DEPTH & INSIDE PLAYERS HIGHLIGHT CLASS OF 2011 
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP

                   Our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin tells us that the biggest story right now in his area involves the Class of 2011.  It has an incredible amount of depth, as 6'10 Jr Rakeem Christmas from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'1 Jr John Johnson from Philadelphia (Girard College) PA, 6'3 Jr Juanya Green from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA, 6'11 Jr Malcolm Gilbert from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'3 Jr Devin Coleman from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'6 Jr Jaylen Bond from Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Whitemarsh) PA, 6'8 Jr Eric Copes from Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA, 6'6 Jr Andrew Nichols from Wrightsville (Eastern York) PA, 6'5 Jr Aaron Brown from Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA, 6'4 Jr Darrun Hillard from Bethlehem (Liberty) PA, 6'9 Jr Luke Piotrowski from Egg Harbor Township (Atlantic Christian) NJ, 6'4 Jr Rob Poole from Haddonfield (Paul VI) NJ, 6'10 Jr Peter Alexis from Wilkes-Barre (Holy Redeemer) PA, 6'5 Jr Ameen Tanksley from Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA, 6'6 Jr Jerrell Wright from Philadelphia (Dobbins Tech) PA, 6'6 Jr Shawn Valentine from Winslow (Township) NJ, 6'7 Jr Junior Fortunat from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, 6'8 Jr Sean Oakman from Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA, 6'7 Jr Raheem Harvey from Concordville (Glen Mills) PA, 5'11 Jr Aquil Younger from Philadelphia (West Catholic) PA, 6'2 Jr David Apollon from Philadelphia (Imhopte Charter) PA, and 5'10 Jr Joey Grippper from Jenkintown (Abington Friends) PA are all already being recruited by schools at the Atlantic-10 Conference level or higher.  However, even more important in a day-and-age when size is at such a premier is the fact that 10 of Rubin's top 19-ranked juniors are power forwards and centers in what normally is a guard rich area.  And that doesn't even include 6'8 Jr Keith Coleman, who has transferred from Wyncote (Cheltenham) PA to Lee (Academy) ME, and 6'7 Jr Will Wise, who has transferred from Jenkintown (Abington Friends) PA to Princeton (The Hun School) NJ. 
                    We start with Christmas who is one of the top big men nationally in the junior class.  "He's a dominant force around the basket," says Rubin.  "And he's got the size, athleticism, and ability to block shots, rebound, and score from 12-feet and in necessary to be as good as any big man nationally in his class."  Next is Gilbert, who is the other half of his team's twin towers.  And Rubin thinks Gilbert is similar to Christmas in a lot of ways, although Gilbert is not as explosive nor does he have as good a timing as Christmas does.  "Bond is an inside/outside guy who plays with tremendous energy," says Rubin.  "I also like his speed and quickness, toughness on the boards, knack for finding ways to score from mid-range and in, and ability to defend three positions.  Copes is another guy with a tremendous motor.  He never stops!  He's also a very good rebounder and shot blocker and scores most of his points around the basket and off offensive rebounds and put-backs.  Piotrowski is a skilled face-up power forward who is a good passer and can score from anywhere on the court.  He can shoot the three, hit the mid-range jump shot, and post-up.  Alexis is the consummate low post player.  He has good footwork, is a good rebounder, and can score in a variety of ways around the basket.  Wright scores inside, steps out to 15-feet, and has a great nose for the ball, which helps make him a great offensive rebounder.  Fortunat is a transfer from Montreal who plays with a lot of energy.  This face-up four-man also puts it on the floor, gets to the foul line, and is tough on the boards.  Oakman is clearly the strongest of the 10 inside guys on this list and he doesn't take any prisoners on the boards.  He also can step out to 15-feet and I think his best days are still ahead of him, especially if he decides to concentrate on just one sport.  He's also a pretty darn good football player.  Harvey is a mobile low post player who provides great effort around the basket with his athleticism and rebounding skills." 
                    The second big story involves the two great players - 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA and 6'5 Soph Savon Goodman from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA - in the sophomore class.  Rubin already has them both ranked among the 10 players in the area right now on his all-area teams, which include the top players regardless of class and position.  But even more impressive is the fact that Rubin is projecting them both as legitimate McDonald's All-American candidates and he predicts that they will be the next in a long line of great players to come out of the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area.  And that's saying a lot when one remembers that this list includes 7'1 Wilt Chamberlain from Philadelphia (Overbrook) PA, 6'0 Guy Rodgers from Philadelphia (Northeast) PA, 6'6 Tom Gola from Philadelphia (La Salle) PA, 6'0 Hal Lear from Philadelphia (Overbrook) PA, 6'4 Ernie Beck from Philadelphia (West Catholic) PA, 6'8 Wayne Hightower from Philadelphia (Overbrook) PA, 6'3 Earl Monroe from Philadelphia (John Bartram) PA, 6'7 Eugene Banks from Philadelphia (West Philadelphia) PA, 6'6 Lewis Lloyd from Philadelphia (Overbrook) PA, 6'7 Billy Thompson from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'4 Milt Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'2 Kevin Walls from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'1 Jerome "Pooh" Richardson from Philadelphia (Ben Franklin) PA, 6'3 Jeff Lebo from Carlisle (H.S.) PA, 6'8 Billy Owens from Carlisle (H.S.) PA, 6'8 Donyell Marshall from Reading (H.S.) PA, 6'10 Rasheed Wallace from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA, 6'6 Kobe Bryant from Ardmore (Lower Merion) PA, 6'6 Richard Hamilton from Coatesville (H.S.) PA, 6'9 Eddie Griffin from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, 6'2 Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ, 6'4 Wayne Ellington from Merion Station (Episcopal Academy) PA, 6'5 Gerald Henderson from Merion Station (Episcopal Academy) PA, and 6'5 Tyreke Evans from Aston (American Christian) PA. 
                    "Jefferson is a your prototypical inside/outside player," says Rubin.  He can post-up, has good low post moves, and when gets doubled-up is good interior passer.  He also can shoot the three and put it on the floor.  I think he's a top 10 sophomore nationally.  Goodman is an excellent wing player with toughness, the ability to get to the basket, and beat you with his outside shot.  I also like the way he defends and uses his athleticism to make things happen in transition."  And our West Coast Editor Dinos Trigonis seems to agree.  Did you know that Trigonis ranked Goodman as the second best player at all of his Frosh/South Camps this fall after Goodman totally dominated the Pangos All-East Frosh/Soph Camp and finished 28 points in the Top 25 Cream of the Crop All-Star Game?  And, while the Class of 2012 doesn't appear to have the depth of the Class of 2011, it does have three other players who legitimately belong in the 30-100 range nationally with the likes of 6'9 Soph Daniel Ochefy from Westtown (Friends) PA, 6'2 Soph Ryan Arcidiacono from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA, and 6'3 Soph Khyree Wooten from Philadelphia (Strawberry Mansion) PA.  "Ochefy is a low post player who can score in the paint, rebound, and block shots," says Rubin.  "But it's his upside and potential that get me excited.  He's only been in the country a couple of years and is still learning how to player the game, but he has the size, length, and athleticism necessary to blossom into a terrific player someday.  What Arcidiacono lacks in speed, quickness, and athleticism, he more than makes up for with his strength, outside shooting, basketball IQ, and ability to run a team.  Wooten needs to improve his outside shot, but this athletic wing is terrific getting to the basket, finishing with either hand, and locking his man up defensively."
                    We also find it interesting that 11 of the top 20-ranked players on Rubin's first four All-Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Area teams are from only five schools.  However, he cautions us that Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA must find a point guard to run show and get the ball to 6'10 Jr Rakeem Christmas, 6'11 Jr Malcolm Gilbert, 6'5 Soph Savon Goodman, and 6'3 Frosh Miles Overton, all of whom are ranked among top top 50 players in the area on Rubin's all-areas teams.  Burlington (Life Center) features the best senior in the area in 6'3 Dion Waiters.  However, it will be the three foreign imports - 6'6 Steojan Gjyroski, 6'8 Miguel Queiroz, and 6'10 Goran Pantovic, who arrived this fall - that determine the fate of this team.  Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA will be excellent in the backcourt with 6'2 Tony Chennault, 6'0 Tyreek Duran, 6'0 Mustafa Jones, and 5'8 Lamin Fulton and at the power forward spot with 6'6 Daniel Stewart and 6'5 Soph Derrick Stewart.  But they don't have a true center.  Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA will have a good combination of both youth and experience with players like 6'7 Soph Amile Jefferson, 6'3 Jr Devin Coleman, 6'7 Dominique Morris, and 6'4 Travis Robinson.  But a lack of outside shooting could be their nemesis.  You have to like the way 6'9 C.J. Aiken and 6'6 Jr Jaylen Bond get it done inside for Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Whitemarsh) PA.  But the big question here is whether 6'1 Whis Grant will step up and provide some scoring and they will be able to find somebody to run the show?  So until one of these teams proves otherwise, the smart money to be the best team in the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area is on Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA, which returns four starters (5'9 Tyree Johnson, 6'5 Jr Aaron Brown, and 6'8 Jr Sean Oakman, and 6'2 Daquan Pelzer), from last year's 4-A State Championship team.