City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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Under the old four-classification system, the AAA class had become the Neumann-Goretti invitational. The Saints had won six of the eight championships since the Catholic League joined the PIAA for the 2008-09 season, missing out only when losing to Donegal in the 2013 quarterfinals but otherwise running rampant through the rest of the Keystone State.

Even though the classes have shuffled, Neumann-Goretti is still the name to know in the new 3A classification, though there’s a few former A and AA championship-level programs that are now up to contend with the South Philadelphia powerhouse.

Here’s a look at the Class 3A bracket, which gets underway this Friday:

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More Previews: Class A | Class 2A | Class 3A | Class 4A | Class 5A | Class 6A

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The Favorites
Neumann-Goretti (19-7)
Winners of six of the last seven PIAA Class AAA titles, Neumann-Goretti is the favorite to make it seven of eight, led by a pair of top-100 prospects. Kentucky-bound guard Quade Green (19.5 ppg) and Villanova-bound forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (16.2 ppg) present as powerful a 1-2 punch as you’ll find anywhere else in the state, and as usual head coach Carl Arrigale has more than just a couple of horses in the stable. Sophomore guard Christian Ings (9.0 ppg) and recent East Stroudsburg commit Mike Milsip (7.9 ppg) are both double-digit scoring threats, as is junior guard Noah Warren, who averaged 9.8 ppg during Catholic League play. The Saints are angry after losing their third straight Catholic League championship game, and are looking to take it out on the rest of the state.

Trinity (22-3)
Experienced outfit with all sorts of firepower that just claimed its fourth consecutive District 3 championship and delivered veteran skipper Larry Kostelac Jr. his 675th career victory. While 6-4 senior Timmy Edwards is the Shamrocks’ leading scorer (18.7 ppg/5.7 rpg), 6-3 senior Austin Gilbertson (15.1 ppg/3.8 rpg/4.6 apg) is a two-time all-state selection who pilots the attack from his lead guard spot. Those two don’t operate alone, however, as 6-11 junior Sean Good (8.5 ppg/9.7 rpg/4.3 bpg), 6-3 senior Marcus Hall (6.5 ppg/5.4 rpg) and 6-5 junior Jack Bucher (7.1 ppg/4.8 rpg) also pack plenty of punch. More help comes from the likes of 6-0 junior Mike Scarpelli, 5-11 sophomore Matt Long, 6-6 sophomore Kalen Veres and 6-1 junior Tresjon Ruiz.

Dark Horses
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (21-5)
Smallish group skippered by the capable Dave Long, the Trojans are back in the state field after making the jump from Class A to Class 3A. Defense-minded outfit that concedes just under 44 points per game, North Catholic limited Lincoln Park’s lethal Nelly Cummings to a mere 18 points while defeating the Leopards 56-51 in the WPIAL final. Junior guard John Fukon paced the Trojans with 16 points, while 6-3 senior forward Zach Offi finished with 15 and 5-9 soph Isaiah Wilson chipped in 11. North Catholic also picked up seven points from 6-2 senior Kenny Fukon, who landed all-state honors a season ago in Class A.

Delaware Valley Charter (20-7)
After replacing almost all the pieces from last year's District 12 championship team, which made it into the quarterfinals of the state tournament bracket, first-year head coach James Lewis has done a great job with an underrated Warriors squad that's gotten better and better as the year's gone on. Junior point guard Antwuan Butler, one of the few returners, makes them go, though he gets help in the scoring column from senior wing Makhi Morris; senior big man Dion Harris and Morris both have several Division II offers, while Butler is on the radar of several Division I programs. Del-Val can play at a high level, which it showed in playing Pub champion Imhotep to a four-point loss in the league semifinals.

Lancaster Mennonite (23-4)
Undersized yet packing all sorts of experience, Geoff Groff’s determined Blazers may be one of those teams that rarely merits a reaction when they hop off the bus yet will earns all sorts of respect as the game plays out. While 6-3 senior Javan Terry (15.0 ppg), 5-10 senior Richie Rosas (10.8 ppg) and 6-3 junior Isaac Beers (10.2 ppg) all average 10 points per contest or more, Mennonite also gets plenty from 5-11 junior Jon Gillespie (9.1 ppg), 6-1 senior Timmy Stefanosky (7.2 ppg) and 5-10 junior Carter Hurst (7.0 ppg), Plus, Beers, Rosas and Gillespie have knocked down a combined 111 treys. While Groff’s bunch was pushed around during the regular-season by a hot-shooting Trinity bunch (72-47) at home, they did have several chances to force the District 3 final into overtime before falling 75-72 to the Shamrocks.

Lincoln Park Charter (21-5)
Although flammable senior guard Nelly Cummings draws all sorts of attention for his high-scoring performances — Cummings was averaging 29 points per game heading into the WPIAL championship game — Mike Bariski’s lineup sports more than just the 6-0 Bowling Green recruit. Evan Brown, a 6-0 senior headed for D-III La Roche, nailed a buzzer-beating shot to propel the Leopards past Seton-LaSalle in the quarterfinals. Other parts of LP’s rotation include 6-2 sophomore Keeno Holmes, 6-5 sophomore Thomas Melonja, 6-3 junior Nick Antonucci and 6-1 junior Gibbs Kanyongo.

Valley Forge Military Academy (20-4)
This is the first time a rather young Valley Forge program has made a foray into the state tournament realm, but head coach Francis Bowe has a group that suggest he'll be making it a regular appearance. Junior big man Abraham Deng, a 6-11 center, is the Division I draw in the middle, though his status is up in the air with a wrist injury; if he's sidelined, they'll have to lean heavily on the senior backcourt of Myles Bunyon and Devin Hill plus 6-3 junior Arion Lewis; 6-10 junior Marius Ntwari stepped up with 10 points and eight rebounds in the team's District 1/11 title game win over Notre Dame-Green Pond. It'll be interesting to see how the Trojans handle being on this stage after winning their first-ever league and district titles.

Players to Watch
Antwuan Butler, Del-Val Charter
A typically tough Philly lead guard, "Booty" Butler is the leader for a Warriors squad that's exceeded expectations this season. The 5-foot-11 point guard can get his own bucket from all three levels, with a solid 3-point shot when he gets his feet set, though he'll attack the bucket without abandon; does a good job of not forcing the issue, however, and sets up his teammates.

Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, Neumann-Goretti
Over the last three years, has transformed from a raw-but-promising young forward into a polished, well-rounded post player who can face up out to the 3-point arc, pass out of the low and high block and defend inside and out at a high level. Four years at Villanova and he might be a pro.

Nelly Cummings, Lincoln Park
Remarkably productive from the very first day he tugged on a Lincoln Park jersey, the 6-0 Cummings heads into state play with 2,270 career points, a number that ranks him 13th in WPIAL history. Averaging 29 points per outing, the Bowling Green recruit piled up 111 points during the WPIAL playoffs and figures to ring up a few more before he’s done.

Timmy Edwards, Trinity
Not committed yet, the combustible 6-4 Edwards erupted for 33 points as the Shamrocks held off Lancaster Mennonite 75-72 in the District 3 title game. Packing quality lift and a solid mid-range game, Edwards also will fill lanes and can finish with a flourish in transition.

Austin Gilbertson, Trinity
Once the 6-3 senior committed to Pace (N.Y.) in January, a relieved Gilbertson’s game climbed to an even-higher level. A terrific passer in transition as well as the half-court, Gilbertson has some Maravich-type flair built in. Also sports a dependable jump shot with range.

Quade Green, Neumann-Goretti
One of Philly's brightest talents since his freshman year at the South Philly powerhouse, Green is now in the final few games of his N-G career. Showed his ability as one of the nation's top point guards last summer, which is why he's headed to Kentucky this fall.

Arion Lewis, Valley Forge
A 6-3 guard who can put up (and hit) a lot of shots, Lewis spent the previous two seasons on the junior varsity squad at Roman Catholic but has succeeded at Valley Forge in his first year on the main stage. The son of Del-Val coach James Lewis, Arion has a chance to face his dad if they both win two games.

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First-Round Schedule (District-Seed in Parentheses; all games 3/10)

(12-1) Neumann-Goretti vs. (3-3) York Catholic -- South Philadelphia HS, 6:00 PM
(2-1) Holy Redeemer vs. (12-4) World Communications -- Wilkes Univ., 8:00 PM

(3-2) Lancaster Mennonite vs. (12-3) West Catholic -- Garden Spot, 8 PM
(4-1) Hughesville vs. (11-1) Notre Dame-Green Pond -- Milton Area, 7:30 PM

(1-1) Valley Forge vs. (12-5) Parkway Center City -- Marple Newtown, 6:00 PM
(4-2) Southern Columbia vs. (2-2) Mid-Valley -- Shamokin Area HS, 7:30 PM

(12-2) Del-Val Charter vs. (4-3) Loyalsock Twp. -- Lincoln HS, 7:30 PM
(3-1) Trinity vs. (12-6) Strawberry Mansion -- Spartan Center, 8:00 PM

(6-1) Central Cambria vs. (3-4) Columbia -- Richland HS, 7:30
(8-1) Westinghouse vs. (7-5) Riverside -- Allderdice, 7:00 PM

(10-2) Fairfiew vs. (7-4) Shady Side Academy -- Prep-Villa Center, 7:00 PM
(7-1) Cardinal Wuerl NC vs. (6-4) Bellwood Antis -- Gateway HS, 7:30 PM

(9-1) Karns City vs. (10-3) Erie First Christian -- Clarion, 5:00 PM
(6-2) Richland HS vs. (7-3) Washington -- Johnstown HS, 7:30 PM

(7-2) Lincoln Park vs. (6-3) Juniata -- Fox Chapel HS, 7:30 PM
(10-1) Greenville vs. (7-6) Seton LaSalle -- Sharon HS, 7:30 PM