Friends League Preview: Title Contenders & MVP Candidates
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Team camps are underway and the high school season is quickly approaching. For PAISSA teams, the state championship runs through the Friends Schools League, featuring Westtown who won it all in 2022. But a few other programs are contending for…
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Continue ReadingTeam camps are underway and the high school season is quickly approaching. For PAISSA teams, the state championship runs through the Friends Schools League, featuring Westtown who won it all in 2022. But a few other programs are contending for the 2023 title too. I also share potential MVP candidates from each contender.
George School
The Cougars finished third in the league last season, featuring a new roster. Heading into 22-23, they have a talented veteran group with chemistry. Xavier-commit ‘23 Onyekachi Nzeh Onyekachi Nzeh 6'9" | PF George School | 2023 State PA could be the centerpiece of what they try to do on both ends. His ability to close out games at the FT line enhances his value in the PNR. With the high upside ‘25 Luke Bevilacqua Luke Bevilacqua 6'10" | C George School | 2025 State #68 Nation PA protecting the rim at the 5, GS can let Nzeh be more disruptive as a 4-man. The Cougar’s perimeter players can stretch the floor and will be really good defensively. ‘23 Dante Weise Dante Weise 6'1" | PG George School | 2023 State PA orchestrates the offense with his vision and feel. Being able to make plays without holding the ball too long opens up their offense. ‘24 Christian Bliss spear-heads the defense and is a playmaker on that end, getting steals and deflections. Throw in his ability to score without or without the ball, Bliss could be their leader in points too. A sleeper in his own right, ‘23 Carson Mastin adds another dimension to this team as a versatile marksman from deep. They’ll have their work cut out for them but the Cougars should be the preseason favorites to win the Friends League.
MVP Candidate: Onyekachi Nzeh Onyekachi Nzeh 6'9" | PF George School | 2023 State PA
Westtown
There’s no replacing the consensus #1 player in the 2022 class and a potential one-and-done lottery pick (Lively II/Duke) after league and state (PAISSA) titles. However, Westtown does bring back two seniors who will stabilize a jost of newcomers. ‘23 Matt Mayock Matt Mayock 6'4" | SG Westtown School | 2023 State PA is slated to head to American University, but before then he’ll elevate the Moose as a help-side wing defender who’s an automatic shooter off-the-catch. ‘23 Seyphon Triplett Seyphon Triplett 6'1" | CG Westtown School | 2023 State PA was already a key player on defense who used his burst and instincts to get stocks. Now he gets to use them to create paint touches. Their only true big man, ‘24 Matt Gilhool Matt Gilhool 6'10" | C Long Island Lutheran | 2024 #254 Nation NY has the responsibility of anchoring them in the low post, but has some point-forward skills and can play above the rim too. ‘24 Malik Rasul Malik Rasul 6'8" | PF Westtown School | 2024 State PA gives them versatility as a forward who can play the 5 for stretches and switch on the perimeter players. ‘25 Jayden Kelsey Jayden Kelsey 6'6" | CG Westtown School | 2025 State PA is a big wing who can dribble, pass and shoot. Lastly, Westtown has two young guards with plus positional size who will play critical roles for them in ‘25 Cameron Wallace Cameron Wallace 6'5" | SF Westtown School | 2025 State PA and ‘25 Jayden Forsythe. Wallace and really score the ball, especially from three, and Forsythe can initiate advantages and facilitate. Despite the lack of experience right now, this team could easily be in champion-level form by February.
MVP Candidate: Matt Gilhool Matt Gilhool 6'10" | C Long Island Lutheran | 2024 #254 Nation NY
Friends Central
The Phoenix go from the youngest in the league to one of the most experienced. They can do a bit of everything and play different styles. ‘23 Colin Bowman Colin Bowman 6'2" | SF Friends Central | 2023 State PA and ‘24 Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central | 2024 State PA are their most dynamic scorers – Bowman in isolation and Oshodi off-the-catch. ‘23 Joe Green with his quickness and the two-way ‘24 Muhsin Muhammad Muhsin Muhammad 6'4" | SF Friends Central | 2024 State PA with his length get to the basket with ease. Lock-down defender ‘24 Reid Belcher Reid Belcher 5'11" | PG Friends Central | 2024 State PA and the crafty ‘25 Gabe Moore Gabe Moore 6'0" | CG Life Center Academy | 2026 State NJ can create for others. Their trio of bigs/forwards – ‘23 Liam Foley, ‘24 Isaac Moore Isaac Moore 6'7" | PF Life Center Academy | 2025 State NJ , and ‘25 Nigel Pierman – allow them to play different styles. Foley is strong enough to play the 5 alongside I. Moore or Pierman when they want to go “big”, without sacrificing spacing. Moore and Pierman can shoot it from mid-range and guard just enough in space when they want to play fast. And they collectively give the team coverage versatility as lowmen in the PNR. If FCS wants to knock off any of the other contenders, they’ll have to lean into their depth while Bowman and/or Oshodi throw haymakers offensively. With this many talented pieces on the roster, the Phoenix could absolutely win it all themselves.
MVP Candidate: Colin Bowman Colin Bowman 6'2" | SF Friends Central | 2023 State PA or Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central | 2024 State PA
Dark Horse: Academy of the New Church
ANC was the Friends League runner-up and made the PAISSA semi-finals in 2022. Then they lost all but two regular rotation players. But that’s not enough to count them out. The Lions will get after it with their aggressive defense and that effort will be led by ‘23 Jarell Keel. He generates turnovers on defense and kicks it to open teammates from there. ‘23 Deywilk Tavarez Deywilk Tavarez 6'2" | CG Academy of New Church | 2023 State PA is a good defender and second-side playmaker, but his greatest contribution will be his mid- and long-range jumper. ‘24 Nolan Waldon is one of four additions who will make an impact right away. He’s another guard who can make decisions on-ball for them. ‘24 Bahsil Laster is a pass-first, two-way player too, but they’ll need him to be assertive getting to the rim. His ability to create advantages – as well as shutdown opposing ball-handlers – with his length could tilt matchups in their favor. ‘26 Justin Bobb Justin Bobb 6'5" | SF Conwell-Egan | 2026 State PA and ‘26 Dior Carter Dior Carter 6'3" | SF Academy of the New Church | 2026 State PA are two cubs that will play vital roles for them. At 6’6, Bobb gives them some size in the paint who can knock down mid-range shots. Carter shows determination attacking down hill offensively and tenacity guarding wings and rebounding. Once they find their rhythm, Coach Givens’s unselfish, guard-heavy roster can out-pace their opponents and make their way back to the league title game.
MVP Candidate: Bahsil Laster
Additional Friends League Players to Watch
‘23 Earle Greer Jr Earle Greer Jr 6'7" | SF Rocktop Academy | 2023 State PA | Abington Friends
‘24 Kaydin Ford Kaydin Ford 5'10" | PG Abington Friends | 2024 State PA | Abington Friends
‘23 Niymire Brown Niymire Brown 6'4" | SF Upper Darby | 2023 State PA | Friends Select
‘23 Isaiah Marshall | Friends Select
‘23 Amir Staten | Germantown Friends
‘26 Jordan Dill Jordan Dill 5'11" | CG Germantown Friends | 2026 State PA | Germantown Friends
‘23 Darrien Grady Darrien Grady 5'9" | PG Shipley School | 2023 State PA | Shipley
‘24 Matt Lange Matt Lange 6'2" | PG Shipley | 2024 State PA | Shipley
‘26 Kody Colson Kody Colson 5'10" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2026 State PA | Shipley
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