Suburban One League Preview: Elite Guards
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[player_tooltip player_id="990981" first="Matt" last="Compas"] (C/O 2021) of Wissahickon HS. Now that the Governor’s Covid-19 mandate pausing high school athletics in Pennsylvania has expired, varsity basketball teams around the state got back in the gym on Monday night. One league to…
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Continue ReadingNow that the Governor’s Covid-19 mandate pausing high school athletics in Pennsylvania has expired, varsity basketball teams around the state got back in the gym on Monday night. One league to keep an eye on during this abbreviated 2020-21 season is the Suburban One League.
In 2019-20 the Suburban One League (SEPA) boasted three teams that won 20 or more games, a Cheltenham squad that played in the District 1 6A Championship game and four teams that participated in the PIAA state tournament,.
If you think the Suburban One League’s success last season was a blip or a one year wonder, think again. The SOL is stacked for 2020-21 with talented ballers who will have an impact this season and possibly at the college level. Below are profiles of Suburban One League guards to watch in 2020-21.
James Ashford IV – 6’3” / Senior / Bensalem / Combo Guard: A nagging hip injury wrecked Ashford’s sophomore season, but the skilled combo guard came back with a vengeance in 2019-20. Running mostly at PG last season, he was the leading scorer for Bensalem (18 ppg.) and no one will forget when he dropped 36 on Abraham Lincoln (PA) back in December of 2019. Ashford is a shot maker, plain and simple. Still, he is extremely poised as a primary ball handler and owns great court vision. If needed, he can easily convert into a distributor at the next level. Ashford was a 1st team all SOL National Conference selection.
Matt Compas Matt Compas 6'3" | CG Wissahickon | 2021 State PA – 6’1” / Senior / Wissahickon / Combo Guard: After his selection as a 2020 Competitive Edge Fall League All-Star, I am not sure what else is left to say about this elite guard prospect. Compas is an athletic, slasher type player who can really score the ball. Compas plays with a ton of energy and extra spring in his legs. When you walk in the gym, you notice that Compas is a ridiculous athlete who plays above the rim. After you watch him play multiple times, one can see that Compas excels in transition, but also owns enough skills to score off isolation play in the half-court. He will not hesitate to flush the ball with authority in traffic. His offensive output is complimented nicely by the fact that Compas is an excellent on ball defender. In 2019-20 Compas was a 1st team All SOL American Conference selection. He told me he is hearing from a number of schools including Millersville, Marywood and Lincoln.
Sean Curley – 6’0” / Sophomore / Neshaminy / Shooting Guard: In 2019-20, Curley’s silky jump shot earned him serious varsity minutes as a freshman. From bunnies to the mid-range to behind the arc, Curley is cash money with the jumper. To be honest, Curley is a legit 3-point ace and opponents should be face guarding him all over the floor. This winter he will be a known offensive threat in the SOL and it will be interesting to watch if teams take the “lock-off” approach to defending Curley. An athletic guard with a long wingspan and good instincts, Curley is also an impact player at the defensive end via steals and blocks.
Matt Drapkin – 5’11” / Senior / Neshaminy / Point Guard: Drapkin is a highly skilled and gritty floor general who after last season was a 2nd Team All SOL National Conference selection. He reminds me of former Ohio State standout Aaron Craft, but with significantly better 3-point shooting abilities. When he’s not draining threes, Drapkin is using his bag of dribbling tricks to score at the tin or create open shots for his teammates. Last season he posted 20 points and 5 rebounds vs CB South. Much like Craft (all-time steals leader at Ohio State), Drapkin is an absolute pest on defense. During 2019-20 season he notched games of 5 steals (vs. Owen J. Roberts) as well as 7 steals (vs Penn Wood).
Joe Jackman – 5’11” / Senior / CB East / Combo Guard: Jackman is an outside threat who owns, as the kids say, “in the gym” range. His text book mechanics allow Jackman to drain threes from the stand still, on the secondary break or off screen action. In 2019-20, Jackman scored 17 ppg. on 39% shooting from deep (60 3PM). Still, if a defender closes out too hard or off-balance, Jackman has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Those of you who witnessed his 25 point outburst vs. Pennridge saw all the elements of his game at work. In December of 2019 Jackman posted two 30+ point games in one week. Jackman was a 1st team All-Area selection as well as a 1st team All SOL Continental Conference selection.
Aaron Sanders – 6’1” / Junior / Bensalem / Point Guard: As a sophomore Sanders was the do-everything floor general for a Bensalem squad that won 19 games, captured the SOL National Conference title, advanced to the semifinals of the District 1 6A playoffs and qualified for the PIAA 6A state tournament. Sanders is an elite level distributor, especially on the fast break. When Bensalem needs him to score, Sanders can attack in transition, splash home 3-pointers or use dribble penetration to score the rock in close. For his tremendous all-around play in 2019-20, Sanders was a 2nd Team All SOL (National Conference) selection. Sanders plays for Philly Pride AAU.