruit David Beatty — he spent last year at St. Benedict’s (N.J.) Prep — and there’s plenty to like about Noble’s latest Imhotep Charter edition.

Imhotep’s typical squadron of bigs — 6-7 sophomore Donte Scott, 6-6 sophomore Chereef Knox and 6-8 freshman Elijah Taylor — adds a few more plusses.

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.

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 4A

1. Imhotep Charter (12, 24-6)

           Notables: Expecting to make yet another determined run at hoisting a state championship trophy, Noble has put together a brutal slate that definitely will test Russell and the guys trying desperately to check the Rhode Island recruit whenever he’s pounding the ball on the break or in some half-court set. These Panthers will get plenty of attention wherever they go, since Russell, Thomas and Beatty are all ticketed for Division I programs and hoops fans want to get an early look. Key to an Imhotep club that’s been to the state semis the past two years may be those young bigs — Scott, Knox and Taylor — and how they fare up front. Will find out quickly since these guys are opening up against Reading … in Reading.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 vs. Reading at Albright College.

2. Scranton Prep (2, 25-3)

           Notables: While many of Andrew Kettel’s Cavaliers may have had those forlorn looks stretched across their faces last March after getting torched in the second round of states by eventual champ Neumann-Goretti, they may spend this winter taking it out on all of northeast Pennsylvania. Plenty of pop to do it, too, since 6-4 senior Logan Bailey, 6-1 senior Paddy Casey and 6-2 senior Nick Dende — the Cavaliers’ top three scores in 2015-16 — return to a remarkably combustible backcourt that will fuel Prep’s 93-octane attack. Since 6-4 senior Brett Para and 6-5 junior Wes Simons also are back, Kettel’s piloting one of those well-rounded sides that’s fully capable of making a deep, deep postseason run.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 vs. Meyers.

3. Beaver Falls (24-4)

          Notables: While the football team will be busy attempting to win a PIAA Class 3A championship Saturday in Hershey, Doug Biega and his players will be tipping off what should be a promising basketball campaign. Of course, Biega’s Tigers expect to do terrific things each and every season. And with all-state big man Josh Creach (21ppg/12rpg) taking his Farewell Tour, really neat things could happen in Beaver Falls. Although the talented Creach won’t have classmate Donovan Jeter working alongside him up front  — Jeter is graduating early and heading for Michigan on a football ride —  guards Malik Shepherd, Torian Leak and Bryce Stratti also are back and they have plenty of experience. Might take some time for the football players to find a rhythm, but these guys should be cooking by the time February arrives. Even making a December trip to Philadelphia.

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

4. New Castle (7, 25-3)

           Notables: Ralph Blundo may spot a big man strolling down New Castle’s sizable hallways one of these days, but until that happens he’ll be more than happy to send his undersized Red Hurricanes into any fray. And while Blundo’s smallish bunch reached the state quarterfinals last season — they toppled a much-bigger Beaver Falls side to get there — that’s where everything came to an end. Yet with a handful of players back — senior Geno Stone, junior Marcus Hooker, senior Garrett Farah, senior Geno DeMonaco and junior Lorenzo Gardner — Blundo likely will continue to instruct his club to play as fast as possible and pressure the heck out of the basketball at the other end. Since that’s been his successful recipe for a number of seasons now, why change something that works so splendidly well.

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

5. Bethlehem Catholic (15-11)

           Notables: While a narrow loss to Salisbury in District 11’s all-or-nothing third-place scrap prevented the Golden Hawks from reaching the PIAA’s Class AAA playoffs last season, Ray Barbosa has ramped up the expectations entering his second season in charge and the rest of the East Penn Conference is on full alert. Already in fine shape with the return of 5-9 sophomore lead guard Justin Paz and 6-9 junior Division I prospect Ryan Young, those expectations grew significantly when a trio of transfers — junior guard Will Melson (Allentown Dieruff), 6-4 senior forward Jordan Odle (Palisades) and 6-3 senior guard Amir Pettiford (Newark Tech) — checked into the Christmas City program. And how well the newcomers mesh with the returnees while facing a tough EPC slate will tell us plenty.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at North Schuylkill.

6. Meyers (20-7)

           Notables: Although a rugged early-season schedule led to a less-than-sparkling start — losing senior big man Ryan Wasley for a lengthy stretch did not help — Pat Toole’s Mohawks were firing on all eight cylinders throughout a splendid stretch run last season that featured a 16-game winning streak. While that nifty run ended in the PIAA Class AA second round — Camp Hill bested the Wilkes-Barre side — Toole welcomed back a handful of regulars from that club and that means another strong campaign is likely. We’ll start with a backcourt led by 5-10 senior Matt Dessoye, 5-10 junior Omar Kelly and 5-9 junior Juwane Buckner that’s not all that big but is full of quicks. Toole also will have a pair of 6-4 seniors up front in Ryan Gilgallon and Levaugn Soules, so there is some size available.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at Scranton Prep.

7. Farrell (21-7)

           Notables: Might seem strange to find western Pennsylvania’s other Steelers hanging with much-bigger schools — especially given Farrell’s recent success at the Class A level — but the rest of District 10 is plenty concerned. While former Farrell great Bobby Stewart is in charge following four seasons as an assistant coach, his first Steelers group will be a less-heralded bunch since all-time leading scorer Malik Miller and a number of others have moved on. Regardless, these guys still can play. Multi-sport star Kyi Wright, a 6-3, 220-pound sophomore hammer, played a sizable role in 2015-16 when the Steelers reached the state quarters so he’s logged quality minutes. Others ready to step up include 6-0 Nylan Hosey-Savage and 5-9 Jarod Messett. Electric lead guard Manis “Bullet” Norman would have been in the Steelers’ high-quality mix, too, but he transferred to nearby Kennedy Catholic.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 10-11 at own Julius McCoy Tip-Off.

8. Salisbury (21-7)

           Notables: Fresh off an appearance in the PIAA Class AAA tournament — Salisbury had to fend off Bethlehem Catholic just to get to the state playoffs — Jason Weaver’s Falcons soon found themselves on the sidelines following a loss to a senior-heavy Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt club. Yet with veterans such as 6-4 senior forward Jaxon Costello, 6-1 junior guard Jack Reichenbach and 5-10 senior guard Blake Jones again locked into a deep rotation, Weaver’s suburban Allentown Falcons should be ready to make plenty of noise in 2016-17. Not just at the Colonial League level, but also at the District 11 and state levels.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at Blue Mountain.

9. Quaker Valley (7, 22-7)

           Notables: Making the jump to 4A isn’t such a big deal — Mike Mastroianni’s Quakers advanced to the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals a season ago before falling to Lincoln Park — when you can defend like these guys typically defend. Seems the Quakers yielded just south of 50 points per outing throughout the 2015-16 season while playing against a difficult collection of WPIAL entries. And with a quartet of starters from that outfit still milling about the locker room — 5-11 senior guard Amos Luptak, 6-4 junior guard Coletrane Washington, 6-1 senior forward Wolfie Moser and 6-2 junior forward Ricky Guss — another quality season is likely for the highly successful suburban Pittsburgh program.

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

10. Clearfield (9, 23-3)

           Notables: Although Nate Glunt’s Bison enjoyed a dandy 2015-16 season highlighted by a berth in the PIAA’s Class AAA tournament — Clearfield slugged it out for three quarters with eventual state runner-up Mars before falling 68-60 — they may be poised for another since all-state selection and perimeter threat Will Myers (17.2 ppg) headlines a returning group flush with experience and confidence. Complementing the 6-3 Myers will be 6-2 Tommy Hazel (13.5 ppg), another deep shooter who canned six treys in the first three quarters of the Bison’s season-ending loss to Mars. Lead guard Evan Brown and 6-3 Dave McKenzie also return to a Clearfield squad that’s chasing a third straight District 9 championship.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 9 at Curwensville.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Conwell-Egan (12, 17-10), Danville (4, 16-11), Eastern Lebanon County (3, 22-6), Eastern York (3, 22-7), Lancaster Catholic (3, 15-10), Lower Moreland (1, 22-7), Middletown (3, 14-9), Montoursville (4, 13-11), Strong Vincent (10, 19-8), Tyrone (6, 15-10).