City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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The Philadelphia Public League boys semifinals take place on Tuesday at Temple’s Liacouras Center. The top four Philadelphia Public League girls squads head to Saint Joseph’s University Campus on Wednesday for the semifinal round.

There weren’t any major surprises on either side as the top four teams from the ‘A’ Division all advanced in both brackets.

On Tuesday, the Constitution boys will play Math, Civics & Sciences at 4 p.m., followed by Imhotep Charter vs. Lincoln at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, defending girls champion Audenried and Master Northy will tip things off at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by Imhotep Charter and Freire Charter at 6 p.m.

Here is a look at the teams and matchups:

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Public League Boys Semifinals

Constitution vs. Math, Civics & Sciences, 4 PM
Previous Meeting: Constitution 65-54 (Dec. 14 @ Ben Franklin HS)

These two teams have done plenty of battles over the years as two of the programs that consistently make deep runs in the Public League Playoffs. Last season, Constitution reached the semifinals, while MCS was downed in the quarterfinals. Constitution last reached the title game in 2019, while MCS reached the title game in 2020, when the Mighty Elephants grabbed their first PPL championship.

Constitution senior guard Kyree Latimer is one of the top scorers in the city, averaging more than 20 points per game. He’s the head of a star trio that also includes senior wing Amir Speights and senior guard Perry Fields. Speights can play a little inside and out, while Fields might be the best rebounding guard in the area. Senior guards Kory Jones and Naamir Flowers join them in the starting lineup with juniors Khair White-Blayblock and Khaleek Johnson adding some shot making and quickness out of the back court as well. Jones, Latimer, Fields and Flowers were all in double figures in the Dec. 14 win over MCS. 

The Mighty Elephants are led by senior 6-6 forward Sair Alsbrook and sophomore 6-3 guard Milak Myatt, who is a burgeoning prospect. Senior 6-5 forward Azeem Murphy and senior point guard Kevin Carter bring leadership to the group. Seniors Aiden Brown and Maki Hill and junior Alantay Dawson add onto a really deep rotation they will likely have even a few more players chip in Tuesday.

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Imhotep Charter vs. Lincoln, 6 PM
Previous Meeting: Imhotep 73-38 (Jan. 15 @ Lincoln)

Imhotep has won the last three Public League championships, including two against the Railsplitters in 2021 and 2022. Even after the graduation of a decorated class this season, the Panthers still ran the table in the Public League and continued that into the postseason.

Panthers’ senior guard Ahmad Nowell, a UConn commit, has carried the group this season, but he definitely has some help. Classmate Makye Taylor, an Albany commit, returned to the floor Jan. 24 after a preseason injury. Gritty senior forward Jeremiah White and sophomore guard R.J. Smith have experience down at Temple. Sophomore forward Zaahir Muhammad-Gray and junior guard Carnell Henderson are two players who have emerged for Imhotep this season.

Lincoln counters with a senior heavy group led by senior guard Aldonis Martin and Malachi Montgomery and senior forward Samair Peterson. All three are big-time scoring threats. Junior 6-4 forward Mason Smith, a football player, will have to hold his own inside against Taylor (6-7), Muhammad-Gray (6-6) and White (6-6). Sophomore guard Dajon Smith is the fifth starter for the Railsplitters, who have won nine games since a three-game losing streak in mid-January that included the lopsided loss to Imhotep.

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Public League Girls Semifinals

Audenried vs. Mastery North, 4 PM
Previous Meeting: Audenried 75-38 (Jan. 10 @ Audenried)

The Rockets ran the table with a 10-0 record in the Public League ‘A’ Division looking untouchable until fellow semifinalists Imhotep and Freire Charter played them to single digits late in the regular season. Mastery North was bounced in the quarterfinals a season ago, but the Pumas were in the title game in 2022 and last won the league crown in 2020, so it’s no surprise they've found their way back.

Audenried junior guard Shayla Smith became the program’s all-time scoring leader in a 21-point outing against Northeast in the quarterfinals. The Division I recruit is complimented by junior guard Senaya Parker and senior forward Aniyah Howard. With freshman forward Nasiaah Russell injured, sophomore wing Heaven Reese has upped her game on the glass and the scoring department. Senior guard Sakina Nelson is the only other senior in the rotation besides Howard, and sophomore Aniyah Cheesboro was part of the title winning team last season.

Mastery North went out and challenged itself late in January against some teams from District 1 and the Catholic League. The result was a four-game slide for the Pumas, but they ended the regular-season with a two-point win over Central and handed Palumbo its first loss since Jan. 5 to reach the semifinal round. Senior guard Zaakirah Edwards is the team’s leading scorer and has had a few big outings recently, but no one is averaging double figures. Senior guard Kyjane Cooper, who was at Imhotep last season, junior guard Jordyn Searles and senior 5-10 forward Leilany Ayala are a few of the others likely to be key if the Pumas can upset the reigning champions.

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Imhotep Charter vs. Freire Charter, 6 PM
Previous Meeting: Imhotep 42-28 (Jan. 22 @ Imhotep)

While the Panthers are frequent attendees and the Dragons are a little newer to the party, both of these squads were in the semifinal round last season. They both earned top seeds in the tournament after finishing tied with Mastery North during the regular season at 6-2 in the ‘A’ Division.

Imhotep is two years removed from a Public League title. The Panthers fell to Audenried in the title game last season. They’ve reached the championship game for 10 years straight, winning seven times. The Panthers have most of the pieces back from last season’s runner-up squad with senior guard Asia Taylor, junior forward Anise Geiger and junior wing Sabria Mann some of the standouts. Senior Aubrey Wroten is another experienced piece with junior Kayla Thompson and sophomores Anai Kenyatta and Geren Hawthorne adding to the depth, which has been the Panthers’ strength during its run atop the Pub.

Freire Charter is back in the semifinal round for the second straight year, falling to Audenried a season ago. The Dragons have three players listed at 5-10 in the lineup in senior wing Kylah Hargrove and junior forwards Aliyah and Anesah Cruz. Senior guard Wyiana Bronson and junior guard Destiny Davis are the other starters. Hargrove is a returning All-Public League selection, but it’s been a balanced attack this season with all five starters leading the team in scoring in multiple games. Freshman guard Sanai Wilkins and junior 6-2 center Makhaya Dawkins provide good minutes off the bench