Philadelphia Public League Rising Juniors to Watch: National Div
If there are high school basketball hotspots around the nation, Philadelphia is toward the top. It stems from a rich pro basketball and college basketball history, and Philly high school boys basketball is nothing short of class. Excitement has been…
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Continue ReadingIf there are high school basketball hotspots around the nation, Philadelphia is toward the top. It stems from a rich pro basketball and college basketball history, and Philly high school boys basketball is nothing short of class.
Excitement has been building for the 2020-21 season since March, and for good reason. In anticipation for this season, here’s a list of rising juniors to watch in the Philadelphia Public League’s National Division, one of four divisions in the city.
Andrew Fagans, PG/SG Academy at Palumbo: Fagans offers a lot of versatility as a 6’3” combo guard as not only someone who can create turnovers, but also someone who can score and block shots. He’s able to play at the block or play at the point, and as an offensive threat, he can also shoot the three with ease. Fagans combines the speed, court awareness and passing of a point guard with the shooting and height of a shooting guard, allowing him to spread the floor and take his shot or help a teammate create one of their own.
Steven Alsbrooks, SG Northeast: Alsbrooks is not your traditional shooting guard, though he has extensive range from beyond the arc. He plays like a point guard at times, a great defender who can pick off passes and create fast break points. He shows off his shooting guard attributes on offense, moving off-ball with ease and shooting with absolute confidence anywhere he has the opportunity to. Expect Alsbrooks to keep creating shots and keep shooting while being an agile defender.
Mekhi Jones, PG/SG Academy at Palumbo: Jones plays a versatile guard role for Academy at Palumbo, switching off roles with Fagans. The two feed off each other, and that can be seen on tape. Jones is a comfortable and confident shooter, especially beyond the arc. He moves great off-ball, allowing him to find his shot. On defense, Jones is a pesky, but reliable defender, moving around the court with ease. His court agility and awareness play big roles in his defensive play as he’s able pick off passes. He and Fagans will shine this season.
Derrick Williams, G Northeast: Williams is an agile and fast player, both with and without the ball. He is a reliable option on a fast break, able to get up and down the floor to finish in the paint. He’s flashy with the ball, but that showed immense confidence as a sophomore. The switch never turned off on defense as Williams turns the notch up that much farther. Simply put, he has fantastic court vision and court awareness, and there is no pass near him that is safe. If he gets the opportunity, that ball is going the other way for a fast break scoring opportunity.
Keep on the lookout for more player profiles and previews as we approach this 2020-21 high school basketball season.