City of Basketball Love

Ari Rosenfeld (@ARosenfeldDVHR)
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For the second year in a row, the PSA Cardinals -- a Nike EYBL program based out of New York City -- is putting on a high-level prep showcase at the Hill School.

This Sunday’s event, which begins at 9 AM, consists of six games featuring several of the area’s top programs taking on others from around the northeastern United States and one from our northern neighbor.

Here’s a look at each of the games, featuring players and matchups to watch:

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Schedule
Peddie vs. Girard College (9:00 AM)
Phelps vs. Redemption Christian (10:45 AM)
Hill vs. Top Flight Academy (12:30 AM)
Hun vs. Vermont Academy (2:15 PM)
Molloy vs. Neumann-Goretti (4:00 PM)
Westtown vs. Our Savior Lutheran (5:45 PM)

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Peddie School vs. Girard College (9:00 AM)
Peddie School (Hightstown, N.J.)
League: Mid-Atlantic Prep League
Head coach: Joseph Rulewich

One of several teams competing from the uber-competitive Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), not much is known about the Peddie roster heading into the season. A traditionally strong program known for producing high-academic Division I talent, recent alumni include Binghamton guard Everson Davis and Columbia guard CJ Davis (no relation).

Girard College (Philadelphia, Pa.)
League: Penn-Jersey League
Head coach: Bobby Jordan
Key players: Mikeal Jones (Soph./F), Daiquan Copeland (Sr./G), Rodney Carson (Jr./G)

Fresh off a PIAA Class A state runner-up finish, Girard has its eyes set on a state title this year behind super-sophomore Jones, a 6-foot-7 hybrid forward with early offers from Villanova and Penn State. Joining him on the wing is Copeland, a high-scoring slasher with the chance to play himself into some Division II scholarships this year. The wild card is Carson, a transfer from Cheltenham who will spend a lot of time at the point after playing off the ball most of his career. Because Girard is a PIAA team, this game will not count towards their standings.

Prediction: Girard College

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Phelps School vs. Redemption Christian (10:45 AM)
Phelps School (Malvern, Pa.)
League: Tri-County Independent School League
Head coach: Brian Shanahan
Key players: Arashma Parks (Sr./PF/Temple), Carl Campbell (Sr./C), Yagizhan Selcuk (Sr./PF)

Traditionally sporting a roster of entirely new players each year, Phelps has an intriguing mix of new and returning talent to work with this season. The centerpiece is Parks, a bruising post who transferred from Commonwealth Academy (Mass.); Temple’s lone 2018 commit, he’s the half-brother of Villanova freshman Omari Spellman. Campbell, a London native in his first year in the U.S., and Selcuk, a returner from Turkey, both hold offers from St. Francis (Pa.) and have a chance to rise before the spring signing period. They’re joined by a strong group of senior guards in Jailen Jamison, Manessah Small, and Anton Loginov.

Redemption Christian (Northfield, Mass.)
League: Grind Session
Head coach: Tristan Wilchombe
Key players: De’Andre Vilmar (Sr./SF)

If you were looking for high-major coaches last winter, Redemption Christian games were a good place to start, as versatile senior wing Chris Duarte racked up late offers from the likes of Syracuse, Providence, and Seton Hall before ultimately going the JUCO-route. With a new roster and a challenging national schedule, look for someone to emerge in a similar fashion from this year’s group. Featured in the rotation will be Vilmar, the former Roman Catholic/Paul VI (N.J.) who suffered a season-ending knee injury just minutes into his senior season at PVI last year. Now doing a post-grad year at Redemption, he has a chance to play his way back onto the Division I radar.

Prediction: Phelps

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Hill School vs. TopFlight Academy (12:30 PM)
The Hill School (Pottstown, Pa.)
League: Mid-Atlantic Prep League
Head coach: Phil Canosa
Key players: Chase Audige (Sr./G/William & Mary), Nick Alikakos (Sr./F), Xavier Mayo (Jr./PF)

One of the top independent school programs in the area, this year’s Hill group is likely the most talented of any in recent years. Leading the way is Audige, a PSA Cardinals product who looks like a steal for William & Mary. Fellow Division I prospects are Alikakos, the Episcopal grad who decommitted from Navy in August; Mayo, a bruising post with several low-major offers; and sophomore forward Caleb Dorsey. Also look out for returning senior guard DaQuan Morris, a potential Division II prospect, 7-foot post-grad Seth Maxwell, and talented freshman guard Gabe Dorsey.

Canada TopFlight Academy (Ottawa, Ontario)
League: National Preparatory Association (Canada)
Head coach: Aaron Blakely
Key players: Lual Akot (Jr./G), Muon Reath (Fr./G)

In its first year as a program, Canada TopFlight Academy burst onto the country’s prep scene last season and captured the NPA national championship. Back for year two with a talented roster, they should be led by the emerging Akot, who recently picked up an offer from Tulane and has been tabbed as a potential stock-riser this season. Also look out for high-scoring freshman Reath, who is being hailed by Canadian grassroots authority NorthPoleHoops as the nation’s top 2021 prospect at this stage.

Prediction: TopFlight Academy

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Hun School vs. Vermont Academy (2:15 PM)
Hun School (Princeton, N.J.)
League: Mid-Atlantic Prep League
Head coach: Jonathan Stone
Key players: Niels Lane (Soph./G), Tyler Washington (Sr./G)

Another MAPL squad, Hun is known for producing as many Ivy League players as any program in the nation. This year’s team will be led by two Division I backcourt prospects, as PSA Cardinals product Washington holds an offer from Manhattan and recently visited Coppin State, while Lane has picked up offers from UConn and Providence this fall. A versatile 6-foot-4 guard who can play anywhere from ‘1’ through ‘3’, he has a chance to grow into a national-level recruit over the next year or so.

Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, Vt.)
League: New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC)
Head coach: Alex Popp
Key players: Simi Shittu (Sr./F/Vanderbilt), Thornton Scott (Sr./G/William & Mary), Symir Torrence (Jr./PG)

One of the top programs in the nation’s top prep league, Vermont has sent recent alumni to the likes of Louisville, Miami, Wake Forest, and Butler. Leading the way for the second consecutive year is Shittu, a top-10 national recruit who recently chose Vanderbilt over North Carolina; standing around 6-foot-9, expect to see him play some point guard at times. The next high-major prospect to emerge from the NEPSAC power looks to be Torrence, a Syracuse native with offers from Cincinnati and UMass to go along with interest from the Orange.

Prediction: Vermont Academy

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Archbishop Molloy vs. Neumann-Goretti (4:00 PM)
Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood, N.Y.)
League: Catholic High School Athletic Association
Head coach: Michael McCleary
Key players: Cole Anthony (Jr./PG), Moses Brown (Sr./C), Khalid Moore (Sr./SF/Georgia Tech)

Possessing perhaps the most top-end talent of any high school squad in the country, traditional CHSAA power Molloy is led by two five-star prospects. Anthony, the son of former NBA guard Greg, is a 6-foot-2, uber-athletic floor general who is perhaps the top point guard in the country regardless of class. Not to be outdone, the 7-foot Brown is considered by some to be the top center in his class; his recruitment currently centers around Maryland, UCLA, Florida State, and Kentucky. As if the Stanners were lacking for talent, the 6-foot-6 Moore is a top-150 national prospect in his own right who should contribute immediately in the ACC.

Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.)
League: Philadelphia Catholic League
Head coach: Carl Arrigale
Key players: Marcus Littles (Sr./C/George Washington), Christian Ings (Jr./G), Dymir Montague (Sr./G)

Replacing a McDonald’s All-American and another top-100 recruit is never easy, but the Saints look ready to compete for a PCL title once again after the departures of Quade Green (Kentucky) and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Villanova). There isn’t quite the same star power on this year’s roster, with Littles likely the only D-I senior, but expect contributions from as many as 10 guys. Battle-tested seniors Montague and Noah Warren are strong D-II prospects, while Ings earned mid-major looks in a complementary role to Green. Also look for sophomore lead guard Ahmad Fair to make an impact off the bench, while freshman forward Taquan Woodley is tracking early on as one of the top local prospects in his class.

Prediction: Archbishop Molloy

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Westtown School vs. Our Saviour Lutheran (5:45 PM)
Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.)
League: Friends Schools League
Head coach: Seth Berger
Key players: Cameron Reddish (Sr./SF/Duke), Jake Forrester (Sr./PF/Indiana), Jalen Gaffney (Jr./PG), Noah Collier (Soph./F)

Despite the loss of two pro prospects from last year’s team, Westtown can still safely be considered the most talented group in the area, led by perhaps the nation’s top prospect in 6-foot-8 do-everything wing Reddish. Joining him in the senior class is Forrester, a bouncy 6-foot-9 forward and Harrisburg native who chose Indiana over the likes of Pitt, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, and Xavier. Collier is perhaps the top 2020 prospect in the area, while Lawrenceville Prep transfer Gaffney is every bit of a high-major lead guard. Also look out for sharp-shooting 6-foot-5 freshman John Camden and senior swingman Harrison Eichelberger coming off the bench.

Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.)
League: Grind Session
Head coach: Peter Wehye Jr.
Key players: Posh Alexander (Soph./PG), Jared Rhoden (Sr./F/Seton Hall), Max Amadasun (Soph./C)

Another of the more talented programs in the tri-state, OSL brings back the bulk of its roster from last year and will compete with a loaded national schedule. The engine is undoubtedly Alexander, a hyper-athletic 5-foot-11 jitterbug who is one of the top lead guards in the sophomore class and one of the more exciting players you’ll find nationally. Rhoden is a versatile 6-foot-7 forward who blew up in the last year, choosing Seton Hall over Penn State and Wichita State. One of four post players standing over 6-foot-8, Ireland import Amadasun recently picked up an offer from Penn State and has a chance to emerge as one of the top bigs in his class.

Prediction: Our Saviour Lutheran