Transfer Watch: Southeastern PA Players on the Move
Jalen Duren formerly of Roman Catholic. The Covid-19 outbreak brought a halt to the PIAA state tournament and delayed the summer circuit, but the global pandemic could not stop elite level high school basketball players from transferring schools this off-season.…
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Continue ReadingThe Covid-19 outbreak brought a halt to the PIAA state tournament and delayed the summer circuit, but the global pandemic could not stop elite level high school basketball players from transferring schools this off-season.
Head lining the southeastern Pennsylvania list of transfers is Jalen Duren, the #2 nationally ranked player in the class of 2022. Unfortunately, Duren departed Roman Catholic in Philadelphia and took his talents to Montverde Academy in Florida.
“We’ve had success in this program for last 10 to 15 years and you have a lot of kids who want to come here to experience a different opportunity,” Montverde Head Coach Kevin Boyle told me in a recent phone conversation. “Jalen is coming here and we are excited to have him. He has a really, really high upside,” Boyle continued.
Coach Boyle was quick to note the impact Duren will have defensively for his team saying, “Obviously he has outstanding size and outstanding athleticism. He is a very good rim protector and with a very aggressive defensive team like us, if someone does make a mistake he can cover those up.”
There’s no doubt that Duren was a dominant defensive force during the 2019-20 season. The 6’10” big averaged 2.5 bpg. and rejected eight shots in Roman’s PIAA Class 6A state tourney win over Pennridge.
Still, Boyle wants fans and college coaches to note that Duren (17 ppg.) may be underrated at the other end of the floor. “Offensively I think that watching tape what you notice is that he is better offensively then most believe and for us we will try to expand his offensive game,” said Boyle. “We want to get him a lot of touches in the paint, but also get him involved in pick-n-roll or pick-n-pop. Maybe even some face up action. We want to grow his game.”
It sounds like that for the gifted, but still developing Duren, Montverde could be an ideal move.
In addition to Duren, there are also a number of other SE Pennsylvania ballers who decided to switch schools. Of course there was one big name Philly player that decided to follow Duren to Florida.
Neel Beniwal Neel Beniwal 6'5" | SG Phelps School | 2022 State PA 6’4” Junior Wing: From Garnet Valley to The Phelps School. One of the deadliest three point shooters in all of Delaware County, in 2019-20 Beniwal helped push the GV to 23 wins, a 14-1 Central League record and a state tourney appearance. The long and athletic shooter missed a number of games with knee tendinitis last year, but when healthy Beniwal proved he can fill it up — 21 points (4 threes) vs Penncrest and his 25 points in the District 1 playoffs vs North Penn. In addition to transferring, Beniwal will also re-class into the 2022 graduation year.
Zaakir Willamson 6’7” Senior Power Forward: From Rock Creek Christian (MD) to Neumann Goretti. A Philly native, this move is a homecoming for Williamson who is a 250 pound man-child with great mobility and excellent footwork. Those athletic traits allow for a solid face up game that nicely compliments his post up power skills. Williamson can attack the rim off the pick-n-roll and the offensive glass. The big fella already holds multiple D-1 offers.
Khalil Farmer Khalil Farmer PG Roman Catholic | 2022 State PA 6’4” Junior Guard. From Shipley School to Roman Catholic. A nationally ranked player since he was in 7th grade, Farmer was 1st Team All-Friends School League selection for the last two years at Shipley. He’s a bigger, but still smooth guard who can score off the bounce and shoot the three. Farmer averaged 18 pts and 7 rebs per game last season and already has multiple Division-I offers.
Christian Kirkland Christian Kirkland 6'7" | SF Friends Select | 2022 State PA 6’7” Junior Forward. From Roman Catholic to Friends Select. Kirkland played his freshman season at Friends Select before transferring to Roman. After a season in a part-time starter role at RC, he is now headed back to Friends Select. A lefty with tremendous offensive skills, during 2019-20 season Kirkland was a role player at Roman behind national names like Duren and Byron Hopkins Byron Hopkins 6'0" | PG Upper Moreland | 2022 State PA . Kirkland has great touch in the paint and can also operate in a “bully ball” style from the baseline.
Onyekachi “Kachi” Nzeh 6’9” Junior Forward. From Upper Darby to George School. Central League opponents are happy to see “Kachi” depart Upper Darby, because in 2019-20 he simply terrorized foes in the paint at both ends of the floor. The scary part is that last season was “Kachi’s” first year of high school basketball. A true interior big man who is still learning the game, in a District 1 6A first-round playoff matchup with Souderton, he posted 11 points; 13 rebounds and 6 blocks. “Kachi” is also an outstanding track athlete.
Caelin Peters 6’2” Senior Point Guard. From Plymouth-Whitemarsh to The Phelps School. Peters is a big, shifty guard who can really shoot it from anywhere. He scored 33 pts vs. Upper Moreland and notched a 28 point and 11 rebound double-double vs Wissahickon. When motivated, he can be a good defender, but there is no doubt that his job in life is to get buckets. Peters was a one-man-show at PW and with all the talent at Phelps, one would expect that he will become a better all-around floor general.
Byron Hopkins Byron Hopkins 6'0" | PG Upper Moreland | 2022 State PA 6’3” Junior Guard. From Roman Catholic to Montverde Academy (FL). When it rains on Roman Catholic Head Coach Matt Griffin, it monsoons. After losing Duren back in May, Williams announced in June that he will bolt Roman and also head south to Montverde. This super smooth guard was selected to several sophomore All-America teams thanks to his ability to score the ball off the dribble (19 ppg.). Length, speed, amazing athleticism, handles for days and a filthy mid-range game make Williams nearly unstoppable. The 1st Team Philadelphia All-City selection scored 22+ points in six straight games and posted 32 & 10 vs powerhouse Archbishop Wood.
Other Notables:
Gestin Liberis 6’10” Junior Forward. From Msgr Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast to George School.
Mike Mayock 6’4” Junior Guard. From Conestoga to Westtown School.
Jackson Piotrowski 6’5” Senior Forward. From Delaware County Christian School to The Phelps School.
Coach on the Move:
Jason Harrigan Head Coach: From Team Final (EYBL) to St. Joe’s Prep. Replacing a legendary Philly hoops coach like Speedy Morris won’t be easy, but many feel Harrigan has the resume and basketball IQ to meet the challenge. Harrigan spent 2019 coaching with Team Final which as we all know, is one of the best grassroots programs in Philly. He has also previously coached in the PCL. Harrigan served as Cardinal O’Hara’s head coach from 2016 thru 2018. Back in 2016 Harrigan led the now closed Del Val Charter to the 2016 Philadelphia Public League title.