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Prepping for Preps '24-25: Phoenixville (Boys)

10/02/2024, 11:30am EDT
By Matthew Allibone

By Matt Allibone (@bad2theallibone)
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s annual “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2024-25 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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The goals haven’t changed for the Phoenixville boys’ basketball team.

Last season was a banner one for the Phantoms. They captured the program’s first Pioneer Athletic Conference title since 2007 a year after missing the playoffs. They finished 20-8 and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons.


Deacon Baratta (above) returns from Phoenixville's 2024 PAC championship squad. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

So don’t expect the Phantoms to lower expectations even with a different-looking lineup this season.

“We’re going for the PAC chip,” senior Deacon Baratta said. “And then runs in districts and states. That’s the goal.

“We lost a lot of pieces, obviously, but our young guys are working really hard. I think we’ll be good.”

There are pieces to replace in Phoenixville, notably 6-foot-5 wing Max Lebisky, who is now at the University of Scranton after a first-team all-conference season. Second-team all-PAC guard Christian Cervino also graduated while rising star Dawson Brown transferred to Episcopal Academy.

But there is still plenty to work with – and it all starts with Baratta. A first-team all-PAC player a year ago, Baratta has grown to 6-foot-7 and remains an excellent shooter from the outside.

But he’s also spent the offseason putting on significant muscle and expects to be a consistent double-double threat and formidable shot blocker this season. He’s frequently topped 20 points in the Phantoms preseason tournament games.

Baratta said he’s put an emphasis “on becoming a more vocal leader and staying positive throughout the game.” The senior has gotten recruiting interest from high-academic Division I programs in addition to numerous Division III schools.

“He’s committed a lot to the weight room,” longtime Phantoms coach Eric Burnett said. “He’s starting to get really comfortable playing inside. His rebounding has really stood out. And he can block shots without fouling, which is huge for us. If he can give us an inside presence, that’s another element to his game and it makes us who we are.”

Senior Brady O’Donnell is Phoenixville’s other experienced veteran, a pass-first guard who started last season on JV but ended up serving a pivotal role in the team’s postseason run. 

Senior Jehoash Leo is a capable outside shooter who Burnett said “does the little things well” while junior Stephen Yurich is expected to make the complete leap to varsity after a successful JV season.

Sophomore Jacoby Smith has turned heads with his scoring ability this offseason.


Sophomore guard Keron Booth (above) will take a big step up in responsibility. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

But the player to really keep an eye on is sophomore point guard Keron Booth Jr.. While just 5-foot-6, Booth has a lightning quick first step and can get to the basket with ease. He got varsity minutes as a freshman and has quickly emerged as a go-to scorer alongside Baratta this offseason.

Booth also controls the game with a poise and maturity that is rare for a player his age.

“You can see the kid loves the game,” Burnett said. “He has a high motor, he’s fast, he facilitates for his teammates. One of the things I love about him is he can score the ball anytime he wants, but he loves to pass. He gets everybody on the same page when he’s creating and kicking, and he has high energy on the defensive end.”

Burnett hesitated to list the same goals for this season as his players. He knows this season will feel a lot different for the Phantoms. A year ago, they were coming off a non-playoff season for the first time in five years and took the Pioneer Athletic Conference by surprise.

Now they have a target on their backs. They’re also bumping up from Class 5A to Class 6A. Phoenixville started 6-1 last season and never lost more than two games in a row. The Phantoms open this Perkiomen on Dec. 10.

While this season will be a different challenge, the Phantoms are confident they can end it like they did a year ago.

“I don’t feel like there’s too much pressure for us,” Booth said. “I know how good we can be. As long as we play hard together and do everything we did last year. We already have the script of what to do. We can be in the same position again.”


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