By Josh Verlin & Mitchell Gladstone
For each of the three years of the new PIAA Class 4A –– the old AAAA classification was the largest in the state’s prior breakdown –– it’s been Philadelphia Public League powerhouse Imhotep Charter that’s stood alone at the end of the season, going 15-0 in the state tournament to puts its name on three straight banners.
And once again, Andre Noble has a squad capable of winning it all, but his Panthers graduated a lot of high-level talent from last year, and there are several other contenders that finally see an opening for their chance to take down the three-time defending champions.
The PIAA 4A tournament tips off Friday night at gyms around the state; for the full bracket with tip times and locations, click here. Here’s a look at several favorites for the 4A tournament, as well as a few other quality squads that could find themselves hoisting a trophy if everything clicks at the right time. (Thanks to John Walk of LNP and Brad Everett of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for their help with this preview):
Archbishop Carroll (12-3; 16-9)
The Patriots haven’t been to the state championship since winning it all in 2009, then in the AAA classification, but second-year head coach Francis Bowe has some talent to work with from a team that made it to the state quarterfinals a year ago, playing out of the same 12-3 slot that they’re in this time around. Carroll, which finished in 8th place in the ultra-competitive Catholic League, has several Division I prospects in the starting lineup, including a pair of forwards in 6-8 junior Anquan Hill and 6-6 senior Tairi Ketner (Bryant); Hill is a rim protector who can stretch the floor with his shooting, while Ketner is a thick-bodied post presence with soft hands and great footwork.