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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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.

Since we’ll spend today revealing Class 6A — the other five classifications were unveiled earlier this week — that means everyone can turn their complete attention to their favorite team’s season-opening scrap Friday, Saturday or whenever.

Should be fun.

While we had a number of options available for our preseason No. 1, we’re going with a powerful Reading program that last season advanced to the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals before tumbling to an equally powerful Allderdice club.

Yet even though Rick Perez’s club (28-4) was stung by graduation departures, the Red Knights still have 6-5 senior and University of Miami recruit Lonnie Walker on the floor and he should be gassed up and ready to enjoy a splendid final run.

Also returning is 6-1 senior Isiah Cook, an energetic type who plays much, much bigger than his listed height. Complementary players a season ago, 6-1 junior Xavier Starks, 5-10 junior Hector Dixon, 6-2 junior Khari Whitfield, 6-2 senior Tymir Comfort and 6-1 senior Cristian Abreu also are back and may play expanded roles.

What really boosted Reading’s profile during the summer was the arrival of 6-6 Tyrone Nesby and 5-9 Justin Hummel, a pair of seniors with terrific perimeter skills who checked in from Berks Catholic and Fleetwood, respectively.

Another senior, 6-6 Jose Genao of Perth Amboy, N.J., checked into the ‘R’ in the fall, providing even more experience, size and, of course, scoring punch.

Perez’s Red Knights, chasing the school’s first state title, will need all of that and much, much more if they hope to be standing on the podium come March.

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 6A

1. Reading (3, 28-4)

           Notables: Facing yet another strenuous schedule — including a five-star opener against 4A No. 1 Imhotep Charter just up the street at Albright College — the Red Knights will send an explosive unit on to the floor every night that’s led by the multi-talented Walker. While Nesby, Hummel, Genao and Cook add experienced punch that will help lessen Walker’s sizable load, Perez is going to need production from the unheralded group that sat much of last season — yet provided needed emotional lift during games and serious work rate whenever Reading convened a practice. Another youngster who could provide pop in the backcourt is 5-11 sophomore Wesley Butler, a promising player the Red Knights coaching staff spoke mighty highly of during the run-up to the 2015-16 season.

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

2. Abington (1, 19-6)

           Notables: Unexpectedly upended in the opening round of last season’s District 1-AAAA tournament, Charles Grasty’s Ghosts have turned that premature yet humbling exit into a sizable pool of positive energy as they steam into 2016-17 with a roster chock full of size, experience and, of course, talent. While flashy 6-5 sophomore Lucas Monroe and his 6-7, 250-pound classmate Eric Dixon exude plenty of energy and confidence, Grasty can turn to the likes of 6-0 senior Rob Young, 6-6 senior Eric Dougherty and 6-2 junior Robbie Heath to provide the needed calm and veteran presence. That’s not it, however, as 6-9 senior Joe O’Brien will work alongside Dixon up front and 6-3 junior twins Bryan and Brandon Coffman will do whatever they can and fill whatever role Grasty suggests.

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

3. Pocono Mountain West (11, 21-6)

           Notables: Stopped just short a season ago in the all-or-nothing District 11-AAAA third-place game — Emmaus claimed a 55-51 result and went on to reach the second round of states — Brad Pensyl’s Panthers return just about everybody from that remarkably athletic outfit. Senior Isaiah Wiggins, a 5-11 guard who can finish and facilitate, is back to run the show for the third season in a row. Joining Wiggins in the backcourt is 6-5 senior Lance Singh, another splendid talent fully capable of pocketing big numbers every time out. Pensyl also has several experienced folks up front in 6-4 senior Jalen Vaughns and 6-4 junior Travis Elmore. A ferocious rebounder, Vaughns popped double-doubles in nine of West’s last 11 games. Quality squad that will be a force in the fiercely contested East Penn Conference.

           Season-opening game: Dec. 10 vs. Martin Luther King at Moravian College.

4. William Allen (11, 17-8)

           Notables: Hard not to sit up and notice every time Doug Snyder sends his Allen Canaries on to the floor, whether home or away. Especially when 6-3 senior Talek Williams (19.8 ppg) decides to lift off somewhere near the foul line, extend his left arm and posterize some poor soul parked under the hoop. Understandable, then, why Central Connecticut State was quick to sign him. Yet Williams hardly operates alone, as 6-6 senior Tyrese Martin (15.2 ppg) is another gifted talent and 6-5 Bethlehem Freedom senior transfer Tyrese Stewart will work the low blocks. Snyder also has complementary types such as 6-0 senior Carlos Gutierrez, 6-0 junior Bless Jones and 5-10 junior Malik Gordon ready to go as well. Another East Penn Conference hammer flush with lofty expectations.

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

5. Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1, 28-3)

           Notables: Jim Donofrio may have watched another group of talented players head off to the next level or wherever following a super 2015-16 season highlighted by a District 1-AAAA championship and a run to the state semifinals, but he’s always got another bunch just waiting to move into the spotlight. Welcome to 2016-17. And while Donofrio’s Colonials may need to up the defensive intensity until this club gets comfortable at the opposite end, the backcourt trio of 6-1 senior Cheo Houston and 6-3 junior twins Ahmad and Ahmin Williams will allow PW to do just that. These guys may even be able to take plenty of defensive chances since 6-10 sophomore Naeem McLeod — a player Donofrio has compared defensively to former Colonials great C.J. Aiken — will be waiting to protect the rim. Should be another good season.

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

6. Carlisle (3, 21-7)

           Notables: Still juiced by a dynamic run to last season’s state quarterfinals — Carlisle’s deepest postseason jaunt since the great Billy Owens and the Thundering Herd claimed their fourth consecutive state championship in 1988 — the hoops-happy folks in green-and-gold country are hepped up for another sparkling season. So, with 6-1 all-state catalyst DeShawn “Day Day” Millington pressing the accelerator for the fourth straight season, Andre Anderson’s Herd has a chance to make some more neat things happen. Especially since 6-7 senior Ethan Houston, 5-9 senior Ben Milligan and the Barnes cousins, 6-3 senior Nate, 6-5 junior Ki and 5-10 junior Gavyn, also return. A brutal schedule filled with hammers — as well as the typically tough Mid-Penn Commonwealth slate — will provide a solid litmus test.

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

7. Hatboro-Horsham (1, 14-14)

           Notables: Back in the state tournament for the first time in more than a decade — a good run in District 1-AAAA’s playback setting got them there — Ed Enoch’s Hatters were up at the halftime break against a really good Reading outfit yet wound up falling 61-44. So combine that memorable postseason experience with the rapid ascension of 6-10 senior and Indiana recruit Clifton Moore and one can understand why Hatboro-Horsham sports some much-higher expectations this time around. For those unaware, Moore is a multi-tooled player with the ability to play in the backcourt as well as up front. Presence of athletic senior Jay Davis should help ease the pressure on Moore. Guards Brandon Crews and Ryan Black, also seniors, offer even more experience for Enoch’s Hatters.

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

8. Archbishop Ryan (12, 16-9)

           Notables: Here’s yet another outfit that’s been using some misfortune — in this case, a loss in the District 12-AAAA third-place game — into a source of positive energy as they head into a promising 2016-17 campaign. Although so close a season ago, Joe Zeglinski’s Raiders seem ready to make plenty of noise in the always-rugged Philly Catholic League and, hopefully, much, much more. With dependable 6-4 senior Izaiah Brockington piloting the airship from the backcourt, Zeglinski has few concerns there since the NJIT recruit is one of the Catholic League’s best. A lack of size also isn’t an issue since the Raiders will plug in 6-9 senior Fred Taylor and 6-7 senior Matiss Kulackovskis up front. Joining Brockington in the backcourt could be 5-11 sophomore Jaquill Stone, a transfer from Math, Civics & Sciences, 6-4 sophomore Amin Bryant or a number of other candidates. Program on the rise.

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

9. Williamsport (4, 15-9)

           Notables: Always sporting a roster packing athletes from top to bottom, even if they don’t have a great deal of size, Allen Taylor’s Millionaires typically check into the Magic Dome they call home, attack the glass for 32 heated minutes and most times bounce out with positive results. And that figures to be the ‘Port’s M.O. once again, especially with bouncy 6-3 senior Stan Scott — the younger brother of former all-state forward and UMass-Lowell junior Jahad “Poppy” Thomas — leading the way. While senior lead guard Malik Washington provides the Millionaires with a quality facilitator, Taylor figures to unleash the likes of 6-3 senior Qayyim Ali and 6-3 senior Rondell Carson and let them go to work on the boards.

           Season-opening games: Dec. 10-11 at York Tip-Off.

10. Pine-Richland (7, 21-7)

           Notables: Big, experienced club that returns plenty from the group that handled North Hills in last season’s WPIAL championship game and advanced to the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA tournament — only to run into Allderdice. As for Jeff Ackermann’s returning Rams, we’ll start with 6-3 senior guard Andrew Petcash, a consistent finisher who averaged nearly 21 ppg. Also back is 6-5 junior Phil Jurkovec, a Notre Dame football commit with all sorts of ability yet coming off a thumb injury. While Andrew Kristofic, a 6-5 sophomore, brings more size and youthful energy to Ackermann’s towering lineup, even more length comes from 6-7 senior Grant Carrigan, a Pittsburgh football recruit. Real good side.

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

OTHERS TO WATCH: Bethlehem Liberty (11, 13-12), Butler (7, 15-8), Central Dauphin East (3, 14-10), Central York (3, 23-5), Coatesville (1, 24-3), Council Rock North (1, 14-9), Dallastown (3, 11-11), Emmaus (11, 20-9), Father Judge (12, 13-10), Harrisburg (3, 17-6), Hazleton (2, 19-4), Hempfield (3, 16-11), LaSalle College (12, 17-6), Latrobe (7, 22-3), Lower Merion (1, 18-10), Parkland (11, 21-4), Penn Hills (7, 19-7), Pennsbury (1, 15-8), Perkiomen Valley (1, 16-11), Roman Catholic (12, 27-4), St. Joseph’s Prep (12, 13-10), State College (6, 13-11).