City of Basketball Love

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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BRYN ATHYN — Ryan Warren and Cameron Smith weren’t a package deal this summer.

The former members of the La Salle boys basketball program, however, soon found out they were both considering a move to Academy of the New Church.

After a season battling each other in practice with the Explorers, a potential frontcourt pairing with the Lions was exciting.

“We didn’t know at first, but we both heard about each other looking to come here and we talked to each other and decided it would be a good move for both of us to play together,” Smith said.

Senior Bahsil Laster scored a team-high 23 points as ANC (12-3, 4-0 FSL) took down Friends Select, 76-72, in a Friends Schools League win on Saturday. Laster went 6-for-6 from the line down the stretch to hold off the Falcons (4-11, 3-1) and junior guard Jalen Chiles, who finished with 33 points.

The Lions’ sophomore frontcourt duo of Warren and Smith pitched into the winning effort with a combined 23 points and 10 rebounds. Smith scored 10 points off the bench to go along with three assists, while Warren had 11 of his 13 in the second half, including a pair of big buckets late in the fourth after FSS tied the game 63-63 with four and a half minutes to play.

“The guys who have already been here, Dior (Carter), Nolan (Waldon), Bahsil (Laster), they’ve been really good,” Smith said. “It’s pretty much just been easy to fit in. They’re happy to have us here, and we’re happy to be here.”

The Lions didn’t have a true post presence last season. Sophomore 6-4 wing Dior Carter, senior 6-5 guard Bahsil Laster and graduated 6-3 guard Deywilk Tavarez all had to play out of position at times.

Laster, Waldon (nine points, seven assists) and Carter are all back on the perimeter along with the addition of sophomore guard Tobe Nwobu (13 points) from Camden Catholic (N.J.). The addition of the 6-6 Warren and 6-7 Smith as well as 6-5 junior forward Caleb Alston-Nelson has given the team front court depth in 2023-24 it didn’t have a year ago.

ANC used its size to its advantage at times on Saturday afternoon. Smith and Warren know their presence will be even more valuable in upcoming matchups with the likes of George School and 6-9 forward Tristen Guillouette and Penn Charter and 6-10 forward Matt Gilhool.

“It’s a pleasure to have some guys who can go in there and be enforcers,” ANC coach Kevin Givens said. “You just can’t find that all the time any more.”

“Eventually I know we have to move them out of the post and get them to work on their perimeter game, but right now we feel lucky that they're humble enough to go inside, post up and help us out that way. And they’re doing a great job rebounding and everything too.”

Warren and Smith crossed paths in the basketball world in middle school, but they didn’t know each other before arriving at La Salle together in 2021-22. 

Smith was on the freshman team then the JV squad as a sophomore. He thought he was ready to play varsity last season. Instead, he had a breakout summer with the Philly Revolution 16U squad on the Hoop Group circuit.

Warren played JV as a freshman and then varsity last season, averaging 4.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 20 games (17 starts), before spending the summer on Philly Pride’s UAA 15U team.

They both decided to reclassify to the Class of 2026 when they arrived at ANC, repeating their sophomore seasons.

“Last year wasn't really great for either of us, so getting that year back can really help us in the future,” Warren said.

“That’s the biggest thing, getting that year back that we both felt like we lost last year,” Smith added. “It’s just an extra year to get better for me and him together.”

Through 15 games at ANC, Warren is averaging 11.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg, while Smith is averaging 11.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg.

“Ryan’s always running the floor,” Smith said. “He always has a big momentum dunk running the lane. That’s really the biggest thing. He plays good defense, he rebounds, he’s strong as hell. … Once he gets in the air it’s really hard to stop him.”

Warren also knows how tough Smith can be to stop after going up against him in practice for the past two years.

“His post hook is pretty hard to guard,” Warren said. “No matter how high you jump, it’s unguardable.”

The Lions are the only unbeaten team in the Friends League after league wins over Friends Central and FSS this week. Givens still isn’t satisfied with his team's consistency. 

ANC held a 32-19 lead in the first half on Saturday before FSS rallied to take a 38-37 lead into the break. The Lions grew their lead back to double digits by the end of the third quarter, leading 58-56 heading into the fourth. But they needed Laster to be perfect at the line after Chiles and junior Isaiah Marshall (15 points) rallied the Falcons. Junior forward Owen Coughlin also had 14 points and eight rebounds for FSS.

Even if it hasn’t been a perfect start, Warren and Smith are embracing the opportunity to contribute to a winning team. La Salle went 9-13 overall and 2-13 in the Catholic League in 2022-23. Perennially the league’s runner-ups, the Lions are chasing their first FSL title since 2009 and have the pieces to potentially do some damage beyond. 

“It’s really exciting,” Warren said. “I always wished to play at the Palestra, but I’m really excited that I’m on a team that has a chance of doing something bigger.”

Academy New Church 76, Friends Select 72

By Quarter
FSS:  13  |  7  |  14  |  14  ||  72
ANC:  11  |  14  |  17  |  19  ||  76

Scoring
FSS: Jalen Chiles 33, Isaiah Marshall 15, Owen Coughlin 14, Reggie Moore 4, Ahmeil Mclaurin 3, Scott Aaronson 2, Tiko Morris 1.

ANC: Bahsil Laster 23, Ryan Warren 13, Tobe Nwobu 13, Cameron Smith 10, Nolan Waldon 9, Dior Carter 5.