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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Math, Civics & Sciences (Boys)

11/03/2022, 2:00pm EDT
By Joseph Santoliquito

Joseph Santoliquito (@JSantoliquito)

(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 2022-23 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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It wasn’t that long ago that Math, Civics & Sciences’ head coach Lonnie Diggs was placing PIAA state championship gold medals over the heads of his players in Hershey. The Mighty Elephants just vanquished Bishop Guilfoyle to claim their first PIAA Class 2A state championship in 2019, and first state crown since winning the 1A title in 2011.

Since moving up to 3A the last few years, MCS has made deep runs in the state playoffs, but has yet to reach the state finals.


Nasseem Wright (above) is one of several newcomers on Math, Civics & Sciences. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Entering his fifth year as head coach, Diggs has built a strong tradition at MCS, though this year could be his biggest challenge. The Mighty Elephants have no returning starters from a team that finished 21-9 overall last season, won the District 12 3A championship and reached the PIAA 3A state quarterfinals, where they lost to District 2 champion Holy Redeemer (56-48).

There will be many new faces for MCS this season, but it doesn’t mean Diggs’ standards will change.

“Our expectations are pretty much the same every year, to compete for a Public League and state championship, so the standards stay the same,” Diggs said. “We’re going to be a little undersized this year, but we’ll try to make up for it by being scrappy and playing together. We’re going to play a lot of up-tempo, run and jump a lot, and use a lot of fastbreaks. It’s what we like to do. Most of the time on the court we’re going to have four or five guards out there, so we’re definitely going to play an up-tempo style of game.

“I like how together this team is. There’s no selfishness. Everyone plays for the next man. That will be really important for us, especially with the new guys coming in. If you play connected, we can be a team with a little more talent. Right now, we’re challenging guys to help in the post.”

The Mighty Elephants may be mighty small, by elite Philadelphia Public League standards, though they’re loaded with talent, starting with 6-foot-3 senior guard Nayeem Johnson, along with newcomer Yassir Joyner, a very talented lefty 6-3 senior guard transfer from South Philadelphia, where he averaged 20 points a game. They also added two transfers from Lincoln, energizing 5-8 senior guard Rashan Locke-Hicks and 6-6 junior wing Nasseem Wright, who helped the Rail Splitters to a Public League runner-up finish.

As a sophomore, Wright flashed sporadic brilliance, which as the spring and summer progressed, became more consistent. This will be his second year of competitive high school basketball, since he did not play his freshman year while attending KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy in West Philadelphia.


MCS senior guard Rashan Locke-Hicks, above, was at Lincoln last season along with Wright. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

According to Diggs, Johnson is arguably the best player on the team. He’s explosive. He can score and defend. Nagging injuries have slowed him the previous two years.

“Nayeem Johnson is someone who will really have to step up for us, after missing most of last year with a groin injury,” Diggs said. “Nayeem is a great athlete. He’s a dynamic combo-guard who could do everything. He just hasn’t been able to do everything because of injuries. Getting him to 100-percent will make us a different team. A lot of people haven’t seen what he can really do. I think Nayeem is one of the best players in the city.” 

Locke-Hicks, who is with his third different school in three years, playing at Sankofa as a sophomore, Lincoln as a junior and now at MSC as a senior, is a difference maker. For Lincoln, he ran the Railsplitters’ offense, a pure leader on the team who was often the smallest player on the court who played with the biggest presence.

“Rashan is a true coach on the floor and having a guy like him gives our team a huge boost,” Diggs said.

Rounding out the rest of the Mighty Elephants will be 6-1 senior guards Chauncey Presley and Mohamed Sesay, along with 5-11 senior guard Jeff King III, 6-4 senior guard Isaiah Griffin, joined by 5-9 junior guard Kevin Carter and 6-4 junior forward Lamar McCullough, and 6-foot sophomore guard Alantay Dawson.

“We know everything goes through Imhotep (Charter, the defending Public League, 5A District 12 and 5A PIAA state champions),” Diggs said. “We know they’re going to be tough, like they are every year. They’re well-coached, they have talented players, but I really believe that if we play our style and stay connected, we have a chance to compete with those guys.”

Diggs knows the job ahead will be selling his players on giving up pieces of their game for the better good of creating a better team.

“We’re all going to have to play together in order for us to win,” Presley said. “Since we’ve gotten together this summer, the coaches have been stressing rebounding. We know we’re a small team of all guards. We’re going to need to box out and rebound.”

King says everyone is ready for different roles.

“That comes with everyone wanting it more, wanting to win a Pub title before we graduate,” King said. “We’re going to have to be fast on offense and defense. We are undersized and we know it. We’re going to need to play smart.”

Playing smart and using tempo will be right on Locke-Hicks’ fingertips, since he’ll most likely quarterback the offense.

“I’m ready for that,” said Locke-Hicks, who’s getting attention from West Chester. “I’m looking to provide leadership and energy. I need to be unselfish and do whatever it takes for us to win. I know some of the guys on this team, who’ve I’ve been playing with since I was a kid. I know I’ll need to set the tone and keep everyone connected. But we know we’re all going to need to crash the boards to win.”

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Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who began writing for CoBL in 2021 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter here .


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