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By Matthew De George

T.J. Tann has spent the last two seasons as an understudy, contributing to successful Delco Christian teams but all the while prepping for his capstone senior season.

Last season, with an explosive scorer like Wyatt Harkins at his side, Tann had the luxury of playing the pass-first point guard roll on a second straight run to the PIAA tournament.

This season, with a considerably younger and less experienced supporting cast, the imperative for Tann has changed. And in his first foray of the 2016-17 season, Tann found the requisite touch that he watched Harkins deploy with aplomb last year.

The 21 points Tann poured in leap off the page in a 61-43 win over The Christian Academy in the 52nd annual Delco Christian Tip-Off Tournament. Despite leading all scorers, Tann’s day constituted a tale of quality over quantity.

With fellow senior scoring option Jordan Parks saddled with first-half foul trouble, Tann took the reins with 13 points at the break. And any time TCA snuck into the game, Tann provided a prompt and savage response.

(click on this link for the full article)

 

Justin Gans scored 24 points as Bonner & Prendergast opened its season with a 79-75 victory at Malvern Prep Friday night.

Ajiri Johnson and Dylan Higgins each registered a double-double for the Friars, who led at halftime, 43-28. Johnson finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Higgins registered 18 points and 10 boards. Tymir Cooper (10 points) also scored in double figures for Bonner.

In other nonleague action:

(click on this link for the full article)

 

By Neil Geoghegan

 It was a season-opening high school hoops matchup pitting two teams that want to push the pace. But on Friday at the Unionville Tip-Off Tournament, the Garnet Valley boys were able to do that much more effectively than Kennett, and the Jaguars ran off with a 75-52 victory.

“We aren’t very big, so we like to run,” Garnet Valley coach Mike Brown said. “Half-court offense just doesn’t suit us.”

In all, the Jags forced 19 turnovers, and then it was off to the races. It meant that Garnet Valley simply had more transition opportunities, and with junior guard Austin Laughlin leading the way, Kennett was never going to be able to keep up.

“Our turnovers led to more than 20 points for (Garnet Valley),” Kennett coach Brian Grashof said. “That just killed us. And when we made those mistakes, we just didn’t get back on defense.”

(click on this link for the full article)

 

By Matthew De George

Strath Haven’s 19-win season in 2015-16 ranked as one of the surprises in District 1.

But as John Harrar surveyed the gym this week, he couldn’t help but notice that much of the depth that furnished that special season has moved on.

Where scoring balance was the Panthers’ hallmark last year, Harrar finds himself as the focal point this year, the 6-foot-8 senior accompanied by just one returnee who played more than 12 games last year.

“We’re just trying to get people varsity experience, because we have some people who didn’t even get in last year (that are) starting” this year, Harrar said. “Once we pick that up, we’ll be fine.”

Harrar anticipated changes, with the matriculation of three starting seniors. Point guard Jahmeir Springfield’s transfer to Chester was an unexpected wrinkle.

Though young talent waits in the wings, acclimating them to the rigors of varsity ball requires time.

Harrar understands his task on and off the court. Last year, he served as a support scorer, one of several options in the post as the Panthers efficiently operated inside-out. With less proven shooters than Alex Ischiropoulos and Jayvon Green-Springfield, the spotlight is on Harrar to provide a larger share of the offense.

(click on this link for the full article)

 

By Josh Verlin

The Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics organization has been putting together high school showcase events for the better part of two decades, and this year’s slate is getting ready to get underway this weekend.

The Fred Pickett Classic, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, features six games to open up the year; the City Play-By-Play Classic, which takes place Wednesday at Arcadia, features another terrific pair of games.

Here’s a look at both events; all schools from Pennsylvania unless otherwise noted:

(click on this link for the full article)

 

By Matthew De George

Change pervades the Inter-Ac, with both Episcopal Academy and Haverford School underdoing intriguing offseason metamorphoses.

The big name for Haverford School is Christian Ray, who transferred in from Octorara and reclassified for 2019. The 6-foot-5 Ray already has two years of high school experience and a handful of Division I offers.

He’s expected to form a dynamic tandem with Kharon Randolph, who as a sophomore was a first-league All-Inter-Ac pick and one of Delco’s leading scorers.

This remains a guard-heavy and youthful contingent, with Joe Dignazio providing heady play and Gavin Burke establishing a reputation for clutch 3-point shooting as a freshman. Nasir Smith and Jameer Nelson Jr. will also feature in the rotation.

In the post, 6-foot-5 sophomore Asim Richards will be asked to shoulder much of the load.

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By Matthew De George

Before the word “Lower Merion” is finished being enunciated, Kairi Jones starts ruefully shaking his head.

“I think about it every day,” the Penn Wood senior guard said, memories of a 68-66 overtime loss to Lower Merion in the first round of last year’s District 1 Class 4A tournament still raw.

The Aces went on to the PIAA tournament. The Patriots, on the heels of a second straight, first-round, overtime ouster, have a new coach and a new resolve not to repeat the past with a seasoned group.

Longtime assistant and Penn Wood grad Matt Lindeman takes the reins from Clyde Jones, who departed for Girard College. The parallel of Lindeman, a 1998 baseball All-Delco, growing into the coaching role as the Patriots mature around him is poignant.

(click on this link for the full article)

 

 

By Josh Verlin

The faces might be different, but the programs at the top of the Central League won’t surprise anybody.

Lower Merion, Ridley and Conestoga all graduated significant senior classes, but the trio will yet again be challenging with the likes of Garnet Valley, Penncrest, Strath Haven and the rest of the league for a spot in the four-team league playoff come February, as well as a spot in the district playoffs.

There’s going to be a number of new stars emerging, however, with a mix of several notable sophomores, juniors and seniors ready to make their impact at the varsity level.

Here’s a look around the league, featuring teams and players to know:

(click on this link for the full article)

 

By Michael Bullock

Well, here we go again.

Back for the second year, City of Basketball Love is going to take another deep rip at splicing together preseason rankings for each of Pennsylvania’s six classifications.

If that seems like a bigger venture than last season, it is since PIAA has upped the number of classes for the first time in 30-plus years — jumping from four to six.

That’s right, six.

And while we’ll spend today revealing Class 5A — Classes 4A, 3A, 2A and A were unveiled earlier this week — check back periodically for the remaining classifications as we crescendo toward the season’s Dec. 9 start.

Should be fun.

(click on this link for the full article)

 

City of Basketball has put together a great introduction for various teams for the 2016/17 season. Here are links to the teams that are covered in Delaware County:

            

 

  

 

(click on the logo for the preview on that school)