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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Pioneer Athletic Conference (Boys)

12/07/2022, 10:30am EST
By Owen McCue

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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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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For the first time in at least five seasons, there is no clear-cut favorite in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Methacton won four of the last five league titles, defeating Pope John Paul II in the league’s last two championship games. The Golden Panthers were the only one to break the Warriors’ title streak, claiming the PAC crown during a COVID-impacted and postseason-less 2020-21 campaign.

The rest of the core of PJP’s last league title team graduated last season, and Methacton enters this season without a Division I big man manning the paint for the first time since 2015-16 with Cole Hargrove (Drexel) joining Jeff Woodward (Colgate) at the next level.

Only one first team all-league player returns to the PAC from last year’s list and 20 of the other 26 players from the All-PAC team are gone as well. 

It is truly a new era of PAC boys hoops:


Methacton and sharpshooter Matt Christian, above, are seeking a fifth PAC title in six years. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Liberty Division

Predicted Top 3

1. Methacton
2. Boyertown
3. Spring-Ford

Favorites

In previous seasons, Methacton was a no-brainer pick to win the league. The 2019-20 rolled over the league and District 1 and had a legitimate shot at the state title before COVID ended its run in the PIAA quarters. That is not this Warriors team.

Methacton graduates three starters and doesn’t have any of the high-level talent of the past, but the Warriors should have two of the best players in the league this season in senior guards Matt Christian (9.2 ppg, 57 threes) and Cameron Chilson (6.6 ppg). Christian had some big outings last season and will likely to have to pile up even more as he becomes the team’s go-to guy.

Senior guards Jason Lagana and Anthony Daddazio also saw extended action during the team’s PAC title, District 1 semifinal and state playoff runs. Junior 6-3 wing Alex Hermann, who’s recently taken some Division III visits, could be the difference maker for the Warriors, who will look a lot different this season without a true center.

Coming off a 9-13 campaign (4-9 PAC, 2-6 Liberty), Boyertown might not seem like a prime candidate for league contender. However, this offseason the Bears were at events like Philly Live, highlighting where this team’s ambitions lie.

Senior wing Jake Kapp (13.1 ppg, 30 threes), a first team All-PAC Liberty Division selection last season, is the lone returning first teamer from either division. The top returning scorer in the Liberty Division is certainly a candidate to lead the league in scoring this season like his older brother Jerry did.

Along with Kapp, a 6-3 shooting guard with D-II and D-III interest, senior 6-5 guard Zach Ward (7.2 ppg) is back in the mix for second-year coach Travis Miller. Senior wing Richard Black is a lanky shooter who can space the floor. Senior point guard Ryan Tinney and senior forward Dylan Klass also return to the mix and are part of a group of eight seniors who want to leave their mark on the program. 

Dark Horses

Spring-Ford hasn’t won a league title since 2015-16 and missed out on the league postseason a year ago, but the Rams should be a factor in the Liberty. The Rams graduated their top three scorers as junior guard E.J. Campbell (5.9 ppg) is the top returning scorer. But sophomore 6-4 guard Jacob Nguyen is a breakout candidate after an impressive offseason and taking his lumps as a freshman starter in 2021-22. After acting mostly as a spot-up shooter last season, look for him to initiate the offense. Senior wing Alex Lewis is in his third year of varsity hoops for the Rams, senior guard Caleb Little is an experienced ball-handler and tough on-ball defender and sophomore wing Tommy Kelly adds some talent to the mix. The Rams had things figured out on the defensive end last season but will just need to score the ball a little better this season.

Norristown went on an underdog run to the District 1 championship game last season but coach Binky Johnson and the majority of the Eagles’ rotation are gone. Rick Wise takes over as head coach. He’s the lone new head coach in the league this season after six teams switched head coaches prior to 2021-22. Junior guard Miylon Kirlew (5.8 ppg) wasn’t leaned on but exploded for some big outings during the Eagles’ 2021-22 postseason run. He’s a talent who could turn into one of the better players in the league this season. There’s not much returning experience behind him but senior guards Andre Gordon, Jaden Wise and Roddy Gaymon and athletic senior forward Jonathan Brooks are ready for their turn to shine and junior guard Jayden Byrd is another to keep an eye on for a team that will play fast this season.

Other Names to Know

To be honest, not much separates these teams this year, so don’t count out the league’s other two squads from climbing the ladder.

Perkiomen Valley graduated its four other starters but junior Julian Sadler (10.7 ppg) was the leading scorer last season and his a pair of 20-plus point outings already. He seems primed for a big year for the Vikings. Senior forward Shane Nelson and senior guard Luke Hansen were in the rotation last season and coach Mike Poysden always seems to have players emerge as upperclassmen in a program that has a lot of multi-sport talent. Junior 6-4 wing Kyle Shawaluk may be a candidate this season.

Owen J. Roberts may have been a little higher if sharpshooter Jake Bolyn (9.2 ppg, 28 threes) didn’t transfer to Perkiomen School. The Wildcats still have back three-year starter. Luke Fryer (11.0 ppg), a second team all-league selection last season and 6-3 wing Tyler Rossi (6.2 ppg) and junior guard Jack Cashman from the starting lineup with some young pieces like sophomore Elijah Cline hoping to help second-year coach Ben Condello push his team up the division hierarchy.


Pope John Paul II and senior Trey Rogers, above, look to hold onto their spot atop the Frontier. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Frontier Division

Predicted Top 3

1. Pope John Paul II
2. Phoenixville
3. Pottstown

Favorites

Despite replacing most of its scoring, Pope John Paul II is the favorite in the Frontier Division until someone knocks it off. The Golden Panthers have finished atop the division standings for four seasons of coach Brendan Stanton’s tenure along with two league title-game trips. (No other Frontier school has reached the PAC title game since the PAC went to the two-division format in 2016-17). Senior sharpshooter Trey Rogers (6.0 ppg, 32 threes) is the top returning scorer for the Golden Panthers and will certainly light it up from deep on a consistent basis. Junior guards Dom Demito and Chase Mondillo join Rogers in the backcourt. Demito is really good at getting into the paint and playing off two feet to score or create. PJP hasn’t had a ton of size on its teams, but junior 6-6 forward Caleb Zavertnik should give his team a strong post presence on offense and defense this season.

The Golden Panthers’ matchups with Phoenixville have often settled the division standings in recent history. The Phantoms graduated a large group of seniors and have just one starter back, but a talented group of youngsters will lead the way. Junior forward Max Lebisky is an unselfish playmaker with a throwback game. He’ll likely see a big scoring jump this season. Sophomore Deacon Barratta will add some height, scoring and shooting as he makes the jump to the varsity level. Freshman point guard Dawson Brown (son of former Pottstown star and Villanova player Howard Brown) played on the freshman team last season and has a bright future ahead. Junior forward Aidan McClintock saw some varsity minutes last season and adds some size and toughness. 

Dark Horses

Pottstown junior Sadeeq Jackson is one of the names you don’t know you probably should. The athletic 6-2 guard, who can get up and jam it, (and his brother Abdul Jackson) started appearing in the varsity box scores in January last season, averaging 13.8 ppg in 13 varsity contests. He’s the league’s top returning scorer. Along with the Jackson’s Ty Elliot-Moore (6.9 ppg, 19 threes) is another guard who can score, senior guard Rashean Bostic is a shooter and strong defender and senior forward Terryce Phillips has a lot of length to help on the glass and defend the paint. If Jackson builds off his productive end to last season, the Trojans could surprise some teams under second-year coach Ken Ivory in 2022-23

Upper Merion was second in the Frontier last season. Like the rest of the league, the Vikings lost quite a bit and their top two projected returners — four-year guard Madison Tatom (7.7 ppg) and senior wing Zayd Etheridge (8.5 ppg) are both out indefinitely with injuries. Jason Quenzer’s teams have figured out a way to stay competitive and had some red hot late-season stretches in recent history, knocking off some of the bigger school teams in the division. Don’t count out Upper Merion from doing something similar this season and pushing for the top of the division standings. Junior guard Colin Hirshorn and senior forward Devin Swayze are among the many who will have to step up.

Other Names to Know

Pottsgrove juniors Gabe Rinda (10.9 ppg, 35 threes) and Nadhir Ward (8.4 ppg) led the Falcons in scoring last season and should have two more seasons together to build off that. Rinda is an athletic 6-0 guard who can shoot it, while Ward is tough inside despite being undersized. Sophomore point guard Blessings Jones also saw varsity action as a freshman and is part of the young core that might be ready for a bigger push in the PAC in 2023-24.

Upper Perk senior guard Dan Carpenter (7.5 ppg) will be leaned on quite a bit. He’s a good athlete (his older sisters are D1 field hockey players) and will bring some leadership to the group. Junior forward Aidan Keyser and senior guard Armani Avant-Brown are two others back for UP. It’s been a struggle for a few seasons but second-year coach Michael DeCarolis led his squad to an upset win over Phoenixville last year and really likes the direction his group is heading in.


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