All-Montgomery Media Preseason Basketball Teams

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

In year's past it has been hard for to complete a second team when it comes to preseason all-leaguers, but entering my fourth year as a writer in this area now I find myself feeling awful about leaving some names off.

You will not find one Plymouth-Whitemarsh boys' players on the first or second team, which is hard to believe. I know one of the underclassmen for the Colonials will emerge and help them stay up top, but right now I felt others deserved the preseason nod. Plus, I think you'd rather make the all-league team after the season anyway.

Here are the players in the Montgomery Media coverage area that I am looking forward to seeing take their game and their team to new heights in 2011-2012.

BOYS
FIRST TEAM

Jordan Reed

Jordan Reed SR (Wissahickon)  - He, in my mind, is the top player in Montgomery Media's coverage area. He continues to improve and now has a long list of Division-1 schools opening their doors to the 6-3 small forward. He's a competitor and with the help of Tonah Kpassagnon, Kyle Garrett, and others the Trojans could be in line for a District One championship.

Marcus Gilbert SR (Academy New Church) - Gilbert's buddies has left him for Pittsburgh (older brother Malcom), Syracuse (Rakeem Christmas), and Constitution High (Savon Lloyd-Goodman), which should only help Gilbert's offensive stats. The 6-5 Fairfield University recruit will be the leader of the young and talented Lions.

Elijah Jackson

Nafis Walker SR (Cheltenham) - Walker has been the Panthers' everything over the last few years. The 6-2 spark plug has lined up at all five positions for coach Brian Johnson. Maybe if he stays at point guard this year he can show some schools what this dominating force can do.

Julian Moore JR (Germantown Academy) - Every year Moore has grown as player and in size. As a 6-6 freshman the swing-man now is ranging close to 6-foot-10 and opening the eyes of Division-1 programs. Not many people are aware of Moore yet, but I have a feeling this year will be his coming out party.

Elijah Jackson SR (Pottstown) - After scoring over 17 points per game as a junior point guard Jackson returns to the Pioneer Athletic Conference to dominate some more. With running mate Dawon Matthews gone to graduation the 6-3 Trojan has a chance to average over 20 points per game this year.


SECOND TEAM 

Horace Spencer

Horace Spencer FR (William Tennent) - Many consider Spencer the best player in the nation for the class of 2015. He had his choice of high school and chose the public school over Roman Catholic, Academy New Church and Archbishop Wood to stay with his friends from eighth grade. The 6-foot-8 14 year old is still working on his offense, but his block shots, rebounding, and easy put backs should help him average a double-double every night. It's a bright future.

Tim Abruzzo SR (Pennridge) - Abruzzo has the difficult task of keeping his Rams on the top in the Suburban One Continental Conference. He is going to need to improve his ability to create his own shot, but the hard working jump-shooter should be able to put together a strong final year.

Tim Abruzzo

Tonah Kpassagnon SR (Wissahickon) - He has committed to Villanova for football, but the 6-7, 245 pound unmovable object is another reason the Trojans should have a year to remember. Tonah can dominate inside and really keep teams honest. Kpassagnon is a rebounding machine and a undersized Suburban One team's worst nightmare.

Jordan Greene SO (Abington Friends) - Sure, there were some inconsitencies to Greene's game last year, but what freshman starting varsity doesn't? Greene should revel in the experiences he recieved a season ago at Springfield and become strong offensive player at his new school. The six foot point guard has a quick for step and gets to the hole like not many in the area.

Wes Brooks SR (North Penn) - His brother has graduated, but Brooks still has the Knights under control. The point guard should be able to help his team make a run at a league title and help himself garner first team, if not MVP awards this season. Souderton's Mark Wonderling (who barely missed a pre-season all league honor) will be right there with Brooks and Abruzzo for that award. Brooks is quick and smart and when you put those two characteristics together it translate to easy points and a lot of wins.


GIRLS
FIRST TEAM

Ciara "C.C." Andrews

C.C. Andrews SR (Cheltenham) - Coach Bob Schaefer always to seem to have that go-to scorer and for the second season in a row it's going to be Andrews. The St. Joe recruit can fly down the floor and leap with the best of them. She score anyway from anywhere. She is a ball to watch and her passion is the only thing the trumps his poise.


Steph Knauer SR (North Penn) - For the last two years Knauer has dominated the paint in the Suburban One League and there is no reason to believe teams are magically going to find a way to stop here. Knauer, who plans to play at Shippensburg, should have a chance at another conference MVP this season.

Aiyannah Peal SR (Abington) - This is what I wrote last season when I dubbed her first team in the preseason - "Peal knows how to get to the foul line and once she does she will sink her shots from the charity stripe with regularity." Not much has changed for the 5-7 guard.

Taylor Bryant

Anna Janisch SR (Owen J. Roberts) - There are days when Janisch is just draining shots from all over the floor and unfortunately for her opponents, it's more often than not. As a junior for the Wildcats she led the Pioneer Athletic Conference with 14.4 points per game. The 6-1 future IUP Crimson Hawks is as versatile as they come.

Taylor Bryant SR (Upper Dublin) - Only through hard work has Bryant made herself one of the tougher players to guard in the area. She is aggressive with the ball on her hands and he defense is nothing to cry about either. She's a leader for the Flying Cardinals. She's the total package.


SECOND TEAM

Carley Kendall

Cutrena Goff JR (Upper Dublin) - Bryant's partner in crime junior point guard plays with no fear. Even at 5-4 she is capable of finding her ways through the trees and to the hoop. She is very creative and better passer than she is scorer.

Carley Kendall SR (Souderton) - Kendall is a 5-11 center that can move like 6-5 guard. Though she likes to camp out under net for easy points there is much more than goes into her game than that. In her senior season Kendall has a chance to expand her offense and challenge North Penn's Knauer and C.B. East's Shannon Devlin for MVP honors.

Mariah Traywick SR (Spring-Ford) - At 5-11 Traywick is another tall girl with athleticism that allows her to do almost anything she wants on the floor. She has the guards, such as Sam Stipa (who barely missed my preseason all-league teams) that will take some pressure off her and allow the Shippensburg recruit to play her game.

Alex Louin

Gabby Schumacher SR (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) - The 5-foot-7 shooting guard averaged 12.5 points per game last season for the Colonials and I expect that number will only go up. When she gets hot she has the capability of putting up 30 points in a single game. She should be able to increase collegiate attention during her senior season.

Alex Louin SO (Mount St. Joseph) - After hitting pressure pack buckets as a freshman during the Mount's District title run the guard made some eye-opening plays. She is on the fast track to stardom and I'll be the first to say she's the Mount's next 1,000 point scorer.