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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Penn Wood (Boys)

12/02/2022, 12:15pm EST
By Jeff Griffith

Jeff Griffith (@hooplove215)

(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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In the spring of 2022, Penn Wood’s group of upperclassman veterans finally had the chance to be baptized by fire. 

The 2021-22 season was the first opportunity for the Patriots’ current leaders to gain real postseason experience. For two now-seniors, 5-foot-8 guard Sadiq Fountain and 6-foot-6 forward Mekhi Shillingford, COVID interruptions and a sub-.500 record in an abbreviated 2020-21 season got in the way. As for the Patriots’ starting point guard, Anthony Murray was just a freshman last season. 

Playoff basketball was largely a brand-new experience, which isn’t often the case for those who go through the often-successful Penn Wood program.


Penn Wood junior guard Anthony Murray is one of three key pieces back from last season's state playoff run. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Even so, the Patriots fell early in the PIAA District 1 6A playoffs to top seed Methacton, but — on the wings of a pair of nail-biting victories — climbed their way through the playback bracket and ultimately earned a first-round victory in the PIAA state tournament over Parkland.

“We've preached that we've been a pretty successful program over the last 12 or 13 years. And you know,” Lindeman said. “The COVID year threw us off a little bit, so we had some guys that maybe didn't see the success we were having beforehand. Last year kind of reset the bar.”

Penn Wood fell, 66-50, in its state second-round matchup with a talented Cheltenham team, but by that point, its players were plenty battle-tested. 

And for those key returners on a 2021-22 group that figures to be a top contender in both the Delaware Valley League and District 1, that long-awaited experience could pay major dividends. 

“It's definitely made them hungry to get back,” Lindeman said. “But it also makes coaching a little easier. You don’t have to say, ‘This is what a playoff game looks like.’ Now it's like, ‘Remember that playoff game?’ It does help everybody, because you've been there, and we’ve got guys that experienced that moment.”

Following Penn Wood’s state tournament loss, the 2022 offseason unfolded, players developed, and a rotation began to piece together. Understood roles fell into place. A roster was set, with Fountain, Shillingford and Murray at its helm. 

And then Nasir Washington entered the ring.

In an unexpected October move that, as Lindeman put it, “changed everything,” Washington — an experienced 6-foot-3 guard and talented shooter — transferred into Penn Wood from West Philadelphia, and noticeably altered the makeup of the Patriots’ core of anticipated contributors.

Safe to say, it’s a challenge, but a good problem to have. 

“Everything's different,” Lindeman said. “Everyone's role is going to be different. It's hard, because it's a process that you have to figure out and you can't really figure it out until you're on the court. We'll all figure it out together… everyone has to be ready to adjust.”

According to Lindeman, Washington is fully eligible and good to go for the upcoming season. 

“(There were) some unforeseen reasons at home that made him move in with a family member who is currently at our school,” he said. “He’s ready to go Friday night.”

Much like Penn Wood’s top returning leaders, Washington — the recent recipient of a Fairfield offer — absorbed a wealth of postseason experience last season; he was a key piece in West Philadelphia’s run to the PIAA 4A quarterfinals. The Patriots are slated to visit Washington’s former team Dec. 14. 

Lindeman spoke highly of his team’s newest face; he hasn’t had much time to get used to the senior’s game, but he likes what he’s seen so far. 

“Since he's been here, he’s shown the ability to be a really good shooter,” Lindeman said. “We’re still trying to figure out everything else he can do on the court, but he definitely brings a nice offensive game that we're trying to incorporate.”

As for the group Washington joins, Lindeman sees plenty of reason for excitement amongst his group of rotation players. 

In what will be just his second year of organized basketball according to Lindeman, Fountain has already proven to be a trustworthy member of the Patriots’ backcourt. Penn Wood’s senior guard who played the sixth-man role a year ago is both a spark plug on the offensive end and a nuisance on the defensive end, and has strong leadership qualities to boot. 

“He definitely went through some growing pains of learning the ins and outs of what high-level high school basketball is,” Lindeman said. “Now, he's comfortable and understands it, and kind of has an idea of what we do offensively.”

“He plays harder than almost anyone on the court,” he added. “He leads by example, on the court with his effort, and it's been great for young guys to see.”

As mentioned, Shillingford — now in his third year starting — and Murray make up the rest of Penn Wood’s trop trio of returners, and bring plenty to the table. 

While Lindeman referred to Shillingford as his team’s defensive “anchor,” he also praised the senior’s noticeable offensive development and has high expectations for his final season at Penn Wood. 

“His offensive game has just gotten better and better each year,” Lindeman said. “We're looking for him to definitely break out and have a really strong year offensively to match what he's already done defensively.”

As for Murray, Lindeman hopes to see a sophomore-year leap from the proven point guard. 

“We’re expecting him, having one year of varsity experience under his belt, to also make that jump… and lead our team offensively,” Lindeman added.

While Penn Wood’s top three or four pieces are relatively clear-cut, the Patriots aren’t totally lacking for bench depth. 

As his team’s opener nears, Lindeman knows things could change based on game situations, but generally sees his team as having “eight or nine” players who could see decent minutes. 

He made a point to mention the development of a couple of specific players — junior guard Kivaleon Clarke and junior forward Donald Hairston — into key rotation contributors. Lindeman also noted senior guard Jayden Thompson and junior guard Chris Taylor as potential role players. 

“(Hairston) has really grown,” Lindeman said. “We’ll look to him to fill in our ‘4’ man spot. He’s long, athletic, he looks the part, we’ve just got to get some experience under his belt. (Clark) is a really tough kid. He had a great summer.”

If Penn Wood’s players weren’t sufficiently sharpened by their 2022 playoff run, they’ll be challenged right out of the gate, tipping off their season on the road at Archbishop Carroll — a PIAA 4A semifinalist last season — Dec. 2. The Patriots will then have a quick turnaround, with another road contest Dec. 3 at Marple Newtown and a Dec. 6 home opener against Central Bucks South. 

In regards to what questions he hopes to have answered by way of his team’s busy early slate, Lindeman’s response was simple.

“All of them,” he quipped. “Our thing recently is that we want to play our best basketball in February and March, and we need answers. There's no better test than playing good teams early on to get those answers.”


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