City of Basketball Love

Chad Graham (@CGraham_Sports)
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(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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The Inter-Academic League only has six competitors on the boys’ side, and there’s no shortage of rivalries, familiarity, and talent within that sextet. Last year, Penn Charter and Malvern Prep split the league title with 8-2 records, each winning one game against the other; in a league without playoffs, that was as close as it gets. The Quakers and Friars are still strong, but a Springside-Chestnut Hill squad that has the league’s best individual prospect has been playing well in select offseason appearances, a sign that this is likely going to be a three-way race for the title.

Here’s how we see the Inter-Ac shaping out in 2022-23:

Predicted Top 3

1. Springside Chestnut Hill
2. Penn Charter
3. Malvern Prep

Favorites

Blue Devils coach Julian McFadden returns most of his production after finishing third in the ‘21-22 standings, with a chance to take first this season. Junior guard Camden Burns earned first-team honors as their leading scorer and tough shot-maker. As he expands his game, the high sense of urgency that he plays with will become even more valuable.

The biggest variables in their title hopes are the progression of their secondary offensive options and point guard play. Seniors Alassane Amadou and Jaren Morton are their best bets for the former. A Marquette commit, the 6-foot-9 Amadou is already a high-impact defender, blocking shots and switching onto the perimeter. He also has what it takes to be a game-changer when he’s decisive going to the basket. Morton can have a similar impact as a cutter and slasher, in addition to his catch-and-shoot ability. 

Junior guard Ron Brown III and sophomore guard Keni Williams will man the point. Brown III can shut down opposing ball-handlers while Williams plays with great pace. Another pair of juniors, Mitch Karp and Caleb Alston-Nelson, give them depth and versatility in the frontcourt. And freshman guard Patrese Feamster is skilled enough of a shooter to elevate what the upperclassmen do without needing many touches.

Right there with SCH is Penn Charter, which went through an unexpected coaching change this fall, but returns its whole lineup from last year’s co-champions.

Reigning Inter-Ac POY and Lafayette College-signee Mark Butler is back for one last ride (11.8 ppg) at Penn Charter. The senior quartet of Butler, Keith Gee, Trey Shinholster (11.5 ppg), and Isaiah Grimes led the Quakers to a share of the 2022 league title and they aim to finish their high school careers as the undisputed champions, with classmate Colin Schumm another big piece of the puzzle, along with junior wing Kevin Cotton. And watch out for sophomore guard Kai Shinholster; Trey’s younger brother could be the one who takes them over the top. His three scholarship offers signal his potential impact this season.

Dark Horses

Malvern Prep’s junior Ryan Williams was arguably the best player in the league as only a sophomore (16.4 ppg and first team all-league). He now steps into their primary initiator role, generating offense for himself and bending the defense to set up others. Senior forward Andrew Phillips, who was right behind Williams as a scorer (15.5 ppg), is slimmed down and ready to defend in the post and on the perimeter. Ryan Pegg (2024) is another junior guard in line to contribute on both ends.

The Episcopal Academy Churchmen have slowly been making strides since 2021. If they’re going to upset any of the top three, it’s going to come with monumental efforts from Kevin McCarthy and TJ Lamb. After being their second leading scorer as a freshman, McCarthy increased his output to 15.7 ppg his sophomore season, garnering all-league first team. His precision cutting and popping off of screens made for consistent offense without having to dribble much. Lamb is a senior committed to Cornell to play lacrosse and is a star on the football field too, but he chipped in another 10.8 ppg in ‘21-22. This one-two punch plus the other pieces coming up through Episcopal’s system could have what it takes to play spoiler in the Inter-Ac.

Other Names to Know

At Germantown Academy, sophomore Bryce Rollerson goes from wide-eyed spark-plug freshman to key veteran in year two. The Patriots will count on Rollerson to get 

his senior backcourt mate Evan Spivey involved and integrate freshman Bryce Presley, their intriguing freshman, into their scheme.

Senior Luke Rasmussen returns to Haverford School for his senior season. He’ll elevate the play of two key returners: junior Billy Rayer and sophomore KJ Carson. Freshman Emmanuel Butts lacks experience at this level, but is talented enough to be their leading offensive threat by league play.