High School Hoops: Top Ten Breakthrough Players

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for The Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

A month ago these were not the names expected to carry their team this winter. A month ago, outside of their home gym, they were looked upon a good players, but not expected to steal the headlines in the papers of Journal Register Company's Philadelphia cluster (Reporter, Times Herald, Mercury, Montgomery) Whether it is because of extended playing time or exponential improvement over the off-season, these are my TOP 10 BREAKTHROUGH PLAYERS OF THE FIRST HALF.

10. Chris Vila (Wissahickon) - As a sophomore the guard barely sniffed hardwood during varsity games. I'm sure coach Wilson knew he had a solid shooter in the undersized Trojan, but a talented senior class in 2011-2012 kept him reserved for mop-up duty. Vila has jumped into a starting role this season and become one of the Trojans' go-to guys on offense, as well as a leader.

9. Zach Dolton (Phil-Mont Christian) - The reason the Falcons can stay competitive in every game is because of Dolton's consistency on offense. The junior is blossoming into one of the most unheralded scorers in the area. Maybe his schedule is not as beefed up as if he were playing for a 4A school, but when you can score around 25 points every night, the coaches' son is doing something right.

8. Jamel Stinson (Pope John Paul II) - Not everyone is built to handle the pressure of being a senior captain, but this forward for the Golden Panthers has made it looked easy. With the title of captain on his shoulders, Stinson has decided to do most of his leading with actions. With the game on the line the ball is sure to be in Stinsons' hands.

7. Justin Lewis (Upper Merion) - Last year it was the James Mobley show, putting up 30 point games on the regular. This year Justin Lewis has stepped into that role. While the senior point guard's new found aggressiveness around the rim has been impressive, it has not resulted in teams wins, which therefore has limited the recognition this sharpshooter deserves.

6. Jared Armstrong (Christopher Dock) - The point guard has received some recognition throughout the summer ball circuits, but this year he has really started to display why he is considered one of top the sophomores in the area. The Pioneers have looked to Armstrong as a young leader and his contributions have come on both sides of the ball.

5. Purnell Wilson (Perkiomen Valley) - It did not take long for this sophomore to feel right at home on the varsity level. The Vikings seemed to go as Wilson goes and it seems like the point guard is always going 150 miles per minute. It might be hard to catch the likes of Methacton and Spring-Ford this season, but the Vikings are in good hands with Wilson for the next few years.

4. Zach Quattro (Hatboro-Horsham) - The Hatters knew they had something special in senior Mike Brown. But having a running partner like Quattro emerge has made them front-runners in the Suburban One Continental Conference. Quattro is a rebounding machine, but far from one-dimensional. The center is never afraid to step outside and knock down a few three-pointers. If Quattro can continue to get stronger, the Hatters may have a few postseason wins in them this year.

3. Tyrell Long (Bishop McDevitt) - The loss of two dynamic players to graduation forced the lanky junior into the spotlight and he has not disappointed. Long, barely got off the bench in 2012, has averaged well over double-digits through the first month and has given himself plenty of highlight reel material for potential colleges to salivate over.

2. John Kanas (Souderton) - Buried behind a strong senior class for the Indians' state playoff run a season ago, Kanas role was a top notch defender with the occasional bucket. Now Kanas has emerged as one of the top scorers in the area, averaging close to 20 points per game. Many thought Big Red would take a step back this season with a new coach and a new starting five, but the Indians look destine for district play thanks the killer instincts of Kanas.

1. Brendan Casper (Methacton) - Casper had big game sporadically as a junior while his team won the PAC-10 title. Now the big games are every night. Casper has become a double-double lock when the Warriors hit the floor, and they are gaudy double-doubles. We are talking 25 points and 15 rebounds are never out of the question. It will be interesting to see how far Casper can take his team this season, but nobody has found a way to shut down the big breakthrough player of the first half yet.