Philly Live II Preview: Key Player Match Ups
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The weekend number two of Philly Live 2022 is here and it might be better than the first. Session 2 features a host of teams from the DMV, namely the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). They’ll face top programs from…
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Continue ReadingThe weekend number two of Philly Live 2022 is here and it might be better than the first. Session 2 features a host of teams from the DMV, namely the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC). They’ll face top programs from Philly and South Jersey. There are also some talented teams from other parts of NJ and PA. Below are some key match ups you don’t want to miss.
Downingtown West vs Executive Education – Friday 3:30pm
Versatility to the calling card for 6’10 F/C ‘23 Jake Warren Jake Warren 6'10" | C Downingtown West | 2023 FL . He’s just as effective operating from the perimeter as he is in the post. But 6’10 C ‘23 Moustapha Sanoh Moustapha Sanoh 6'9" | PF Exec Education ACS | 2023 State PA is long and athletic enough to give Warren a good challenge in either spot. On the other end, Moustapha’s ability to handle Jake’s physicality and get his usual lobs and put-backs will be key. Warren already had the St. Joe’s offer. Sanoh recently picked up offers from Rider & Del St. Even more college coaches will be all the way queued in for this match up.
Roselle Catholic (NJ) vs Imhotep (PA) – Friday 8:10pm
The Tep needs little to no introduction. 6’7 W ‘23 Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA is a consensus top 10 player. 6’0 G ‘23 Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA their lightning fast point guard and 6’1 G ‘24 Ahmad Nowell Ahmad Nowell 6'0" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2024 State #36 Nation PA , who shares the backcourt with him, is a gifted scorer. Roselle will be led by scoring sensation and UNC-commit 6’4 G ‘23 Simeon Witcher. 6’8 F ‘23 Akil Watson Akil Watson 6'7" | SF Roselle Catholic | 2023 State #105 Nation NJ & 6’8 F ‘24 Tarik Watson Tarik Watson 6'7" | PF Hillcrest Prep | 2024 State AZ return and will hold it down at the forward spots. Their rosters are filled out with an excellent mix of young and experienced who should all get a shot at playing college ball. And if we’re lucky, we might see the debut of some new additions to the Roselle program.
St. Joe’s Metuchen (NJ) vs Parkland (PA) – Saturday 12:30pm
6’4 G ‘23 Joshua Ingram Joshua Ingram 6'4" | SG St. Joe's Metuchen | 2023 State NJ and 6’1 G ‘24 Nick Coval Nick Coval 6'1" | CG Parkland | 2024 State PA may not be assigned to one another, but they bring similar skills to their respective teams. Josh has a smooth catch & shoot jumper he’ll use to space the floor as an off-guard. But the finesse kid is improving as a slasher and showing the ability to dunk over and around defenders in the half court. Nick will shoot the cover off the ball and be Parkland’s primary playmaker. He also brings toughness on defense. Their team’s success is anchored by how well these two play.
Gonzaga (DC) vs Neumann-Goretti (PA) – Saturday 2:50pm
Gonzaga’s backcourt (6’4 G ‘25 Derek Dixon Derek Dixon 6'4" | SG Gonzaga | 2025 State #153 Nation MD & 6’0 G ‘25 Nykolas Lewis Nykolas Lewis 6'2" | PG Gonzaga | 2025 State #146 Nation MD ) and NG’s (5’11 G ‘24 Khaafiq Myers Khaafiq Myers 5'10" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA & 6’0 G ‘24 Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL ) will have their hands full with one another. And with no 6’8 F ‘23 Sultan Adewale Sultan Adewale 6'8" | SF Neumann-Goretti | 2023 State #205 Nation PA for the Saints (traveled back home to the UK), the key match up will be between 6’6 W ‘23 Thomas Batties II Thomas Batties II 6'7" | PF Gonzaga | 2023 State MD and 6’6 W ‘24 Amir Williams Amir Williams 6'6" | SF Neuman-Goretti | 2024 State PA . Thomas will be a threat as the screener and short roller, plus can show or edge as the low man in PNR on defense. Amir is a top tier defender – on & off ball – with feel as a cutter and a rapidly improving shot from three. These diverse wings could decide the outcome of this WCAC/PCL match up.
Sidwell Friends (DC) vs Archbishop Wood (PA) – Saturday 8:40pm
This will be a battle of trios. For Sidwell, 5’10 G ‘23 Cam Gillus Cam Gillus 5'10" | PG Sidwell Friends | 2023 State MD will set the table for everyone, 6’5 G ‘25 Jalen Rougier-Roane Jalen Rougier-Roane 6'5" | CG Sidwell Friends | 2025 State #142 Nation MD will score and defend, and 6’7 W ‘24 Caleb Williams Caleb Williams 6'7" | SF Sidwell Friends | 2024 State #93 Nation MD will do a little of everything. On the Wood side, 6’4 G ‘24 Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA will set the tone as their primary initiator, 6’3 G ‘24 Josh Reed Josh Reed 6'3" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State PA will get it done as their ball stopper with offensive upside, and 6’8 C ‘23 Carson Howard Carson Howard 6'7" | PF Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA will close out possessions on defensive and extend them on offense. The x-factors will be each squad’s fourth option. 6’3 G ‘25 Acaden Lewis Acaden Lewis 6'2" | PG Sidwell Friends | 2025 State #149 Nation MD should fill that role for SF. But between 6’3 G ‘25 Milan Dean Milan Dean 6'3" | SF Archbishop Wood | 2025 State #286 Nation PA Jr, 6’2 G ‘25 Deuce Maxey Deuce Maxey 6'2" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2025 State PA , and newcomer 6’4 G ‘24 Jacob Cummiskey Jacob Cummiskey 6'3" | CG Central Bucks East | 2024 State PA for Wood, someone will have to emerge.
St. John’s College (DC) vs Camden (NJ) – Saturday 8:40pm
7’0 C ‘23 Aaron Bradshaw Aaron Bradshaw 7'0" | PF Camden | 2023 State #10 Nation NJ aka Top Shelf continues to take on a variety of big men in the live period and 6’9 F ‘24 Donavan Freeman Donavan Freeman 6'9" | PF IMG Academy | 2024 #34 Nation FL is up next. More of a combo forward, Freeman can bring Bradshaw away from the basket and stretch the floor from deep if and when 6’0 G ‘23 Malik Mack Malik Mack 6'0" | PG St. John’s | 2023 State #260 Nation MD & 6’2 G ‘23 Daquan Davis Daquan Davis 6'1" | PG Overtime Elite (GA) | 2024 #119 Nation GA kick it out to him. He anchors their defense too. When 6’3 G ‘23 Dajuan Wagner Jr Dajuan Wagner Jr 6'4" | PG Camden | 2023 State #1 Nation NJ . gets loose on the perimeter or 6’0 G ‘23 Cian Medley Cian Medley 6'0" | PG Camden | 2023 State NJ gets to the paint at-will and Freeman has to help off, Aaron will live up to his nickname. How well he protects the rim while guarding Freeman will be telling as well.
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