CoBL Interstate Shootout: Player Match-Up Previews
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This weekend is the return of the City of Basketball Love: Interstate Shootout. The best teams from Jersey and Delaware are coming to Friends Central High School to test their metal against the best that Philly has to offer. Here…
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Continue ReadingThis weekend is the return of the City of Basketball Love: Interstate Shootout. The best teams from Jersey and Delaware are coming to Friends Central High School to test their metal against the best that Philly has to offer. Here are some match ups to keep an eye on.
MCS’s Jaheim Bethea Jaheim Bethea 6'0" | PG Math, Civics & Sciences | 2022 State PA & Khalif Crawley Khalif Crawley 6'7" | C Math, Civics & Sciences | 2022 State PA Jr (PA) vs Manasquan’s Ben Roy Ben Roy 6'2" | PG Manasquan | 2022 State #218 Nation NJ & Matt Solomon Matt Solomon 6'6" | PF Manasquan | 2022 State NJ (NJ)
Roy just committed to Boston University, is the premiere player in the Shore Conference and has proven he can compete with the best in the country on the circuit. Saturday, he’ll have to shoot well from deep and get teammates Solomon involved. Matt is stepping into his brother Andrew’s shoes, but expects to make a name for himself as a stretch big who will need to much up the paint vs the Might Elephants. Jah Bethea and Deuce Crawley Jr both have to get high percentage buckets. Bethea is known for his facilitating yet they’ll need his interior scoring and foul drawing. Crawley Jr has to be a bruiser down low. Saturday, Court 2 at 12:40.
Imhotep’s Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA & Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA (PA) vs St. Peter’s Prep’s Mark Armstrong Mark Armstrong 6'2" | PG St. Peter's Prep | 2022 State #39 Nation NJ & Matt Kinzler Matt Kinzler 6'7" | PF St. Peter's Prep | 2023 State NJ (NJ)
The lion’s share of the attention for Imhotep will be on St. Peter’s Armstrong. When the Panthers try to speed up the Villanova commit or force the ball out of his hands, he’ll have to make smart decisions. Kinzler in-turn is going to have to make shots to keep the defense honest. Coordinating the attack for the Panthers, Barno will have to find ways to exploit SPP, who lost 3 starters to graduation. Edwards, now a consensus top 20 player for 2023, will have his metal tested versus Kinzler, Tindal and others. How he responds will be telling. Saturday, Court 1 at 1:35pm.
Neumann-Goretti’s Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL (PA) vs Bergen Catholic’s Elliot Cadeau Elliot Cadeau 6'2" | PG Bergen Catholic | 2024 MO (NJ)
Those from outside the area might see this as “David vs Goliath” but those who know think otherwise. Elliot played varsity at Bergen, won the U18 Nordic Championship Cup for Sweden and played for New Heights Lightning’s 17U team this summer, while Rob was tearing up the 15U circuit with Team Final EYBL, after being a reserve for Neumann last season. They likely won’t be the offensive focal points but the results from this game will reverberate across the 2024 landscape. Saturday, Court 2 at 1:35pm.
ANC’s Kenny Jackson Kenny Jackson 6'3" | PG #23 Nation PA (PA) vs Rutgers Prep’s Jadin Collins Jadin Collins 6'1" | PG Rutgers Prep | 2023 State NJ (NJ))
Few 2023 players had the Spring and Summer that Elmarko did. He’s shot up recruiting boards because of his acceleration as an offensive initiator. Jadin’s stock is on the rise too after running with Team Rio and transferring to Rutgers Prep. He takes a lot of pride in his defense but can fill it up on offense too. Jackson versus Collins will be a sight to see as they trade buckets. Court 2 at 5:15pm on Saturday.
Pope John Paul II’s JP Baron JP Baron 6'2" | CG Pope John Paul II | 2022 State PA (PA) vs Sanford’s Dayon Polk (DE)
The question going into this match up is “Can Dayon throw JP off his game”. Polk is certainly going to get in his chest and force some mistakes, but how will JP respond? Him hustling for 50/50 balls, staying engaged off-ball and on defense, and just keeping his energy up will be significant if they’re going to win. Dayon’s on-ball defense won’t be enough. Sanford will need him to be an all-around point guard in the half court – controlling the pace, creating open looks for teammates, picking his spots to score – in order to pull out the W.
SCH Academy’s Jaren Morton Jaren Morton 6'5" | SG SCH Academy | 2023 State PA & Alassane Amadou Alassane Amadou 6'9" | PF SCH Academy | 2023 State #188 Nation PA (PA) vs Arts High School’s Spencer Joyner Spencer Joyner 6'4" | PG Arts | 2023 State NJ & Elijon Nix Elijon Nix 6'0" | PG Arts | 2023 State NJ (NJ)
Depending on the game plans, Morten and Joyner might be matched up directly against one another, on both ends. If so, Jaren, a Jersey native, will have to keep Spencer out of the lane, and Spencer will have to force Jaren to take tough shots. As a help defender, Alassane will have to dissuade Nix from attacking the rim, especially when Nix beats his primary defender. How well he communicates on that end of the floor and disrupts Arts High’s offense will be significant. And when Elijon does gain an advantage on whoever guards him, he’ll need to manipulate the helper (Alassane) to free up space around the basket. Court 1: Sunday at 12:40pm.
Phelps’s Chas Kelley Chas Kelley 6'5" | PG Phelps | 2022 State PA (PA) vs Archbishop Wood’s Justin Moore Justin Moore 6'1" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2022 State PA (PA)
As far as starting experience in the Catholic League goes, Moore is the only player for Wood who has any but he can score in bunches if he has to. Kelley’s point of attack defense is going to be key. Phelps has to make someone else beat them, without letting Moore outright create open shots for his teammates. The opposite goes for Moore and the Viking. They have to turn Kelley into a volume scorer. He naturally wants to get other players going, so it’ll be a long game if he can do that and shoot from deep. Sunday, Court 1 at 3:25pm.
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