THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT IN THE PHILADELPHIA/EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA/SOUTH JERSEY AREA
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP

                       When 6'1 Maalik Wayns from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA was named last month to McDonald's All-American Team, he became only 12th player from the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area in the last 21 years to receive this prestigious honor.  Also on this list are 6'5 Tyreke Evans from Aston (American Christian) PA in 2008, 6'4 Wayne Ellington from Merion Station (Episcopal Academy) PA and 6'5 Gerald Henderson from Merion Station (Episcopal Academy) PA in 2006, 6'2 Dajuan Wagner from Camden (H.S.) NJ in 2001, 6'7 Danny Miller from Mt. Holly (Rancocas Valley) PA in 1998, 6'6 Kobe Bryant from Ardmore (Lower Merion) PA and 6'6 Richard Hamilton from Coatesville (H.S.) PA in 1996, 6'5 Lamar Greer from Cape May Court House (Middle Township) NJ in 1994, 6'11 Rasheed Wallace from Philadelphia (Simon Gratz) PA in 1993, 6'8 Donyell Marshall from Reading (H.S.) PA in 1991, and 6'3 Billy McCaffrey from Allentown (Central Catholic) PA in 1989.  And we suspect this trend will continue, as 6'3 Jr Dion Waiters from Burlington (Life Center) NJ is one of the premier 2-guard prospects in the junior class nationally and 6'9 Soph Rakeem Christmas from Philadelphia (North Catholic) PA projects as the big man prospect to come out of the area since Rasheed Wallace.  "Wayns is the best pure point guard to come out of Philly in a lone time, "says Rubin.  "He sees the court, knows how to run a team, gets to the ball to the right spot, and can beat you with his outside shooting and his strength and athleticism in transition and when he goes to the basket."  Waiters, who is ranked #13 nationally in the junior class by the HOOP SCOOP, can do just about anything he wants to on the court.  "He's a terrific scorer, good outside shooter, and before he got hurt, he was playing point guard," says Rubin.  "He is an excellent passer and very unselfish.  But, at the big time college level, Waiters projects as a 2-guard due to his ability to put up prolific numbers   Christmas is a beast inside with his ability to block shots, rebound, and score within 15-feet of the basket.  He's long and athletic, can runs the court, and hasn't been playing the game very long."  Christmas arrived in the United State from the Virgin Island just three years ago, but already has a long list of schools, which includes Villanova, Florida, Memphis, West Virginia, Georgetown, Indiana, Texas, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Temple, La Salle, and St. Joseph's. 
                        Christmas also is the marquee player in the areas loaded sophomore class, which features six of the top 30 players on Rubin's All-Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Teams that include the top players in the area regardless of class and position.  We're talking about Christmas, 6'1 Soph John Johnson from Philadelphia (Girard College) PA, 6'2 Soph Juanya Green from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA, 6'11 Soph Malcolm Gilbert from Bryan Athyn) Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'5 Soph Ameen Tankley from Philadelphia (Prep Charter) PA, and 6'3 Soph Devin Coleman from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA.  The class also has plenty of depth and versatility, as it is loaded with quality men and point guards.  The list of big men includes Christmas, 6'11 Soph Malcolm Gilbert from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'6 Soph Jaylen Bond from Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Whitemarsh) PA, 6'8 Soph Sean Oakman from Lansdowne (Penn Wood) PA, 6'8 Soph Eric Coates from Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA, 6'7 Soph Isaiah Baker form Newtown Square (Episcopal Academy) PA, 6'9 Soph Luke Piotrowski from Egg Harbor Township (Atlantic Christian) NJ, 6'10 Soph Peter Alexis from Wilkes-Barre (Holy Redeemer) PA, and 6'7 Soph Will Wise from Jenkintown (Abington Friends) PA.  The list of point guards includes 6'1 Soph John Johnson from Philadelphia (Girard College) PA, 6'2 Soph Juanya Green from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA, 5'11 Soph Aquil Younger from Philadelphia (West Catholic) PA, 5'9 Soph Maurice Nelson from Chester (H.S.) PA, 5'6 Soph Isaiah Morton from Richland (St. Augustine) NJ, and 5'10 Soph Joey Gripper from Jenkintown (Abington Friends) PA.
                        The senior class has some quality players at the top, like Wayns, 6'10 Aaric Murray from Concordville (Glen Mills) PA, and 6'5 Dalton Pepper from Fairless Hills (Pennsbury) PA.  But it lacks depth, as is evident by the fact that only three players from the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area are consensus top 100-ranked seniors nationally.  Murray is a 6'10, 260-bound beast inside," says Rubin.  "He can score around the basket, is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, has a great feel for the game, and has a knack for being able to kick the ball out to the open man.  Pepper is a tough hardnosed competitor who lets the game come to him and just knows who to win.  He's also the best player to ever come out of Bucks County and is ideally suited to play for Bobby Huggins at West Virginia."  The junior class, which is better than the senior class, but not as good as the sophomore class, is saved by the fact that 6'3 Jr Dion Waiters from Burlington (Life Center) NJ and 6'8 Jr Markus Kennedy from Cherry Hill (Living Faith Christian Academy) NJ have both returned.  If you will recall, Kennedy started his high school career at Drexel Hill (Monsignor Bonner) PA, but then transferred from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ, and Waiters started his high school career at Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, but then transferred to South Kent (Prep) CT.  So, when you add these two players to a list that also includes 6'1 Jr Tyrone Garland form Philadelphia (Bartram) PA, 6'2 Jr Tony Chennault from Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA, 6'4 Jr Rakeem Brookins from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, and 6'4 Jr Cameron Ayers from Ft. Washington (Germantown Academy) PA, we find that there are six players in the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area who ranked among our top 100 juniors nationally.  
                        Rubin thinks it's too early to tell just how good the freshman class will be, but adds that 6'5 Frosh Savon Goodman from Bryn Athyn (Academy of the New Church) PA, 6'6 Frosh Amile Jefferson from Wynnewood (Friends Central) PA, 6'9 Frosh Daniel Ochefy from Wettstown (Friends) PA, and 6'2 Frosh Ryan Arciadona from Langhorne (Neshaminy) PA are all on the track to be big time players.  He also says the same things about 6'2 8th Grader Rondah Jefferson from Chester (Community Charter) PA, who is the younger brother of Temple-bound 6'6 Rahlif Jefferson from Chester (H.S.) PA, and 5'10 8th Grader Britton Lee from Philadelphia (Wilson) PA, who can play either guard spot and is an excellent 3-point shooter.  However, Rubin gets really excited about the top two players in the Class of 2014 and the top player in the Class of 2015, all of whom have superstar written all over them.  He's talking about 6'0 7th Grader Brandon Austin from Philadelphia (Carnell) PA, 6'2 7th Grader Shep Garner from Chester (Drexel Neumann) PA, and 5'6 6th Grader Malik Ellison from Voorhees, NJ.  Austin is prototypical long lanky athletic wing player who already has nice size for his position and Garner is powerful 2-guard with a great bloodline (his father also played Chester).  Ellison, who is the son of former Louisville All-American Pervis Ellison, has a great basketball IQ, is super quick with the ball, and has a game that is extremely advanced for somebody so young.