Boys Basketball: Pre-Season Predictions and Top Players

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Welcome to the wonderful world of winter sports. Where it's cold outside and the games are indoors. I love football, but I am thankful this Holiday Season for no more standing on the sidelines while I lose the feeling in fingers.

High School Basketball, in my opinion, is at its best in and around this area. Teams from Montgomery Media's coverage area always seem to be in the mix for district and even state championships. There are always a handful of players that commit to Division-One schools and more than you can count that go one to play Division Two and Three.

So without further adieu... Here is one man's opinion on the best teams and the best players in Montgomery Media's coverage area prior to the 2012-2013 season starts.

Check back to this blog all season for stats and scores. Go to www.montgomerynews.com/sports for stories everyday.

Montgomery Media'a Top 10 Pre-Season Teams

1. Germantown Academy Patriots - A Division-1 point guard (Nick Lindner - Lafayette) and D-1 center (Julian Moore -Penn State) and everything in between. The Patriots have nine seniors all with the same unselfish goals. The Inter-Ac is full of talent, so a league championship will be no cake walk, but this group has the potential to be the powerhouse.

2. LaSalle Explorers - You will notice in boys' basketball how crucial having a strong point guard is and that is true with Explorers and Amar Stukes (LaSalle University recruit). The Explorers are deep, experienced, and motivated to win a championship this season.

3. Abington Friends Roos - The Roos have one of the more balanced attacks you will find. They can score against all defensive sets and from all spots on the floor. Montana Mayfield and Jordan Greene are strong off the dribble and Jeremiah Batts is force down. The Roos should be a force in the Friends' League this season.

4. Archbishop Wood Vikings - The Vikings matured quickly last season as some strong players grew up and emerged as leaders vocally and with their efforts on the court. A lot of the same faces are back and they should be a threat to go deep in the postseason.

5. Abington Galloping Ghosts - They were not on many people's radar heading into last year, but after their state playoff appearance last season everybody knows their name. Led by Anthony Durham and handful of quick, aggressive players, the Ghost should challenge for a SOL National Conference title and maybe more.

6. Academy of the New Church Lions  - It seems as though the Lions continue to churn out some of the best players in the area. And while the likes of Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse) and the Gilbert brothers are long gone, under the tutelage of coach Kevin Givens this team will once again be tough to top.

7. Plymouth-Whitemarsh Colonials - It was a down year as far as coach Jim Donofrio is concerned, yet they still made the District One tournament. Anthony McKie returns as the conductor of the Colonial offense and should be able to have few insane scoring days on the floor and lead the Colonials to another postseason appearance.

8. Spring-Ford Rams - The Rams have a chance to be the surprise team in the District One field in my opinion. The weaker Pac-10 may force them to have a lower seed than preferred, but Zameer McDowell is a dominant post presence they has the ability to put the team on his back on any given night. Just look back to the 44 point game he had last season as Exhibit A.

9. Wissahickon Trojans - The big man Tonah Kpassagnon is gone and Jordan Reed is already averaging a double-double at Binghampton, but the experience the returning starters got last year should be enough to remain one of the top team's in the area. Coaches' son Chase Wilson is not getting any special treatment. He is one of the best ball handlers in the area and this year will have a chance to average over 15 points if he so desires.

10. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters - This group has taken its lumps over the last few years, but I believe this off-season they might have matured enough to sneak up on a few people, win the SOL Continental Conference, and win a game or two in districts. If Zach Quattro can become stronger on the glass, Mike Brown (Navy recruit) is probably the best all-around player in the Continental Conference.

Other possible title contenders: Cheltenham, Norristown, Bishop McDevitt, Upper Dublin, William Tennent, Souderton, Methacton, Pennridge, Pope John Paul II, North Penn

Pre-Season Montgomery Media All-League
FIRST TEAM

Amar Stukes (SR. guard)

Amar Stukes (LaSalle)
Nick Lindner (Germantown Academy)
Montana Mayfield (Abington Friends)
Anthony Durham (Abington)
Steve Smith (LaSalle)







SECOND TEAM

Anthony McKie (SR. guard)

Julian Moore (Germantown Academy)
Anthony McKie (Plymouth-Whitemarsh)
Darryl Bryant (Academy New Church)
Chase Wilson (Wissahickon)
Pat Smith (Archbishop Wood)

Horace Spencer (SO. forward)

HONORABLE MENTION
Mike Brown (Hatboro-Horsham)
Zameer McDowell (Spring-Ford)
Horace Spencer (William Tennent)
Zack Muredda (Pennridge)
Jordan Greene (Abington Friends)