Philadelphia Underclassmen Report: Fall 2020 Part 1
With sports slowly returning to our nations fabric, high school teams are prepping for the upcoming season. This is the time of year when the summer circuit is well behind us and teams get a chance to get those much…
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Continue ReadingWith sports slowly returning to our nations fabric, high school teams are prepping for the upcoming season. This is the time of year when the summer circuit is well behind us and teams get a chance to get those much needed repetitions with their teammates to build trust and chemistry. Many high school programs take advantage of fall leagues and pre-season tune ups offered in their region. This also gives opportunities for those athletes that may have missed getting exposure during the summer and a chance to showcase what they improved upon from last year. Here are some standouts underclassmen I got a chance to check out the past few weeks.
Chauncey Presley, Abraham Lincoln (2023) – Contributing to one of the top teams in the Philadelphia Public League as a freshman isn’t an easy task. Chauncey did it. With his relentless passion to play defense he led his team in steal and assist as a, I’ll say it again, a freshman. This quick 6’0” point guard has an explosive first step to breeze by defenders and can finish with both hands at the basket. Climbing the charts as one of the top guards in his class in the city, his ceiling is getting higher as he continued to improve over the summer. He played for Philly Pride but with games being limited Chauncey has taken the time to work with a personal trainer to sharper his skills, particularly his mid-range game. He will bring a lot of experience in his sophomore year as he looks to take the Railsplitters back to the playoffs.
Delshon Robinson, Strawberry Mansion (2023) – With the rise of the allure of the 3-point shot is rare to see a kid that loves to play in the post. Say hello to Mr. Robinson. Standing at a long 6’3” he has great footwork and skillful post moves that makes him very difficult to guard when in the paint. Watching him play what stood out the most was his ability to execute the pick and roll. He demonstrated strong hands and an incredible ability to catch tough passes in traffic and finish. In addition, his athleticism allows him to pick and pop where he can take his defender to the rim off the bounce. An above average rebounder who know his role has a nice touch on his jump shot that will improve as he matures his game. Delshon will see big minutes as the lone big man on a guard heavy squad.
Ron Brown, Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy (2024) – When you witness a young player give effort on both sides of the floor it tells me the kid is different. Most young players don’t understand that defense is just as important as offense, but Ron does. Being a son of a coach has helped him display the maturity and understanding of the game. He has an amazing motor and is always in attack mode on offense and defense. This 5’11 guard easily can create plays off the dribble and is a strong contact finisher. Ron is capable of scoring on all three levels which put the icing on his game. He will be a major impact player for Springside Chestnut Hill as an incoming freshman that competes in the competitive Inter-Academic League.
Nasir Washington, Mastery Charter Hardy Williams (2023) – If you want to find solid guards, then look nowhere else but Philadelphia. There you will find Nasir, a savvy head smart player, at Mastery Charter Hardy Williams who will be competing in the Philadelphia Public League for the first time this upcoming season. This 6’2” guard is the main ball handler for his squad that loves to drive and kick to teammates. He has excellent body control when hanging in the air to avoid defenders. A superb defensive player he uses his long arms to block shots and disrupts offenses by deflecting passes. Nasir is a high energy player with a good motor that knows how to find to open areas on the floor when moving without the basketball. He will be one to watch as he improves his outside shooting and continues to gain confidence.