City of Basketball Love

By Justin Procope (@1Procope)
— 

(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 2023-24 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

~~~

Olin Chamberlain sat in the stands at the Palestra last winter, watching others live something he’d worked so hard for. 

It was Chamberlain’s second straight year attending the Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals as a spectator, but this time cut much deeper knowing that just two weeks prior his St. Joe’s Prep team defeated eventual champion Roman Catholic.

“I have this sick feeling in my stomach. I’m watching all these teams like dang, we beat Roman,” Chamberlain said with a laugh. “Why are we not there?”

The plan for him and his teammates is to finally be the ones on the floor this season come February.

“I just want a taste of the Palestra,” Chamberlain said.

While the 2022-23 season did not end in postseason glory for St. Joe’s, the Hawks’ young nucleus took serious strides in its development. After an 8-13 (2-11 PCL) finish in 2021-22, St. Joe’s finished 16-7 (9-4 PCL) before eventually falling to Archbishop Wood in the PCL quarterfinals.

With all five starters returning, the Hawks looked prepared to take the next step toward an even deeper playoff run heading into this summer — entering the conversation as one of the league’s preseason favorites to reach the Palestra. 

Then came the news that the PIAA ruled Fairfield-bound big man Tristen Guillouette ineligible for the season. Now Prep is faced with a unique challenge as it lost one of the best centers in the league.

“I was hurt,” Chamberlain said. “Many people said we’re losing one of the best big men in the state but when I saw it I said I’m missing one of my best friends. I’m missing a leader for our team.” 

Guillouette, who started his high school career at Life Center (N.J.), averaged 10.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 3.0 bpg to earn second team All-PCL honors in 2022-23. The Hawks may miss him on the court, but off the court things will largely stay the same. Guillouete has made it a point to be there supporting his team anyway he can, even if that means coaching the guys for a few possessions as he did during a game at the West Chester Big 64 in September and during the team’s fall league.

During the past two seasons, the 6-foot-8 forward has played a vital role in the Hawks’ improvements as a big man the team’s stellar guard rotation revolved around. That quartet of talented guards, including Chamberlain (2025), Jaron McKie (2025), Jalen Harper (2024) and Jordan Ellerbee (2025), will now more than ever take center stage. Fourth-year head coach Jason Harrigan sees an opportunity to lean further into what they do best on the court. 

“We have a strong group of guards,” Harrigan said. “We are going to have five guards on the court, and we’re going to play a lot faster and attack weaknesses on other teams. There are some changes we have to make, but I think there’s some other elements that we will be able to expose.”

 McKie, who holds offers from Penn, St. Joe’s and most recently his father’s alma mater Temple, will shoulder even more of the offensive load after averaging a team-high 16.5 ppg in 2022-23 en route to an All-PCL first team selection — the only sophomore to receive such honors. Blessed with a quick first step and a soft touch around the rim, the shifty 6-foot-2 guard uses a blend of speed and creativity to do his damage inside as well as on the perimeter, where he shot 43.3% from behind the arc. 

Chamberlain played with McKie and Ellerbee for NJ Scholars this summer, which allowed the group to build on their chemistry against some of the best talent in the country on the Nike EYBL circuit. Chamberlain, one of Prep’s captains last season, is a true floor general capable of taking over offensively with a lethal jumper and an overall understanding of the game. He averaged 7.4 ppg and 2.8 apg last season.

“If my team needs me to score 20 that night, I'm going to try to go out there and get 20 for the team. But if my team needs me to get 10 and 10, that's what I want to do for my team,” Chamberlain said. “So whatever my team needs me to do is what you're gonna see for me.” 

Harper (10.8 ppg) and Ellerbee (10.0 ppg) were the team’s second and third leading scorers, respectively last season. Harper, a 6-foot-3 guard, also led the team in assists with 3.5 per game to go along with 6.6 rebounds per game, good for second on the squad. His versatility and explosiveness in transition will be invaluable to a small  team looking to get out and run every chance they get. 

Ellerbee, a bouncy 6-foot-2 guard, is coming off a big summer that saw him take a leap offensively and pick up his first Division 1 offers from Albany and Lafayette along the way. When Ellerbee is hot, he can be an absolute handful for opponents as he is capable of offensive explosions at any moment. His combination of elite athleticism and perimeter shooting is such a dangerous weapon for this Prep team, and it is why he is pegged by many to have a breakout year after playing the role of sixth man last season.

Senior 6-foot-2 guard Matt Gorman (8.5 ppg, 2.3 apg) also started all 23 games a season ago and will once again be a key piece in what will now be a five-guard lineup. 

“We call him Klay Thompson in the locker room,” Chamberlain said. “If he’s wide open for a three, it’s almost automatic for him”.

Sophomore 6-4 guard Will Lesovitz and 6-foot-5 senior forward Jackson Maguire should also see some added time, particularly if the team needs some added height.

With five guards who shot at least 40% from deep last season, St. Joe’s  is going to put up points in bunches. Having so many effective scorers and ball handlers on the floor at the same time will allow the Hawks to play as fast as any team in the league and create matchup nightmares along the way. 

“They are all brothers, it’s a family thing,” Harrigan said. “Experience is going to help us a lot…We were right there knocking on the door and now I am understanding what it takes and where we can mature. I think those things will come in handy.”

Issues are bound to arise, but Prep hopes it’s rebounding and defense by committee schemes will offset some of those struggles. 

Chamberlain and the rest of the junior core still have two years at the high school level. But they are committed to making sure this season doesn’t end before finally making with the coveted trip to the Palestra — as players not fans.

“We might be a young team, but next year is not promised,”  Chamberlain said. “It’s now or never… this is our time.”

“We just have to compete. Compete every single day in practice, every single game no matter who we're playing. We have to have that mindset, just go out there and just destroy everybody that steps on the floor with us.”