City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Tyler Sandora (@Tyler_Sandora)
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CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Here’s a recap from Donofrio Classic second-round action at the Fellowship House on Wednesday night:

Game One: Team Philly raced out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating the Yellow Jackets 105-73. The defensive trap proved effective for the high-flyers of Team Philly, causing many steals and breakaway opportunities. Daeqwon Plowden (2017/Mastery Charter North), a Bowling Green recruit, finished with 18 points including a massive rim-rocking windmill dunk in the first half. Daron Russell (2017/Imhotep) led with 24 points, and his teammate Koby Thomas (2017/Imhotep) had 20. For the Yellow Jackets, John Harrar (2017/Strath Haven) scored 21 and Mekhi Morris (2017/Del-Val Charter) finished with 19, including five long-balls.

Game Two: L&L Running Rebels showed up with just five players, but took a four-point lead into the half against Team Hardnett. But a Chester-heavy Hardnett squad got going and eventually wore down the Rebels, finishing off the Lehigh Valley-based team in a 102-94 win. Girard College freshman and 6-foot-8 Division I prospect Mikeal Jones led the way with 24 points and put in work on the glass; Chester seniors Jordan Camper (18 points), Ahrod Carter (17) and Jamar Sudan (11) joined him in double figures; Carter hit four of his five 3-pointers in the second half. The Running Rebels were led by a 35-point effort from American commit Sam Iorio (2017/Parkland), who overcame a rough start from the floor to knock down six 3-pointers; Emmaus seniors David Kachelries (24 points) and Matt Kachelries (18) combined for a half-dozen long balls as well.

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Kachelries twins enjoying final few times as teammates
It’s the end of an era in Emmaus.

For the last four years, the Kachelries twins -- David and Matt -- have been the dominant on-ball forces for the Hornets, save their sophomore year which Matt missed with a knee injury. They both reached the 1,000-point barrier, helping Emmaus get further into the state playoffs than ever before.

And in just a few short months, they’ll be headed their separate ways: David to NJIT, Matt to Bloomsburg.

“I’m torn, it’s a process,” said their father, Bob Kachelries. “Everybody said it would be nice for them to play at the college level together -- it would be nice, but now it’s time for them to go their own way, make their own trail. But it’s the end of the chapter.”

The pair of 6-foot-1 guards combined for 42 points and six 3-pointers as a shorthanded L&L Running Rebels squad fell to Team Hardnett on Wednesday night, but that was plenty of time to put on a show. Matt is the more practical of the two, playing within himself; David has always been the flasher type, dishing out numerous behind-the-back and no-look passes while demonstrating his typically tight handles.

Now that they’re out of the Donofrio Classic, the Kachelries twins’ games left together in any sort of official capacity are very much numbered: there’s a potential appearance in the iS8 in New York City this summer, but that’s it.

The rather stoic pair doesn’t seem too broken up about it, however.

“It’s kind of weird, but I guess it’s time to move on,” Matt said. “We played with each other our whole life, and see how we do at the next level.”

“It’ll be different but we’ll have to adjust to it,” David said. “We’ll be fine.”

This past year was the best year for the Kachelries twins. David surpassed the 1,900-point mark, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Emmaus history. Matt got to the 1,000-point mark in the Hornets’ 64-61 win over Harrisburg which sent them to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history.

They even got some national attention, as David’s between-the-legs pass got featured on ESPN.

“I thought I left a pretty good legacy,” David said. “All-time leading scorer there, scored 1900 points...I had a lot of fun playing in front of our student section, getting on ESPN, it was a lot of fun.”

“I’d say we had a pretty good run throughout the years,” Matt agreed. “We wanted some championships, didn’t quite get there, but we had a good run.”

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Bishop ready to break out after quiet sophomore season
If you watched an Imhotep Charter basketball game this season, Dhamir Bishop is probably not the first name that would come to mind.

Playing on a team with three Division I committed seniors and some high-level underclassmen, including members of Imhotep’s “super sophomore” class such as Donta Scott and Chereef Knox, both of whom started, Imhotep played most games with a nine-plus man rotation.

Bishop didn’t always get the playing time in the beginning of the year he felt he deserved.

However, when the playoffs came around, the 6-foot-4 sophomore saw himself on the court, playing well as the Panthers raced to the PIAA 4A state championship.

“I didn’t accept the role in the beginning, because I thought I could bring more to the team,” Bishop said. “But I learned to accept my role, and I handed it really well I think.”

The hard work payed off, as Bishop received his first two offers during school on Wednesday, from Bowling Green and NJIT, two schools that Bishop has watched and is familiar with.  

Bishop expects more offers to come his way throughout this upcoming summer, where he will suit up for K-Low Elite’s 16U squad, on the adidas Gauntlet circuit.

“I think we’re going to be really good on the Gauntlet,” he said. “I need to take care of the ball better and play better off of screens.”

Bishop, a lanky slashing wing, proved Wednesday night he has no problem getting to the rim, as well as passing and scoring in transition, finishing some nifty layups through contact. He finished with nine points, all of which came in the first half.

Bishop teamed up with his high school teammates, seniors Daron Russell and Koby Thomas at the Donofrio Classic for one last time before they depart to Rhode Island and Robert Morris, respectively. Team Philly was led by the Imhotep stars, winning their second round game and advancing to the quarterfinals on April 12.

“Koby and Daron push me really hard in practice, and they’re really talented,” Bishop said. “You don’t have the opportunity to play with guys like that unless you’re playing at the next level, and to have that chance right now is a wonderful feeling.”

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Quick Hits
-- A tremendous physical specimen at 6-9 and right around 245 pounds, John Harrar (2017/Strath Haven) is hearing from schools for both his football and basketball abilities. On the court, he’s a bruising big man who can also knock down an open mid-range jump; on the gridiron, he’s a tight end who towers over opposing linebackers. For the third consecutive offseason, he’ll be playing 17U basketball, joining up with Philly Pride’s oldest bunch for the second year in a row to play out April. It’s mostly to stay in shape, but he’s open to hearing what a school might have to say. Otherwise, he’s off to West Point for prep school. “If something comes, maybe,” he said. “See what the situation is and all of that.”

-- Matt Carter (2017/MaST Community Charter) is down to basically four schools in terms of his college commitment: D-IIs Holy Family and Chestnut Hill, plus D-IIIs PSU-Abington and Gwynedd Mercy. It’s going to come down to which school presents the best financial situation -- he should have a better idea by the end of the month -- but the athletic 6-3 guard with a smooth outside stroke admitted that one school in particular sticks out: “Gwynedd-Mercy,” he said. “Really nice facility, good coaching staff. I went up there, played with the team a few times, those guys are good...it’s a good time up there.”

-- Ahrod Carter (2017/Chester) showed his ability to shoot from deep, draining five 3’s in his team’s victory. A 6-foot guard, Carter showed his ability to shoot off the dribble, as well as spotting up and knocking down the shot. Assuming the point guard role for the Clippers in his senior season, Carter averaged 12.3 points per game, including 73 3-pointers, leading his team all the way to the Quarterfinals of the PIAA 5A state tournament.