DLN AREA BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Usual suspects lead wide-open Ches-Mont League
With the helmets and shoulder pads tucked away, it is time for the boys of winter to get the boys basketball season going. And this season may be the most competitive the Ches-Mont League has seen in years, with multiple teams having a legitimate chance to take home the league crown, including reigning champ Bishop Shanahan and perennial favorite Coatesville.
But outside of those two, numerous other area schools have talented rosters, so it should be an enjoyable season for area fans to enjoy.
Shanahan lost four starters from last year’s championship squad, which reached the second round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs, including Daily Local News Player of the Year Kevin Dodds. But he cupboard is not bare, as talented guards Joe O’Malley and Phil Chenard will lead coach Ken Doyle’s crew to another winning season.
Coatesville has a new coach in Fred Thompson, the former Millersvile University boss, and Thompson has incredible junior Jhamir Brickus, who has already eclipsed the 1,000-point mark. Dapree Bryant will help the Red Raiders with his slashing style and the league title always goes through Coatesville.
The two Downingtowns, East and West, both had winning seasons last year and made the district playoffs in Class 6A. East lost point guard Malik Slay to graduation (Slay is now playing a post-grad year at Malvern’s Phelps School), and must get a big year from 6-foot-6 junior Andrew King as well as Andres Mujica to match last season’s win total. Jack Riley will provide muscle under the boards for coach John Goodman’s squad.
At Downingtown West, coach Stu Ross has two talented big men in Will Howard and Jackson Luneberg. Both have good inside games and can rebound the basketball. Evan Kaiser will try to loosen up opposing defenses with his outside shooting. The Whippets should be a district playoff team again.
The buzz around West Chester East is that the Vikings are ready to win the Ches-Mont League after qualifying for the District 1 Class 5A playoffs last season. The Vikings have 6-foot-9 junior and Division 1 recruit Andrew Carr, who is a handful under the basket for opposing squads. Eric Trowery has speed at the guard position and the Vikings are a deep squad that has a lot of upside.
West Chester Henderson has a new coach in Rob Frattura, and after going 0-22 last season, the Warriors are determined to win some games this year. Luke Weirman is one of the better scorers in the area and big man Jordan Laudato will do the dirty work under the basket for the improved Warriors.
Avon Grove has a new coach in the well-traveled John Roe, and the Red Devils, who won nine games last season, will count on Dan Greenjak and Bryson Morgan to beat that total this season.
In the Ches-Mont American Division, West Chester Rustin has two senior big men in 6-foot-6 Jake Nelson along with Taj Asparagus. Nelson averaged just under 17 points per game last season, and if coach Keith Cochran can get some consistent guard play, the Golden Knights can win the Ches-Mont League and qualify for the district and state tournaments.
Great Valley has a new coach in CJ Savage and the Patriots seem to be the the Golden Knights’ biggest challenger in the American. Sharp shooter Gavin Frankenheimer and big man Jake Prevost lead the Patriots.
Unionville will also be in the mix as the Indians have one of the best big men in the league in Wyatt Hockenberry. Hockenberry averaged 13 points per game last season. Connor Ash and junior Bo Furey-Bastian will also get their points for coach Chris Cowles’ club, and Unionville looks like a district playoff team this season after just missing out last year.
Kennett is in the third season of coach Brian Grashof’s reign, and the young coach hopes the Blue Demons can improve on last season’s 5-17 mark. Ben Lesher will lead the Blue Demons.
Oxford has a new coach in Brian Urig, who moves over from the Hornets’ girls squad, and the veteran boss hopes Oxford can improve on the nine wins it earned last season. Christian McCartney and Thomas Repetz will lead the Hornets in scoring.
In the Central League, everybody is going to be chasing Lower Merion. But Conestoga should be in the mix and qualify for the district playoffs again. The Pioneers are a guard-oriented club led by senior Zach Lezanic, who averaged 18 points per game last season and is a real 3-point threat. Milton Robinson will also help coach Mike Troy’s club with scoring, but Conestoga must get some production on the boards.
In the Inter-Academic League, this may be the season Malvern Prep and coach John Harmutak contend for the league title. Haverford School is the preseason favorite, but the Friars can throw out two Coatesville products — guards Deuce Turner and Radhir Hicks — who are both great transition players. Malvern Prep loves the up-tempo style and is very enjoyable to watch.
Church Farm lost Syracuse University recruit Jon Bol Ajak to Westtown, but the Griffins will be right in the hunt in the Bicentennial League. Seniors Max Scott and Jimmy McEvoy are both 3-point threats and 6-foot-8 freshman big man Demetrius Lilley has a big upside.
Westtown is one of the top two or three teams in southeastern Pennsylvania, and coach Seth Berger’s team hopes to improve on last season’s 27-13 mark. The Moose feature Division 1 recruits Jalen Gaffney, Ajak and T.J. Berger. Watching Westtown is like watching a track relay team as the Moose love to get out in transition and score the basketball.
Peter DiGiovanni’s Chesco 7 Best
1. Westtown
2. Malvern Prep
3. Coatesville
4. W.C. Rustin
5. Conestoga
6. West Chester East
7. Bishop Shanahan
