City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)

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

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Ever since Harriton left the Del-Val League for the Central League in 2008, it’s largely been a struggle in-conference for its boys basketball program.

Existing in the shadow of powerhouse Lower Merion, Harriton was no doubt the secondary school in the Lower Merion School District from an athletics perspective, half the size of its counterpart and with even less of the school spirit. Harriton’s most dominant team has been its Science Olympiad squad, which won the Pennsylvania title all but one year between 1998 and 2019, capturing two national championships in that time. 

The Rams’ best league finish over the last decade was a fifth-place showing in 2013-14, behind the guard duo of Alex Shippen (Alvernia) and Tas Dixon (Washington College). Much more frequent were finishes in the bottom handful of the 12-school league, Lower Merion often right at the top.

But the Central League is as wide-open as Jesse Rappaport’s seen it as he goes into his 14th season overall as Harriton’s coach, his fourth in this current stint. 

Last year’s champs, Radnor, graduated almost its entire rotation and is starting from scratch. Ditto Upper Darby, which came in third. The Aces, who finished in second, have some pieces back but graduated Sam Brown (Penn) and Sam Wright (Hun School), among other departures. Garnet Valley, Springfield (Delco), Marple Newtown and Conestoga have all looked good this offseason, Penncrest young and an interesting group as well.

None are juggernauts, all have a shot.

The Rams might not be the favorite, if such exists this year, but they’re in the mix. 

“It’s definitely one of the more open years,” said Rappaport, who was first at Harriton from 2007-17, returning after a three-year gap. “I think there are still some strong (teams at) the top. There’s a lot of unknowns, a lot of teams have new rosters, teams lost guys to graduation and everything, and also we still have to wait to see how the new guys go for different teams, how that works out. 

“It’s definitely interesting, and I definitely think anybody could beat anybody.”

“I want to get that Central League championship,” senior guard Jadyn Gaskins said, before raising the bar even a little higher. “My personal goal for my senior year, I want to help bring us to at least states. I feel like we could make a nice run for states.”

A sixth-place finish a year ago and 13-11 overall record (8-8 Central) are something to build from. That was good enough to qualify for both league and district playoffs, though the Rams bowed out in the first round of each. They’ve spent the offseason popping around from spring to summer league and event after event, whatever they can to maintain some momentum into an intriguing 2023-24. 

“You don’t start the season where last season left off,” Rappaport said. “I don’t want to forget about it, we made some great strides, but we have our work cut out for us.”

Just like a decade ago when they had a college-level backcourt to rely on in Shippen and Dixon, this year’s Rams will start with a pair of guards.

Gaskins and classmate Marquis Kubish are a pair of proven quality players with different games; the 5-foot-11 Gaskins is a quick, slippery combo guard while the 6-3 Kubish is a little more of an old-school bucket-getter, good at utilizing his frame to get himself free around the bucket. 

Kubish led the Rams last year with 17.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, adding a couple steals per contest, as well. Gaskins, who missed the first half of his junior year due to injury, averaged 10 points and 2.5 assists once he returned.

“We’ve got two real nice pieces coming back,” Rappaport said, “but we’ve got a lot of guys coming back where it’s going to be their first time in a varsity game or getting substantial minutes, so there’s unknowns, too.”

Graduated from last year’s squad are wing forward Jack Chodkowski and guards Aidan Abrams and Collin Goerlich; junior wing Calvin Smith transferred to Devon Prep. Kubish, Gaskins and 6-5 forward Cameron Sullivan return to the starting lineup. 

For Harriton to compete for a league title, it will rely on several new pieces. Cole Chodkowski, a 6-5 junior and Jack’s younger brother, will pair with Sullivan to give the Rams some solid size up front. Senior guard Max Seltzer (6-1) and junior Sean Gallagher (6-2) will bring shooting and defense. 

“We’re not going to decide everything in Game 1, Game 2,” Rappaport said. “This is all new for these guys.”

Gaskins knows that while he and Kubish will have to handle a good portion of the scoring load, they can’t do it alone. How they lead and guide their teammates through what’s sure to be one tight league game after another is critical, as well. 

“I have good relationships with all my teammates, we all get along,” Gaskins said. “(I talk to them) about being under control, don’t try to rush anything, play at your own pace, let the game come to you, stuff like that.”

“Those two have to be our leaders,” Rappaport said. “Guys look up to them, they’ve got to make sure to be consistent, not just with their play, but their mindset, helping make guys better and being coaches on the floor, and I think they can do that.”

If so, maybe this is finally the year Harriton breaks through.