The Philadelphia Public League Play offs will be in full
swing today, Here is a preview of the tournament.
By
Gregory Goettner
The Favorite:
Prep Charter (AA, 17-4
Overall, 10-0)
The Huskies, the defending PIAA
“AA” State Champions have never won a Public League championship. Last year the
Huskies were upset by Communications Tech in the quarter finals 72-69. This
season the Huskies finished undefeated in Public League play.
Leading the Huskies into
the play offs are seniors Marcus Morris (22ppg) and Markieff
Morris (17ppg). The Morris brothers will continue their collegiate career at
Memphis University.
The Huskies also have one of
the top sophomore classes in the state. Leading the sophomore class is guard
Jesse Morgan. Morgan has emerged as one of the top shooting guards in the
Public League; he has recently put up big numbers against some of the top
competition in the area including 17 points vs. Imhotep Charter and 17 points
against Harrisburg.
The other sophomores to watch
are point guard Parrish Grant, forward Tyree “Chuck” Harris
(Harris status is uncertain he has been sidelined due to a foot injury),
and forward Ferguson Myrick.
Biggest Wins of the
season: Harrisburg, Imhotep Charter, Franklin
Learning Center
Toughest possible
opponent on the road to the semi finals: Rematch
with Imhotep Charter
The Contenders:
Simon Gratz (AAAA – 18-5
overall, 13-0)
The Bulldogs are the defending
Philadelphia Public League champions winning the last two out of three
championships. Last year the Bulldogs defeated Communications Tech 62-36. The
Bulldogs have been one of the top programs in the Public League over the last 15
years. This years team is very balanced and guard heavy leading the Bulldogs is
Josh Martin (11 ppg), a member of the 2006 Prep Charter state
championship team. Joining Martin is sharp shooting Ishmawiyl McFadden
(12ppg), junior Alibaba Odd (9ppg), junior Charles White
(9ppg), and Tommie “TJ” Sykes (11ppg)
Biggest Wins of the
season: Imhotep Charter, Edison
Toughest possible
opponent on the road to the semi finals: Southern,
Frankford
Imhotep
Charter (AA – 17-6 overall, 9-1)
Imhotep Charter will be looking
to get revenge on Prep Charter who gave them their only loss in Public League C
Division on Tuesday 52-50.
The Jaguars are led by three Division 1 signees Jermaine
Washington (Central Connecticut
State), Tamir Johnson
(Central Connecticut State), and Kashief Edwards (Niagara University).
Biggest Wins of the
season: Frankford, Cheltenham,
Toughest possible
opponent on the road to the semi finals: Prep
Charter
Frankford
(AAAA, 20-3 overall, 14-0)
Frankford is one of the
deepest teams in the state of Pennsylvania. The Pioneers like to go 9-10 deep
and put pressure on teams from the beginning to the end of the game. The
Pioneers are a senior oriented team led by Kenny Spotwood. Spotwood, a
6’2 shooting guard is currently averaging 17 ppg. Helping Spotwood are fellow
seniors Rakeem Golden White, Edmund Gonzalez, J.C. Montgomery, and
junior Khayree Brown.
Biggest Wins of the
season: Wilson, Communications Tech, LEAP Academy
(NJ)
Toughest possible
opponent on the road to the semi finals: Simon
Gratz
Communications Tech (AAA,
16-5 overall, 12-2)
The Phoenix finished runner up
last season to Simon Gratz and made an excellent run at the “AAA” state
championship but lost at Hershey. Leading the Phoenix is junior Andrew
“Scootie” Randall (20ppg). Randall at 6’5 gets very good positioning
and always seems to be in the right place at the right time, he is one of top
scorers in the Philadelphia Public League. Similar to Frankford the Phoenix like
to play anywhere from 8-10 deep. Some of the key players of the Phoenix are
Najee Edwards (9ppg), junior Chris Jones (11ppg), and senior
Shyheem Satchell (10ppg). Also keep an eye out for freshman point guard
Tyree Johnson.
Biggest Wins of the
season: Camden Catholic (NJ), Engineering &
Science
Toughest possible
opponent on the road to the semi finals: Franklin
Learning Center or Engineering & Science
Franklin Learning Center
(AAA, 17-5 overall, 12-1)
FLC can be looked at as
somewhat of a sleeper team. Leading FLC is point guard Malcolm Eleby.
Eleby is one of the top overall players in the Public League; the 6’2 lefty is
very crafty with the ball and likes to get in the open court. Eleby will be
attending St. Bonaventure next fall. The underclassman have been a key part of
FLC success sophomore Khalief Trawick is the second leading scorer on the
team, sophomore Denzel Yard has been playing well as of late, and junior
Ryan White is capable of scoring anywhere from 8-15 points on any given
night.
Biggest Wins of the
season: Hempfield, Edison
Toughest opponent
on the road to the semi finals: Communications
Tech, Engineering & Science
Sleepers:
Strawberry Mansion (AA),
Engineering & Science (AAA)
Potential Cinderella
Team:
Southern (AAAA)
Preliminary
Round Schedule – Thursday, February 22nd:
AAAA
Gratz vs. Mastbaum
Northeast vs. Southern
Frankford vs. Bartram
Edison vs. Dobbins
A
Freire Charter vs. GAMP
Robeson vs. Math, Civics, and
Science
AAA
Franklin Learning Center vs.
Franklin
Engineering & Science vs.
Furness
Communications Tech vs. Sayre
Bok vs. William Penn
AA
Prep Charter vs. Parkway
Vaux vs. Hope Charter
Strawberry Mansion vs. Del Val
Charter
Imhotep Charter vs. Masterman
The AAAA winner will face
the A winner and the AAA winner will face the AA winner on February 27th
at St. Joseph University. The championship game will be held at Temple
University on Friday March 2nd.
Predictions:
Similar to District 1 play offs, I am going to have some
fun with this and predict what I think is going to happen. At the bottom of the
page is link that I made to the District 12 play offs, there you can also
predict. It’s pretty fun give it shot!
AAAA
Frankford vs. Simon Gratz
The pick:
Frankford
AAA
Franklin Learning Center vs.
Communications Tech
The pick:
Communications Tech
AA
Prep Charter vs. Imhotep
Charter
The pick:
Prep Charter
A
Freire Charter vs. Math,
Civics, and Science
The Pick:
Freire Charter
Final Four Predictions
Frankford (AAAA Champion) vs.
Freire Charter (A Champion)
Communications Tech (AAA
Champion) vs. Prep Charter (AA Champion)
Championship:
Frankford vs. Prep Charter
The pick:
Prep Charter Huskies – I think the Huskies are the best
overall team in the Pub, starting with coaching, discipline, and talent.
District 12
Bracket:
http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=205270
* you
can make predictions on the bracket sheet
Feel
free to e-mail Greg with your predictions and comments at
greg@metrohoops.com
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