CheckRock Summer League Playoff Preview

Photo: @checkrock_ Tonight, at the 76ers Fieldhouse the CheckRock Summer League playoffs tip off. This invitation only league features elite 2022 through 2025 prospects from all over the Delaware Valley. Below is a preview of the 2021 CheckRock Summer League 1st Round playoff matchups with a focus on players from southeastern Pennsylvania who are competing for the championship hardware. Players Only (#1 seed) vs. GBGC Crew (#16 seed): Players Only finished the regular season at 7-1 and they are a heavy favorite to win the ‘chip. All everything guard Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 5'10" | CG Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA has been simply amazing during league play. His ability to stroke the J from behind the arc is off the charts. Running with Wright III is scoring guard Jacob Beccles Jacob Beccles 6'3" | CG Constitution | 2022 State PA (2nd Team 2A All-State selection), who excels in transition, as well as high-level slasher style guard Darrien Williams. Leading GBGC Crew’s (2-6) bid to shock the world are Keith Gee, Jr. and Caleb Alston Caleb Alston 6'5" | SF Springside Chestnut Hill Academy | 2024 State PA . Gee, Jr. can drain threes all day or use his perimeter shot making to set up his dribble-drive skills. Alston is a versatile, 6’5” small forward who has played excellent basketball this summer. Tip-off is at 8PM.   Gelly Ball (#2 Seed) vs. Futures First (#15 seed): Gelly Ball’s (6-2) backcourt of Nix Varano and Max Koehler Max Koehler 6'2" | SG Garnet Valey | 2023 State PA begin their quest for a title on Wednesday night. Varano has become one of the preeminent three-point shooters in southeastern Pennsylvania. His unlimited range and quick trigger have been on full display all summer and thus his stock has skyrocketed. Varano has found a solid backcourt mate in super athletic combo guard Max Koehler Max Koehler 6'2" | SG Garnet Valey | 2023 State PA . This month Koehler has proven he is ready to step into the spotlight this high school season and become a No. 1 / No. 2 scoring option for Garnet Valley. High level wing Devin Booker Devin Booker 6'3" | SF Boy's Latin Charter | 2024 State PA will lead Futures First (3-5) efforts for the upset. If Futures is to advance, they will also need a big night from elite shooting guard Luke Boyd Luke Boyd CG Archbishop Ryan | 2022 State PA .  Tip-off is at 8PM.   In the Cut (#3 seed): vs. Drop Squad (#14 seed): This should be a very interesting playoff contest to watch as the teams are a closer matchup then their records indicate (6-2 vs. 4-4). In the Cut features some tremendous prospects from the state of Delaware including Nelson Rodriguez and Michael Breakly. However, Drop Squad is loaded with talent including three-point assassin Naji Reid Naji Reid 6'0" | SG Joshua Christian Academy | 2022 State PA who will drain a shot from anywhere on the floor. Running point for Drop Squad is elite floor general Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #141 Nation PA (3rd Team 5A All-State). In July Barno was a beast for Team Final EYBL 16U and his stellar play has continued at the CheckRock League. Khrys Murray (Abraham Lincoln) is a 6’5”, athletic wing who has posted a breakout summer league season. Tip-off is at 7PM.   Club 6 (#4 seed): vs. County Boys (#13 seed): Club 6 (5-3) is another roster comprised of prospects from Delaware. Among the players to watch for this squad are Jalen Sample, Tobe Atuokwu and Dean Shepherd. Taking the floor for the County Boys (4-4) will be high percentage 3-point shooter Shawn Smith (now at Archbishop Carroll) as well as several excellent players from Delaware such as Dominique Wyatt and Aviyan Mathews. In addition to his shooting, Smith really moves without the ball well which makes him extra difficult to guard. Lastly, keep an eye on Academy Park’s Najee Shaw as he is primed for a breakout this fall/winter. Tip-off is at 7PM.   Soul Snatchers (#5 seed) vs. DCB (#12 seed): Underclassmen have led the way for Soul Snatchers (5-3), and they must continue to carry a heavy load if this team is to make a deep playoff run. Class of 2024 interior standout Thomas Sorber Thomas Sorber 6'8" | PF Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State PA  (6’10”) has been dominant in the paint. He is averaging close to a double-double (unofficially). Cardinal O’Hara’s Khalid Jenkins (C/O 2024) and Milan Dean Milan Dean 6'2" | SF Archbishop Wood | 2025 State PA , arguably the hottest 2025 prospect in southeastern PA, will supply perimeter support for Sorber. The headliners for the DCB squad (4-4) are Saraj Ali (1st Team 3A All-State selection), Saleem Payne and super 2024 prospect Ryan Williams Ryan Williams 6'3" | PG Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA . Ali is a long and athletic wing prospect with plenty of bounce who is built for the transition game. Payne owns one of the best “mid-range and in” skill sets in the Philadelphia area. Williams played for Philly Pride National UAA 15U and was one of the most electric 2024s on the circuit. Tip-off is at 7PM.   Grinders (#6 seed) vs. Livin’ Legends (#11 seed): The Grinders (5-3) roster has presented a potent two-pronged attack during the regular season. On the perimeter wing Daniel Alcantara Daniel Alcantara 6'4" | SG Reading | 2022 State PA (3rd Team 6A All-State selection) has scored at all three levels and combo-guard Allen Cieslak Allen Cieslak 6'1" | PG Devon Prep | 2022 State PA has provided long range shooting and dribble penetration. On the interior, athletic power forward Cole Hargrove Cole Hargrove 6'8" | SF Methacton | 2022 State PA (6’8”) has been a dominant scorer. Hargrove can also run rim to rim in the transition game. The Livin’ Legends (4-4) team boats two SEPA prospects we like a great deal -- Ronny Raphael Ronny Raphael 5'11" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA and Tristen Guillouette. Shoats is an isolation phenom who has gotten buckets at will in the league. We highly suggest that Grinders double-team him on every trip. Guillouette (St. Joes’ Prep; C/O 2024) is a 6’10”, thick bodied interior player who can finish at the cup with either hand. Guillouette vs. Hargrove will be an interesting big man match-up to watch. Tip-off is at 6PM.   The Kikback (#7 seed) vs. Thorough Threads (#10 seed): At the start of the season, we thought Kickback (5-3) would be the team to beat because on paper this roster is loaded with superb guard talent. Anthony “Reese’ Purnell is a lightning-fast floor general whose tremendous play in recent months has produced major DI interest. Former Archbishop Carroll starter Chase Coleman Chase Coleman 6'1" | PG Patrick School | 2025 State NJ (Now at Patrick School in NJ) is a downhill style of combo guard who can also hit jumpers from behind the arc. Jake Cummiskey is one of the smoothest shooting guards in the region. In addition to that trio, Kikback’s roster boasts two of the top 2024s in the area in Elijah Duval Elijah Duval 6'3" | PG Bonner-Prendergast | 2024 State PA and Toby Ojukwu. It will be interesting to witness if this group can pull it together and make a run to the championship. Kikback’s first opponent is a Thorough Threads crew (4-4) that is anchored by its own trio of elite guard prospects -- Ty Burton Ty Burton 5'10" | PG Lampeter-Strasburg | 2024 State PA , Ron Brown III Ron Brown III 5'11" | CG Springside Chestnut Hill Academy | 2024 State PA and Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central School | 2024 State PA . All three run with the Philly Pride grassroots program and all three posted a monster July circuit. Thorough Threads will also lean heavily on wing Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA . During the 2020-21 season Orchard was an outstanding “jack of all trades” for Devon Prep, but this summer Orchard has proven his ability to score the ball has improved drastically. Tip-off is at 6PM.        Built 2 Last (#8 seed) vs. Jerry Deens (#9 seed): Built 2 Last (4-4) is another squad that has not met expectations during the regular season. With superb combo guard Elmarko Jackson Elmarko Jackson 6'3" | PG Academy of New Church | 2023 State #89 Nation PA (multiple major DI offers); unique point-forward Anthony Finkley Anthony Finkley 6'6" | SF Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA and ultra-quick point guard Adam “Budd” Clark pacing this team, we thought they would be a top 3 or 4 seed come playoff time. That didn’t happen and now they are stuck in the dreaded 8/9 game against a solid Jerry Deans team. Jerry Deens features Neumann Goretti’s Masud Stewart Masud Stewart 6'0" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2022 State PA , Imhotep’s Shakur Smith Shakur Smith CG Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA and Allentown Central Catholic’s Tyson Thomas Tyson Thomas 6'1" | PG Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA . Stewart is an extremely talented guard prospect who does a wonderful job of balancing his own scoring with facilitating for teammates. Smith is an athletic wing who excels in transition and plays above the rim. Thomas (1st Team 4A All-State) is a terrific combo-guard who can score at all 3 levels. Tip-off is at 6PM.