City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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With the holidays quickly approaching, the high school showcases are in full swing.

Here’s a quick look at the events taking place in the region this weekend:

Coaches vs. Cancer Classic  -- Dec. 17 @ Archbishop Wood
Pennsbury vs. Valley Forge (12:30 PM)
Father Judge vs. Octorara (2:15 PM)
Constitution vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (4:00 PM)
Abington vs Roman Catholic (5:45 PM)
Scranton Prep vs. Archbishop Wood (7:30 PM)

The highlight event of the weekend is this five-game event, with benefits going towards the Coaches vs. Cancer organization, and there’s nothing wrong with combining good hoops with a good cause. The host Vikings close out the day with a game against northeast PA powerhouse Scranton Prep, but Collin Gillespie, Tyree Pickron and company are one of the best in the state and will likely prove it on their home court. Terrific day for big men: Valley Forge junior Abraham Deng (6-10), Plymouth-Whitemarsh sophomore Naeem McLeod (6-11), Abington sophomore Eric Dixon (6-7) and Wood junior Seth Pinkney (6-10) are all very much on the Division I track, while Pennsbury’s Mark Flagg (6-7) and Constitution’s Maurice Waters (6-6) are scholarship-worthy as well. Also don’t miss Father Judge senior Marc Rodriguez, a 6-2 guard with multiple D-II offers, as well as Abington sophomore Lucas Monroe, a 6-5 point guard with a bright future.

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La Salle Showcase -- Dec. 18 @ La Salle College HS
Simon Gratz vs. Bonner-Prendergast (1:00 PM)
Church Farm vs. Del-Val Charter (2:30 PM)
Mastery North vs. La Salle College HS (4:00 PM)

Late addition here, but a worthy three-game event at La Salle on Sunday. The hosts get defending PIAA Class AA runner-up Mastery Charter North and Bowling Green commit Daeqwon Plowden in the highlight game, as the athletic 6-4 wing will have to go up against Explorer sophomores Zach Crisler (6-8) and Konrad Kiszka (6-5) plus high-scoring senior Matt Paulus, an Ursinus commit. First two games are certainly entertaining as well, as a Bonner squad playing at a very high level goes up against a Gratz side off a state Class AAAA quarterfinals appearance, followed by Church Farm and super sophomore big man Jon Bol Ajak (6-11) up against a Del-Val group led by talented junior guard Antwuan "Booty" Butler.

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Brawl Behind the Wall -- Dec. 16-18 @ Girard College
Dec. 16
Girard College vs. Archbishop Ryan (5:00 PM)
Math, Civics & Sciences vs. Perkiomen School (6:30 PM)
Beaver Falls vs. Bonner-Prendie (8:00 PM)

Dec. 17
Freire Charter vs. Tacony Charter (12:15 PM)
Bethlehem Catholic vs. Beaver Falls (1:45 PM)
Sankofa Charter vs. Prep Charter (3:15 PM)
Perkiomen School vs. Martin Luther King (4:45 PM)
Wilson (D.C.) vs. Overbrook (6:15 PM)
Girard College vs. Brooklyn Collegiate (7:45 PM)

Dec. 18
S.O.T.F. vs. Sankofa Charter (11:00 AM)
Tacony Charter vs. Prep Charter (12:30 PM)
Brooklyn Collegiate vs. Martin Luther King (4:45 PM)
Wilson (D.C.) vs. St. Thomas More (Del.) (6:15 PM)
Audenreid vs. Overbrook (7:45 PM)

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Some events save the best for last -- not the Brawl Behind the Wall, which gets underway with a bang on Friday night as Archbishop Ryan and NJIT commit Izaiah Brockington match up against stud 2020 forward Mikeal Jones and Girard College. Girard's going to have a tough time with the depth of its Catholic League opponent, as Brockington gets plenty of help from 6-7 senior Matiss Kulackovskis and sophomores Amin Bryant and Ja'Quill Stone. That whole first night will be good, as Reggie James and Perkiomen school take on Malik Archer and last year's PIAA Class A runner-up, Math Civics & Sciences, followed by another tough Catholic Leagues squad in Bonner-Prendergast taking on Beaver Falls out of the western part of the state. Also, don't miss two games later in the weekend from Sean Colson's Martin Luther King squad, as the Cougars will make a serious run at the Public League championship.

Make a Wish Showcase -- Dec. 16-17 @ Germantown Academy
Dec. 16
*Archbishop Ryan vs. Penn Charter (3:30 PM)
Simon Gratz vs. Penn Charter (5:00 PM)
*Germantown Academy vs. Mercersburg (6:30 PM)
Germantown Academy vs. Palumbo (8:00 PM)

Dec. 17
*Penn Charter vs. Mercersburg (3:30 PM)
Penn Charter vs. Palumbo (5:00 PM)
Germantown Academy vs. Simon Gratz (6:30 PM)
*Germantown Academy vs. Archbishop Ryan (8:00 PM)

* = Girls’ Varsity

The Patriots host this smaller event, with four teams each on the girls and boys’ sides. Simon Gratz vs. Penn Charter is an intriguing matchup, as it pits former PC coach Lynard Steward against his old squad, though he’s been a year removed from the position. He’s got Gratz playing at a high level, making it to the state quarters last year, and it will be an interesting contrast in styles. Host Germantown Academy, the four-time defending Inter-Ac champion, will be a tough matchup for its two Public League opponents; wing Evan-Eric Longino is one of the area’s best scorers, as he showed with a 40-point performance to open the year.

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Devils Winter Hoops Classic -- Dec. 16-18 @ SCH Academy
Dec. 16
Solebury School vs. Paul Robeson (4:45 PM)
Princeton Day vs. Friends’ Central (6:30 PM)
SCH Academy vs. New Foundations (8:15 PM)

Dec. 17
Princeton Day vs. New Foundations (2:45 PM)
Friends’ Central vs. Solebury School (4:30 PM)
SCH Academy vs. Paul Robeson (6:15 PM)

Dec. 18
Paul Robeson vs. Princeton Day (2:45 PM)
New Foundations vs. Solebury School (4:30 PM)
SCH Academy vs. Friends’ Central (6:15 PM)

It's a private school affair at Springside-Chestnut Hill, with schools from the Inter-Ac, Tri-County League and Friends' League (plus Princeton Day from New Jersey) coming in for the weekend. Friends' Central junior Justin Steers is the highlight player of the weekend, as the 6-6 lefty can put on a show in transition; Phoenix senior guard Antone Walker also recently committed to Wesleyan. The host Blue Devils are led by senior Zuri Peyton, a versatile 6-3 wing, plus fellow seniors Matt Rahill and Chris Alleyne.