Imhotep has new faces but same expectations in boys’ basketball: ‘Play as one — play as a family’

Andre Noble is understated. His easy, approachable demeanor belies his fiery, demanding coaching persona that he sometimes laughs about, like there’s a completely different person inside of him that surfaces when he is coaching.

The legendary Imhotep Charter coach won his ninth state title last season with a star-studded team led by forward Justin Edwards, now at Kentucky, and guard Rahmir Barno, now at Florida Gulf Coast. The Panthers finished 30-3, winning their second straight Philadelphia Public League, District 12, and PIAA Class 5A state titles, which now gives Noble 472 career victories and a Public League all-time-high 11 championships in the last 14 years.

The humble Noble will enter his 20th season in the Imhotep gym that now bears his name, “Andre Noble Gymnasium,” with the possibility of 28 victories dangling there in the distance toward reaching the magical 500-win mark.

Even though the Panthers graduated several players, Noble emphasizes that this season will be treated like the previous 19 he coached — and it begins with the winning culture he established when he first took over the program.

“They know our culture, and it has not changed,” Noble said. “Most of our kids have been here since ninth grade and they know what we expect. We don’t change anything. It’s the same, and our guys know what an Imhotep guard looks like, our young players know that if they don’t play defense here at Imhotep, they don’t play. If they don’t dive for loose balls on the floor, they know they won’t get time on the floor. Our guys know those things.

“We obviously don’t have Justin and Rahmir, two of the very best players who ever played here, but we are counting on the same culture that raised those guys that will be the same culture that takes this team forward.”

This team is now in the firm, sturdy hands of Ahmad Nowell, a 6-1 senior combo guard committed to UConn. He will be joined by 6-7 senior forward and Albany recruit Makye Taylor, 6-6 senior forward Jeremiah White, 6-2 junior guard Carnell Henderson, and energetic 5-8 sophomore point guard R.J. Smith.

» READ MORE: Imhotep Charter’s Makye Taylor lands at Albany after ‘rough’ start in basketball journey

Nowell played a leadership role last season and has only known winning in his previous two years at Imhotep. The burly guard who has the frame of an NFL defensive back made his college commitment over the summer, and says the decision alleviated any anxiety he may have had coming into his senior year.

“I know coming in that this will be a big task this year, but I also know my teammates have my back, and I know we will be able to get it done,” said Nowell, a three-year starter. “I spoke up in previous years, but I know I will have to do it more this year. I had no problem speaking up behind closed doors or when the doors were open. I just have to be more consistent and be an example. My expectation for us is to three-peat. We have the coaching. We have the talent. This team, though, will be a lot different from last year, because we have a bunch of new players taking on new roles.”

What Imhotep has is a crop of young players who will be counted on to make an impact in 6-5 sophomore wing Latief Lorenzano-White (Batram), 6-6 sophomore forward Zaahir Muhammad-Gray, 5-11 sophomore guard Kody Colson (Shipley), the son of Philly great Sean Colson, and 6-8 freshman forward Zion Green, the son of former great and Big 5 Hall of Famer Rodney Green.

“We will be young, and the names have changed, but the name in front still says Imhotep,” Noble said. “Justin was one of our team’s captains, but being around the team every day, Ahmad Nowell is one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. He is on a short, short list. He makes people around him better. He is a really, really good leader and he is one of the reasons why we feel really good about this team. Ahmad is a winner. We are young, but we are not worried because we know Ahmad will lead the right way and push these young guys.

“Sometimes as a team, it takes time to find out who their leader is. This team knows who its leader is.”

Smith will also play a big role. He may be the smallest player on the team, but his tough attitude outweighs his physical stature. He played minutes through the gauntlet of last year’s national schedule and will be relied upon against the top talent the Panthers will face again this year.

» READ MORE: Imhotep Charter’s Ahmad Nowell: A hot recruit in the new NIL era

“It will be my job on the court to keep us steady and to do what we need to do,” Smith said. “I think we have to erase what we did in the past. We want the same result, but the past is the past. We are focusing on the present. We know it will not be easy to repeat. But we don’t feel any pressure. We hang our hats on defense, and play as one, we play as a family.”

That’s all part of the Imhotep culture.

This story was produced as part of a partnership between The Inquirer and City of Basketball Love, a nonprofit news organization that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area while also helping mentor the next generation of sportswriters. This collaboration will help boost coverage of the city’s vibrant amateur basketball scene, from the high school ranks up through the Big 5 and beyond.