Boys Basketball: Top 10 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 as good players, but not expected to steal the headlines in the papers of Journal Register Company's Philadelphia cluster (Reporter, Times Herald, Mercury, Montgomery).

Last year this list included Brendan Casper, John Kanas, Tyrell Long, Zach Quattro, Purnell Wilson. 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.

Joe Molettiere (PHS)

10. Joe Molettiere (Pennridge) - If you do not count the garbage minutes Molettiere received as a sophomore, this year is really the first varsity experience for the guard, playing center for the undersized and conference leading Rams. At 6-1 he is the Rams go-to rebounder and also their leading scorer. Coach Dean Behrens' team is a surprise first place squad and its because they have a surprise first-team all-leaguer in Molettiere.

9. Amin Taylor (Bishop McDevitt) - The Royal Lancers were looking for a secondary scorer behind forward Tyrell Long and Taylor has answered the call in his senior season. The sharpshooting 6-1 guard has already had his share of 25 point games and has his team 6-6 overall with their challenging schedule.

8. Carter Knight (Souderton) - From sixth man to the man in a season, Knight has grown into quite the offensive threat. A quick first step allows him to get to the basket and a strong pull-up jumper has him as one of the leading scorers in the Suburban One League. Knight has proven to be fearless in the leadership position.

7. Amir Hinton (Abington) - No one was quite sure where they Galloping Ghosts would go to get offense after the departure of Anthony Durham and Jordan Simmons from last year's state playoff team. Hinton has become a junior wing with the ability to go off. Luckily with the help of multiple emerging talents, he has not needed to score 20 every night, but Hinton is in store for a big career numbers when it is all said and done.

Tim Guers (GA)

6. Tim Guers (Germantown Academy) - The 6-2 junior guard is the leader for a  trio of Patriots putting up points on a nightly basis. He is probably a passer and point guard at the next level, but in the Inter-Ac he is doing it all. Guers already garnered MVP hardware during the Holiday Tournament they took part in.

5. Joe Robinson (Abington Friends) - The 6-5 Robinson has shown the ability to take over a game for the Roos if needed. One game this season he had 30 points and 18 rebounds, a true man's man's double-double. Robinson does most of his work in the paint, but is not afraid to step outside and test his range. The Roos had a jumper in Robinson.

4. James Bleming (Pope John Paul II) - The senior shortstop is going to play baseball at Lehigh, but right now he is playing ball for the Panthers, who are in a stiff fight for second place in the PAC-10. His three-point prowess has him averaging over three three's a game 14 per in total.

3. Nick Stanek (Spring-Ford) - The 6-4 senior has broken out in a big way. He has the Rams rolling along, well in front in the PAC-10. He is averaging close to 18 points per game and has been no slouch on the glass either. His partner in crime Drew Kakareka makes the Rams a team to watch come district playoff time.

Andre Mitchell (PW)

2. Matt Alden (William Tennent) - He is one the hardest working warriors on the floor and his senior season is turning out to be something special. With media-darling Horace Spencer off the Panthers and in Vegas, Alden has stolen the show. He is averaging close to 20 points per game and if the Panthers find a way to win enough game to reach the district playoffs I would not be shocked if Alden leads his squad to a big first round upset single-handedly.

1. Andre Mitchell (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) - The 6-1 junior has arrived. The Colonials are back from a down year and a threat to make some postseason noise thanks to Mitchell and crew. There is not a body in the paint Mitchell will back down from and is doing most of his damage on the drive. Not many teams have a defender that can defend Mitchell moves around the basket. The Colonials are 8-2 and in for two good years with Mitchell manning the floor.

10. Wissahickon Trojans(6-4) (quarter rank: 6)
9. Methacton Warriors (7-5) (quarter rank: 8)
8. Academy New Church Lions (7-5) (quarter rank: nr)
7. Germantown Academy Patriots (9-4) (quarter rank: otw)
6. Pennridge Rams (9-2) (quarter rank: otw)
5. Abington Friends Roos (8-2) (quarter rank: 9)
4. LaSalle Explorers (9-2) (quarter rank: 4)
3. Plymouth-Whitemarsh Colonials (8-2) (quarter rank: 3)
2. Spring-Ford Rams (11-1) (quarter rank: 5)
1. Abington Galloping Ghosts (10-1) (quarter rank: 1)

Others to watch: Christopher Dock (6-3), Phil-Mont Christian (8-2), Pope John Paul II (6-5), Lower  Moreland (7-3)Bishop McDevitt (6-6),North Penn (5-5), Norristown (6-3), Archbishop Wood (5-5)