Ari Rosenfeld:
Future150 Regional Analyst. Covering high school basketball in the Mid-Atlantic.
Philadelphia, PA (Future150) -- The All-City Classic “Philly vs. Everybody” event brought in teams from New Jersey, New York, and Baltimore to take on three high-level squads from the City of Brotherly Love. Here are some observations and standouts from the loaded tripleheader:
Rhoden continues to progress towards high-major level
It was the second consecutive weekend that Jared Rhoden caught the eyes of the Future150 staff, and at this point it’s only a matter of time before high-major coaches take note of the recently reclassified junior forward. Despite a blowout loss at the hands of Archbishop Wood, Rhoden impressed to the tune of 18 points, scoring in a variety of ways and displaying a high activity level from start to finish. Taking advantage of a relatively thin Wood frontcourt, the Long Island native did most of his damage inside where he’s a tireless worker on the offensive glass. However, he showed a smooth stroke out to the 3-point line and the ball skills that suggest he could make an impact on the wing at the high-major level.
Robert Morris signee looks ready to make a splash in NEC
Much of the talk surrounding PIAA Class 4A favorite Imhotep Charter revolves around the Panthers’ outstanding senior backcourt--Rhode Island signee Daron Russell and future South Carolina Gamecock David Beatty--or their sophomore class which features five potential Division I players. But it was Robert Morris commit Koby Thomas who showed against Poly why he could make an instant impact in the Northeast Conference. Thomas finished with 14 points, including a number of clutch, highlight-reel plays that sealed the Imhotep victory. An uber-athletic 6’5” wing, his skills are still catching up to his physical tools, but his energy, leaping ability, and defensive playmaking will make it hard for Andy Toole to keep him off the court next season.
Archbishop Wood set to compete for PCL title
To say Neumann-Goretti and Roman Catholic have dominated the Philadelphia Catholic League since the turn of the millennium would be a massive understatement. Since 2000, there have been just three instances of another school winning the PCL title, including one championship by since-closed North Catholic. While N-G is the presumed favorite once again led by Kentucky commit Quade Green, Archbishop Wood looks primed to make a serious run at the powerhouse Saints. The Vikings have a deep lineup with no fewer than five Division I prospects--most notably--unsigned senior PG Collin Gillespie and potential high-major 2018 big Seth Pinkney, along with some experienced small-college seniors on the wings. Wood will have a chance to knock off Neumann-Goretti at home on January 27th, and the two could very well meet again in the PCL Championship at the famous Palestra.
Standouts:
Collin Gillespie, 2017 PG, Archbishop Wood (PA): Up until this past AAU season, Gillespie’s recruitment consisted of just some local D-II offers. With his performance on Friday, it’s easy to see why Drexel, Rider, and Hofstra have all offered since the start of the season. The 6’2” lead guard posted 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, he showed off his lights-out ability from deep but also impressed with several tough finishes around the cup and his overall floor game. Any mid-major school still looking for a point guard in this class needs to take a hard look at Collin Gillespie this winter.
Lance Ware, 2020 SF, Life Center (NJ): Despite his overmatched Life Center Academy squad being dealt a lopsided loss at the hands of Del-Val Charter, Ware showed why he has a chance to be an elite wing forward nationally in the 2020 class. He’s not ready yet for the sizable load he’s asked to carry as a freshman, but at a legitimate 6’8” and already possessing workable ball skills, there’s no reason to believe Ware can’t excel at the high-major level as a jumbo wing or a stretch-four.
Daron Russell, 2017 PG, Imhotep (PA): An Imhotep win almost always features Russell as a standout, as everything for the Panthers starts with the diminutive Rhode Island signee known affectionately as “Fatts”. Russell finished with a team-high 16 points and has no trouble diming up any of the high-level athletes alongside him. He made a number of clutch plays down the stretch, knocking down a deep trey at the third-quarter buzzer and using his elite quickness to get into the lane and finish.
Demetrius Mims, 2018 SG, Baltimore Poly (MD): While his Baltimore Poly squad fell to Imhotep, Mims impressed from start to finish and showed why he’s ready to breakout with Team Melo on the EYBL circuit this spring. At 6’5”, Mims’ calling card is his versatility, as he can play both wing spots and also function as a secondary ballhandler, possessing solid court vision for a non-point guard. That versatility also applies to the defensive end, where he guarded everyone from the 5’10” Russell to 6’8” Donta Scott.
Karrington Wallace, 2018 CF, Archbishop Wood (PA): A bouncy lefty who’s a bit between positions right now, Wallace did enough against a tough Our Savior Lutheran frontcourt to show he has more ability than his recruitment would currently indicate. With just one offer in his pocket, from NJIT, Wallace’s 6’7” frame, athleticism, and activity level alone make him an intriguing mid-major prospect. He’s working on developing his right hand and becoming more of a wing, and is just starting to realize how good he can become. Wallace could be a breakout candidate come AAU season if he puts it all together.
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