We continue our 2013-14 team previews with an in-depth look at Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), a team with national ambitions and the talent to back it up. Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)
Head Coach: Carl Arrigale (349-85)
2012-13 Record: 23-6
Final Ranking: NA
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Lettermen: 9
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: SG Ja’Quan Newton 6-3 2014 (No. 37 Hoop Scoop Top 100, Miami commit), CG Troy Harper 6-1 2014 (Campbell commit), G Lamarr Kimble 5-11 2015 (Drexel, La Salle, Hofstra, Manhattan offers), F Tony Toplyn 6-6 2014 (D1 ability), F Jamal Custis 6-6 2014 (Syracuse football commit).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: G Quade Green 5-11 2017, G Vaughn Covington 6-0 2016.
Coach’s General Outlook: I really like our team and the schedule we plays shows that. We have excellent guard play led by Ja’Quan Newton and even though Troy Haprer didn’t start last year, he’s a D1 talent who gained valuable experience. Our speed up the court and quickess in the halfcourt should be a great advantage. Our frontcourt depth is a concern and our size against national teams could be problematic. What I do like, however, is that Temple and Custis are far more athletic than a lot of the bruisers they may encounter and we’ll have to take advantage.
Events Scheduled To Play In: City of Palms (Ft. Myers, Fla.), Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.) vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Cancer Research Classic (Wheeling, W. Va.) vs. Simeon (Chicago), Scholastic Play-by-Play (Philadelphia) vs. Chester (Chester, Pa.).
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.).
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: After losing the most games in a single season since a 14-11 mark in 2007-2008, the Saints are eager to get back in the national rankings picture. They are especially motivated after being stunned by Donegal (Mt. Joy, Pa.) in the PIAA Class AAA Elite Eight after going in as the No. 1 ranked team in the state. Ja’Quan Newton is the kind of talent who can lead his team to a big victory in a hostile environment. The guards he plays with are not only talented, but they have great chemistry together and that will help N-G against the tough teams on its schedule. In fact, Newton plays in same the same grassroots program (Team Final) that Kimble, Covington, and talented newcomer Quade Green does. According to coach Arrigale, Green will see the floor despite the plethora of guards on the roster. Temple and Custis are a bit underrated and Custis is a tremendous athlete. He’s one of the best football-basketball combos in the country who could play hoops on the next level. We’ll see what the Saints can do right away since they’ll be one of the top six seeds at the City of Palms. If they come away with a 3-1 or 2-2 mark, that would be pretty good. Even if they don’t show well, the experience will help them later on down the line and put them in good position to once again capture the PIAA Class 3A title.
Fast Fact: Before last season, the Saints won three consecutive Class 3A state crowns (2010-12), compiling a 86-8 record in the process. N-G’s 2009-2010 team was ranked No. 2 in the FAB 50 with a 30-1 mark. Its only blemish was a 97-96 setback to Yates (Houston) at the Iolani Prep Classic that eventually determined the mythical national champion. Coming into this season, Neumann-Goretti is the five-time defending Philadelphia Catholic League champion and Arrigale has led the program to nine Catholic League titles in 15 seasons.
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RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
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