Collin MacAdams leads savvy Central Bucks West basketball trio

Following in the footsteps of his father, Central Bucks West's Collin MacAdams gave football a try as a youngster.

"I played for the Lenape Valley Indians, and I was a receiver and linebacker," the 18-year-old said. "I played through eighth grade. That's when I decided to focus on basketball."

Jason MacAdams was a defensive back at the old Council Rock High. "He later coached the running backs at Pennsbury," Collin said.

With Collin McAdams as the centerpiece of a strong nucleus, C.B. West is aiming to win the Suburban One League Continental Conference title and make a deep run in the playoffs.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound senior wing delivered 17 points and 10 rebounds as the visiting Bucks easily topped conference rival Pennridge, 57-36, Tuesday night in Perkasie.

For C.B. West, which is 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference, MacAdams averages a team-best 14.8 points, 8.6 boards, and 2.4 assists.

"Collin is a hard player to defend for a lot of teams in our league," Bucks coach Adam Sherman said. "He's athletic, explosive, and he can score in a variety of ways."

MacAdams and fellow seniors Shane McCusker and Jake Reichwein are third-year varsity members. As eighth graders, the trio sparked Our Lady of Mount Carmel's CYO squad to the Region 20 championship.

"I think that familiarity give us an advantage," said MacAdams, a second-year starter and sixth man as a sophomore. "We definitely know each other's offensive tendencies and defensive strengths."

McCusker, a 6-4 wing, averages 11.4 points, 3.1 boards, and 1.4 assists. He is shooting 41.9 percent from beyond the arc. "Shane is a very good shooter," Sherman said. "To have a kid that's 6-4 and doesn't need a lot of space to get his shot off, it really helps."

Reichwein starred in football as a running back and hard-hitting linebacker and last season earned second-team all-area honors. The 6-3, 225-pound bruiser averages 7.6 points, 3.5 boards, and 1.4 assists. "The toughness he brings to the game is huge for us," MacAdams said.

Junior floor general Jack Mulhearn (7.9 ppg.) and sophomore combination guard Mika Munari (5.2 ppg.) round out the starting lineup. Jack Neri, a 6-3 sophomore forward, 6-1 senior wing Davis Zerweck, and senior guard Chase Heller contribute off the bench.

MacAdams and company are hungry for redemption. Last season, the 12th-seeded Bucks were ousted by No. 21 Hatboro-Horsham, 34-32, in double overtime in the first round of the PIAA District 1 Class 6A playoffs.

MacAdams, of Doylestown, will continue his career at California University of Pennsylvania. He chose the Vulcans over Kutztown, University of the Sciences, and Wheeling Jesuit.

"Coach [Kent] McBride is in his second season at Cal and doing a good job," said MacAdams, who plans to major in business or criminal justice. "Also, with seven seniors on this year's team, there's a good chance for me to play right away."

MacAdams, who played two seasons of AAU ball for Team Final, also is supported at games by his mother, Stephanie, and brother, Brady. Brady, 10, is an up-and-coming basketball player for the Doylestown Athletic Association hoops squad that is coached by his father.

St. Joseph's Prep coach William "Speedy" Morris can capture his 1,000th career victory when the Hawks host Lansdale Catholic in a Catholic League game at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Morris is in his 50th season of coaching at the high school and college levels. Before coming to 17th and Girard, he coached the La Salle University men's squad for 15 seasons and the Explorers' women's team for two years. At the high school level, he spent 14 seasons at Roman Catholic and two at Penn Charter.

Morris has posted a 330-109 record (.752 winning percentage) and won two league crowns (2003 and 2004) in 17 seasons at the Prep. On Friday, the Kelly Fieldhouse doors will open at 2:30 p.m.