Friends School League: Players To Watch in 2020-21
[player_tooltip player_id="991338" first="Shawn" last="Simmons"] of Friends Central (PA) Over the last eight years the Friends School League has been dominated by the Westtown School. Head coach Seth Berger turned a little known boarding school in Chester County into a dominant…
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Continue ReadingOver the last eight years the Friends School League has been dominated by the Westtown School. Head coach Seth Berger turned a little known boarding school in Chester County into a dominant basketball program that has won 7 straight league championships, is an annual state title contender and a national powerhouse that attracts players from all over the country.
When you look beyond the NBA level roster, league and state titles as well as the national accolades that Westtown has accumulated, a hoop head discovers that in 2020-21 the FSL will feature a slew of other players who can make a difference at the college level.
Darrien Grady – Moorestown Friends 5’10” Sophomore Point Guard. Grady is a scoring point guard cut in the style of Chris Paul. Last season he averaged 24 ppg., scored 20+ sixteen times and had jaw dropping outbursts of 35 pts vs Audubon and 44 pts against Abington Friends. Grady owns the ability to hit threes from way downtown (56 3PM in 2019-20). When defenses chase him of the 3-point line, he can score off the dribble in the mid-range or get all the way to the tin. In 2019-20 he was an honorable mention All-FSL selection. In the future, we expect Grady to be 1st Team All-FSL member and a force in SE Pennsylvania.
Ed Holland Ed Holland 6'5" | SF Friend's Central | 2021 State PA – Friends Central 6’5” Senior Wing. As a junior last winter, he led Friends’ Central in scoring (18 ppg.), while averaging 8+ rebounds per contest for the Phoenix. That stat line earned him Honorable mention All-FSL honors. Holland can hit the occasional 3-ball and has a decent mid-range game. Holland showed improved ability to dribble the ball last winter which allowed him to create shots for himself. The strongest aspect of Holland’s game is his ability to attack the basket on the break or from the wing in the half court. Holland, who plays for Philly Pride in the summer, boasts a 6’10” wingspan and currently holds over a dozen D-I offers.
Ben Istvan – Germantown Friends 5’10” Senior Shooting Guard. Excellent footwork, a quick release and text book mechanics make Istvan one of the most feared outside shooters in the FSL. Last winter, Istvan knocked down 5 threes vs national powerhouse Westtown. He provides the moxie and leadership for a Tigers team that is very young. In 2019-20 he posted 10.4 ppg. His development at the defensive end will be key to his continued growth as a player.
Matt Johnson Matt Johnson 5'11" | PG Germantown Friends | 2022 State PA – Germantown Friends 6’0” Junior Point Guard. During his sophomore season Johnson averaged 13 ppg. as the centerpiece of a GFS program that is rebuilding. For such a young player his ability to drive the ball to the hoop is outstanding. Johnson is quick and strong and has displayed the ability to score at all three levels. The highlight for Johnson in 2019-20 was when he hung 24 pts on the board vs. Academy of Palumbo.
Dwayne Jones – George School 6’0” Senior Guard. Jones is an excellent 3-point shooter who is one of the key players in a George School basketball program that is on the rise. Once defenders recognize his shooting skills and play him tight, Jones will use a pump fake or his ball-on-a-string handles to blow by for the easy two. If weak side help cuts off Jones on his way to the rim, he has shown the ability and willingness to find an open teammate. In 2019-20, Jones averaged 12.5 ppg. as the third option in the Cougars offense. However, last season he also showed that he is capable of putting up big numbers — 22 pts against both Shipley and Abington Friends (4 3-pointers) as well as 24 pts vs. Friends Central (18 in the 2nd half).
Anthony McCall Anthony McCall 6'3" | CG Academy of New Church | 2022 State PA – Academy of the New Church 6’2” Junior Guard. In 2019-20 McCall posted 14 ppg., which doubled his scoring stat line form his freshman year (7 ppg) and earned the guard an honorable mention All-FSL selection. A long and wiry athlete, McCall excels at picking an opponent’s pocket and then racing down the court for the lay-in. McCall’s length also makes him a shot blocking threat and allowed him to grab 5 rpg. McCall helped push ANC to 15 wins last year and a thrilling 69-66 loss to conference kings Westtown in the FSL championship game. McCall hit an occasional 3-ball last season, but he’s at his best when filling the lanes on the break out and that makes him a perfect fit for ANC’s transition basketball style of play.
Shawn Simmons – Friends Central 6’5” Sophomore Wing. During Fall 2019 Simmons (pictured above with Team Durant) was selected as a Top 20 player at the Pangos All-East Camp and the do-everything wing player used his performance at the Pangos event as a springboard for an amazing freshman campaign. Simmons provided the Phoenix with 10 ppg. Not bad for the 3rd option. He can score from all three levels and plays above the rim. His athleticism and incredible length make him an elite defender and a force on the glass. As a bonus, Simmons can knock down Js from the mid-range out to three ball territory. Still, when you watch Simmons from the stands, it’s his ability to explode to the rim that makes your jaw drop.
Other Notables:
Ben King – Germantown Friends 6’0” Junior Guard.
Onias Outlaw – George School 6’3” Senior Guard