City of Basketball Love

By Sean McBryan
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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 2025-26 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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Cheltenham has been a District 1 and state contender for years. Now the Panthers want to take the next step toward securing some hardware. 

“Last year was just kind of the destination along the way of what the ultimate goal is, which is to be a state, national program,” eighth-year head coach Pat Fleury told CoBL. “We’ll work daily for that. So last year, I mean, we obviously fell short of what our overall goals are, but I put that more on myself than the student-athletes. They gave a valiant effort and to that, we are forever grateful.”

Last season, the Panthers pushed Conestoga, the eventual District 1 6A champions, to the brink in the district quarterfinals. Cheltenham led by five at the end of the third quarter before the Pioneers stormed back in the fourth to win 52-44.

It left the Panthers and Fleury eager to get back on the court and chase their first district championship appearance in six seasons.

Cheltenham’s last District 1 championship game appearance came in 2020, a loss to Methacton. Before that, the Panthers fell in the finals to Chester in both 2005 and 2004, when Fleury starred as a player for the Panthers.

Last winter, Cheltenham won a share of the Suburban One League Freedom Division title for the second straight year, but a quirky seeding process pitted them as the No. 8 seed against top-seeded Upper Dublin in the SOL quarterfinals — a matchup the Panthers could not overcome. 

They rebounded with three wins in the district tournament before the close loss to Conestoga ended their bid to return to the championship game.

The Panthers lost three key contributors to graduation: all-league first-team point guard Osei Johnson, all-league second-team guard Justin Ezeukwu (Eastern), and all-league honorable mention guard Salim Kelly. 

They took another hit when all-league first-team 2027 guard Kamal Mason transferred to Prolific Prep in Florida. The expectation is for returning players to fill the gaps collectively.  

“This group has been around each other for so long that the chemistry piece is already there,” Fleury said. “It’s just about them figuring out what their job is each night and doing it at a high level.”

The Panthers return a senior core of 6-9 forward/center Peyton McClendon, 6-3 combo guard Chris Harmon, 5-10 guard Mark Hill, 6-7 forward Tyree Martin, and 6-1 guard Micah Millis, all of whom Fleury expects to contribute in varied ways.

“What I’ve always loved about our teams is that the roles change from game to game,” Fleury said. “Some nights we need scoring, some nights we need defense, some nights we need rebounding. We don’t do the whole ‘this is your one job’ thing. You have to be ready to be a star in your role, whatever that role is that night.”

Harmon, Hill, and Millis offer physicality and toughness in the backcourt. McClendon and Martin bring length and experience on the wings/post. 

The Panthers’ non-seniors are also poised to make significant contributions. Junior wing Gus Williamson brings slashing ability and playmaking. Sophomore Elijah Saintildor offers a combination of guard and post skills that fits Cheltenham’s hybrid player mold. Freshman 6-6 wing Ethan Evans will also add versatility. Fleury described 6-5 junior wing Isa Vargas as a “Swiss Army knife” capable of providing energy, defense, rebounding, and scoring as needed.

Despite the roster turnover, Cheltenham’s identity remains rooted in defensive pressure, pace, and depth, and the team’s eventual standouts are expected to emerge naturally as the season progresses.

“By the end of the year, people usually see who’s emerging,” Fleury said. “Colleges start calling, guys start taking leaps. But we don’t go into the season pointing at one person. We go into the season pointing at the group.”

Fleury also credits the stability and experience of his assistant coaches Sharif Bray and Malcolm Weston as a key component of Cheltenham’s traditional success. 

“Without them, obviously, this would never be possible,” he said. “I just want to highlight our assistant coaches, because they are definitely large parts of the program’s workings.”

The Panthers will lean on the cohesion their returning players have built to replace their seniors/Mason and chase that elusive district championship. The expectation is to qualify for states for the third consecutive season, where anything can happen.

They won’t ease into the season with Imhotep first up on their schedule on Dec. 1. League play begins against Lower Moreland the next week.