Rick's Picks: Wood and Neumann-Goretti favored in boys' basketball state playoffs
March Madness starts in earnest this weekend. From our area, 43 boys' basketball teams are aiming to make it to Hershey's Giant Center and capture PIAA championship medals.
March Madness starts in earnest this weekend.
From our area, 43 boys' basketball teams are aiming to make it to Hershey's Giant Center and capture PIAA championship medals.
This is the inaugural year for six classifications on the hardwood. From 1984 to 2016, there were four classifications.
Here is a look at the Class 5A, 3A, and A tournaments, which will tip off Friday, and a predicted winner in each group.
We'll go through the Class 6A, 4A, and 2A playoffs, which will begin Saturday, in Friday's paper.
Class 5A
First-time Catholic League titlist Archbishop Wood, which has won 17 straight games, is the favorite to come out of the Eastern bracket and vie for top honors.
The white-hot Vikings are paced by Villanova recruit Collin Gillespie (22.3 ppg., 62 three-pointers) and fellow guards Tyree Pickron (12.6, 54), and Matt Cerruti (12, 47).
John Mosco's squad also has long-range threats in guards Andrew Funk and Keith Otto. Inside, 6-foot-11 Seth Pinkney and 6-7 Karrington Wallace are forces.
Penncrest, fresh off winning its first district crown since 1969, is ignited by Tyler Norwood. The junior guard averages 22.9 points and has buried 83 treys.
Chester finished a disappointing fifth in districts, but could still make noise in states. The Clippers have a strong one-two punch in 6-6 forward Jamar Sudan (15.4 ppg.) and guard Ahrod Carter (58 treys).
If Penncrest can topple Hershey and Chester can beat Milton Hershey in the first round, the Delaware County neighbors would meet Tuesday.
Martin Luther King, District 12's runner-up, is led by 6-7 Elijah Kiah-El, 6-9 William McNair, and guard Denelle Holly.
Other teams in the Eastern bracket to watch are District 2 champ Abington Heights, District 3 titlist Northeastern, and District 3 runner-up Mechanicsburg.
Don't forget about Archbishop Carroll, which won a pair of do-or-die games to earn District 12's No. 3 seed and a spot in the Western bracket. The Patriots have a solid shot at making it to at least the quarterfinals.
Other squads to watch in the Western half are District 7's Moon, Mars, and Chartiers Valley, and District 10's Meadville.
The spark plug for Moon is Jarrod Simmons, a 6-7, 220-pound forward and Penn recruit. He posted 22 points, 21 boards, 8 blocks, 3 assists, and 2 steals as the Tigers held off Hampton, 67-62, for the District 7 crown.
Our Class 5A final four: Wood, Milton Hershey, Northeastern, and Moon. Champion: Gillespie and Wood take down Simmons and Moon, 63-58.
Class 3A
After losing in the Catholic League final for the third straight time, seniors Quade Green and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree are determined to lead Neumann-Goretti to its fourth straight state title.
Neumann-Goretti's top challengers in the Eastern bracket are fellow District 12 member Del-Val Charter, District 2's Holy Redeemer, and District 3's Trinity.
Holy Redeemer, Neumann-Goretti's probable second-round foe, is keyed by guard Jason Stachokus, 6-4 center Nick Prociak, and wing Collin Cook.
Trinity features 6-4 forward Timmy Edwards (18.7 ppg.), 6-3 guard and Pace recruit Austin Gilbertson (15.1), and 6-10 center Sean Good.
Our Class 3A final four: Neumann-Goretti, Trinity, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, and Lincoln Park. Champion: Neumann-Goretti outlasts Lincoln Park, which has a 2,000-point career scorer and Bowling Green recruit in 6-foot guard Nelly Cummings, 59-58, in overtime.
Class A
Expect Girard College, powered by 6-8 wing Mikeal Jones and 6-4 guard Daiquan Copeland, to meet District 4's St. John Neumann, of Williamsport, in the Eastern final.
Neumann, which is 25-0 and has won 89 straight regular-season contests, is sparked by 6-5 guard and Delaware recruit Kevin Anderson.
From the Western bracket, District 10's Kennedy Catholic is the odds-on choice to make it to Hershey. The 21-2 Golden Eagles are led by 6-2 guard Drew Magestro, a Pitt-Johnstown recruit, and 6-4 forward Mohamed Konate.
Our Class A final four: Girard College, Neumann, Monessen and Kennedy Catholic. Champion: Magestro and Konate turn back first-year Girard coach Clyde Jones and the Cavaliers, 74-65.
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