Hoop Heroes: Presenting 2018-19 All-Main Line boys basketball teams

The Main Line high school boys’ basketball scene was led by two championship squads – undefeated Inter-Ac and PAISAA champion Haverford School (28-0) and Central League champion Lower Merion (25-4), who advanced to the PIAA state tournament for the ninth consecutive season, currently the longest streak in Class 6A.
Perennially strong Archbishop Carroll finished third in District 12 4A and advanced to the PIAA 4A state quarterfinals. Malvern Prep (19-8) also had a strong season, as did Shipley (21-6). In the Central League, Conestoga (16-11) and Haverford High (12-11) posted winning records.
The All-Main Line high school boys’ basketball teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2018-19 All-Main Line high school boys’ basketball teams:

FIRST TEAM
Luke House, Archbishop Carroll – Senior guard and captain, a second team All-Catholic League selection, was a prolific scorer and rebounder for the Patriots, averaging 14 points per game and six rebounds per contest.
Zach Lezanic, Conestoga – Senior guard and co-captain, a first team All-Central League selection, averaged more than 16 points and five assists per game. Scored more than 1,000 points in his Pioneers’ career, and was team co-MVP.
Milton Robinson, Conestoga – Senior guard and co-captain averaged more than 13 points, six rebounds and three assists per game. The Pioneers’ co-MVP, he was considered the top defensive player on the Conestoga team.
Matt Dade, Episcopal Academy – Senior 6-foot-6 forward, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection for the second year in a row, averaged 22.2 points per game and more than seven rebounds per contest.
Christian Ray, Haverford School – The Inter-Ac’s Most Valuable Player, the 6-foot-6 senior guard averaged 23 points per game, as well as 11.1 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.7 spg. Came up big whenever needed, and rallied the Fords in the PAISAA championship final, which Haverford won in overtime. Jameer Nelson Jr., Haverford School – Senior 6-foot-2 guard was a first team All-InterAc selection, displaying a wide range of skills as he averaged 14.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.5 apg and 2.5 spg. Son of the former Saint Joseph’s great, he is headed to Hawk Hill to play basketball.
Jack Forrest, Lower Merion – The Central League’s Most Valuable Player, the 6-foot-5 Columbia University-bound senior averaged 19.5 points per game and six rebounds per contest. Nailed 66 treys in just 19 games, averaged 44.3 percent from 3-point range, and finished his LM career with 1,209 points, eighth on the Aces’ all-time list.
Steve Payne, Lower Merion – Senior guard, a first team All-Central League selection, finished his Lower Merion career with 1,480 points, third on the program’s all-time scoring list, behind Kobe Bryant and Greg Robbins. Averaged 17.4 points per game, converted 79.5 percent from the free throw line, led the Aces in assist (341) and was second in rebounds (176).
Deuce Turner, Malvern Prep – Junior 6-foot-2 guard, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a prolific scorer, averaging 26.6 points per game, and was a strong rebounder, grabbing seven boards per contest.
Rahdir Hicks, Malvern Prep – Sophomore guard, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a strong scorer in the Friars’ potent attack, averaging 17 points per game. Also a strong playmaker, he averaged five assists per contest.
Ray Somerville, Shipley – Senior 6-foot-10 center, a two-time first team All-Friends Schools League selection, avereaged 11 ppg, 9.5 rpg and nearly 4 bpg. The Cal State Bakersfield-bound senior recorded seven double-doubles and two near-triple doubles.
Khalil Farmer, Shipley – Freshman 6-foot-3 guard, a first team All-Friends Schoos League selection, averaged 14.3 ppg while shooting better than 45 percent from the field. Averaged six rebounds per game.

SECOND TEAM
Archbishop Carroll – Ny’Mire Little, junior guard; Tairi Ketner, junior forward.
Conestoga – Shane Scott, senior guard.
Friends’ Central – Edward Holland, sophomore guard; Omar Nichols, junior guard; Bryce Spriggs, senior guard.
Harriton – Markus Bradley-Lowry, junior guard.
Haverford High – Dan Roe, senior guard.
Haverford School – Jameel Brown, freshman guard; Gavin Burke, senior guard; Asim Richards, senior center.
Lower Merion – Matt O’Connor, senior guard.
Malvern Prep – Fran Oschell, sophomore post player; Spencer Cochran, junior guard.
Radnor – Jack d’Entremont, junior guard; Lew Robinson, sophomore guard.
Shipley – Khai Champion, junior guard; Chaz Owens, senior guard/forward.

HONORABLE MENTION
Conestoga – Connor Steele, junior guard; Evan Medley, senior forward.
Devon Prep – Nick Crowe, junior point guard; Eamonn Walsh, sophomore guard.
Friends’ Central – Mason Mosley, junior guard; Myles Robinson, senior forward.
Harriton – Michael Stewart, senior point guard.
Haverford High – John Seidman, sophomore guard.
Haverford School – Tyler Seward, sophomore guard.
Lower Merion – Daryl Taylor, senior guard; Josh Martin, senior forward.

– Barrack Hebrew Academy did not submit a nomination ballot.