It could be Neumann-Goretti's year in Catholic League
Say hello to a Red/Blue alignment again.
Two divisions named after colors were ditched for football in favor of three divisions reflecting enrollment groups (AAAA, AAA and AA) when the CL joined the PIAA as a full-fledged member this school year. They're baaaaaack for basketball, though, as AAA and AA schools have been merged into one division for the regular season.
Thankfully, there still will be an overall champion.
We know your burning question: Who's the favorite to hoist the plaque? We don't know the answer, but a respectable guess is Ss. Neumann-Goretti.
The Saints boast two Division I commits in junior wing guard Tony Chennault (Wake Forest) and 6-9 senior center Andre "Scooter" Gillette (Niagara). Also, junior forward Daniel Stewart is one of the league's upper-echelon returnees.
Chennault long has been considered a quality shooter. Now, from the other side, Mustafaa Jones is showing his sniping prowess (eight treys in a recent game). Tyreek Duren is the floor leader.
One negative: The Saints are part of Blue and many (most?) of its division games will be unchallenging. They'll try to stay motivated by remembering the sting of suffering an upset in last year's playoffs.
Did someone say upset? Roman Catholic, after going 14-0, was also shocked in the quarterfinal round.
If not at the top in Red, the Cahillites figure to push hard. The far-and-away headliner is guard Maalik Wayns, a Villanova signee with a lofty national profile. Providing points, rebounds and highlight-reel dunks will be Koron Reed, a transfer from Freire Charter (and formerly of West Catholic).
North Catholic, the '08 champ, is expected to again make a run. Maybe even a full-out sprint.
Many contributors are back, and scoring swingman Jack O'Neill has arrived by transfer (from Episcopal Academy) and 6-8 Rakeem Christmas has blossomed into one of the hottest names on national talent scouts' lists of top sophomores.
Looking for one more team of danger? Go with Archbishop Carroll. Instead of a year away, this frisky group might be months.
Six teams in Red and Blue will make the playoffs. First-round byes will go to the top two in each division and cross-overs, as in the ol' North-South format, will take place in the semifinals.
If you're thinking ahead to District 12 (in conjunction with the Public League) and/or state playoffs, all teams in Red are AAAA. In Blue, six are AAA while Bishop McDevitt, Kennedy-Kenrick and West Catholic are AA.
There is one new team, Lansdale Catholic, where the coach is former La Salle High boss Bernie Fitzgerald. The other new coaches are Tim Kelly, Cardinal O'Hara; Chris McNesby, Roman; and Sean Tait, Archbishop Wood (with Joe Sette on sabbatical). *
Returning members of the Daily News' 2007-08 All-Catholic Team:
FIRST TEAM: Maalik Wayns, Roman, G
SECOND TEAM: Tony Chennault, N-G, G; Daniel Stewart, N-G, F
FOURTH TEAM: Kasheef Festus, Carroll, F
HONORABLE MENTION: Guards: Jamal Melvin, Bonner; Woody Redding, North; Tom Ryan, Judge. Forwards/Centers: Henry Smith, Bonner; Bob Makor, North.
RED DIVISION
ARCHBISHOP RYANCoach: Bernie Rogers, ninth year. Education: Ryan, Ursinus. 132-81.
Last year: 9-5, 17-10.
Savvy seven: Rus Slawter, 5-10, G; Anthony Keiter, 6-1, F; Eric Fleming, 6-1, G; Jerry Smith, 6-5, C; Colin O'Malley, 6-1, F; Anthony Magallanes, 5-9, G; Brendan Ostaszewski, 6-3, F.
Rogers' comment: "We have a great group of competitive kids who want to be good."
CARDINAL O'HARA
Coach: Tim Kelly, first year. Education: O'Hara, Muhlenberg. Career: 0-0.
Last year: 4-10, 10-14.
Savvy seven: Josh Rogers, 6-foot, G; Anthony Bertolino, 5-11, G; Dan Kearney, 6-foot, G; Ryan Howarth, 6-4, C; Sean Mayo, 6-3, F; Miguel Pagan, 5-9, G; Chuck Naimoli, 5-11, F.
Kelly's comment: "Still trying to find an identity. Don't have a multitude of scorers. Trying to get better defensively and more hard-nosed."
FATHER JUDGE
Coach: Frank Cahill, fourth year. Education: North Catholic, Temple. Career: 45-33.
Last year: 8-6, 15-10.
Savvy seven: Tom Ryan, 6-3, G; Josh Jaskowiak, 6-2, F; Pat Schultz, 5-9, G; Ryan Langdon, 6-4, F; John McGrath, 6-3, F; Ryan Fenningham, 5-10, G; Fran Hennessey, 6-1, G.
Cahill's comment: "For a basketball team, I wouldn't want to play us in football!"
LA SALLE
Coach: Joe Dempsey, fifth year. Education: Archbishop Kennedy, Elizabethtown. Career: 43-61.
Last year: 8-6, 15-11.
Savvy seven: Todd Stokley, 6-1, G; Tom Cooney, 6-1, G; Eddie Joyner-Mitchell, 5-11, G; Troy Hockaday, 6-2, G; Malik West, 6-3, F; Brennan Woods, 6-5, C; Tucker Durkin, 6-1, F.
Dempsey's comment: "If everyone continues to buy in, we'll be competitive every game. So far, we've had no ego issues."
MONSIGNOR BONNER
Coach: Brian Daly, fourth year. Education: Bonner, Saint Joseph's. Career: 49-30.
Last year: 9-5, 18-8.
Savvy seven: Henry Smith, 6-5, C; Scott Slade, 6-5, F; Keefer Francis, 6-1, G; Jamal Melvin, 5-7, G; Brian Boyle, 5-10, G; Billy Scanlan, 6-foot, G; Jerry Colvin, 5-9, G.
Daly's comment: "With hard work, determination and senior leadership, we will improve each day."
NORTH CATHOLIC
Coach: Mike McCarron, seventh year. Education: North Catholic, Eastern. Career: 88-68.
Last year: 12-2, 22-5.
Savvy seven: Woody Redding, 5-7, G; Bob Makor, 6-3, F; Jaleel Mack, 6-1, G; Mike Terry, 6-foot, G; Josh Stevens, 6-2, F; Jack O'Neill, 6-5, F; Rakeem Christmas, 6-8, C.
McCarron's comment: "Losing seven seniors, we are rebuilding with a solid infrastructure. They can deal with adversity. There is a sense of accountability, not entitlement. We are lucky coaches because these kids are special."
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Coach: Chris McNesby, first year. Education: Roman, East Stroudsburg. Career: 0-0.
Last year: 14-0, 19-6.
Savvy seven: Maalik Wayns, 6-1, G; Rakeem Brookins, 5-11, G; Kevin Regan, 6-3, G-F; Koron Reed, 6-7, F; Anthony Mayo, 6-8, C; Andre Horne, 6-3, G; Abdul King, 6-1, G.
McNesby's comment: "Tough early schedule will hopefully get us ready for the CL."
ST. JOSEPH'S PREP
Coach: William "Speedy" Morris, eighth year (also Roman, 1968-81; Penn Charter, 1983-84). Education: Roman. Career: 557-137; 169-41 at SJ Prep.
Last year: 8-6, 16-11.
Savvy seven: Pat Stewart, 5-11, G; Pete Buzby, 6-3, F; Dan Fitzpatrick, 6-4, F; Brandon Robinson, 6-5, F-C; Mike Leithead, 6-4, F; Joe Nardi, 6-foot, G; Sean Brophy, 6-2, G.
Morris' comment: "Success is formed by a team working together, and no one caring who gets the credit."
Blue Division
ARCHBISHOP CARROLLCoach: Paul Romanczuk, sixth year (missed '05 on medical leave). Education: Carroll, Penn. Career: 59-68.
Last year: 8-6, 14-11.
Savvy seven: Kasheef Festus, 6-5, F; Trevor McNulty, 6-3, G-F; Andre Wilburn, 6-5, F-C; Pat Daly, 6-4, G; Ben Mingledough, 6-4, G; DJ Irving, 5-11, G; Juan'ya Green, 6-3, G.
Romanczuk's comment: "If we continue to improve daily, we will hopefully be peaking at the right time."
ARCHBISHOP WOOD
Coach: Sean Tait, first year (Joe Sette on sabbatical). Education: Judge, Cabrini. Career: 0-0.
Last year: 2-12, 9-15.
Savvy seven: Tim Fahy, 5-11, G; Fran Dougherty, 6-6, F-C; Brian O'Grady, 6-foot, G-F; Joe Getz, 5-11, G; Fran Dolan, 5-7, G; Scott Adkins, 5-7, G; Sean McCartney, 6-3, G-F.
Tait's comment: "We have eight guys from Warminster that like each other. If we can play hard, smart and together, we will be all right."
BISHOP McDEVITT
Coach: Jack Rutter, 14th year (missed final 16 games of '05 on medical leave). Education: Dougherty, Alvernia. Career: 126-183.
Last year: 3-11, 12-12.
Savvy seven: Rodney Ellis, 6-4, C; Linburg Green, 5-9, G; Courtney Havens-Dobbs, 6-2, F; Mike Palmero, 5-11, G; Reggie Charles, 6-foot, G; Shawn Maguire, 6-4, C; Vince Beasley, 5-10, G.
Rutter's comment: "New team! New league! It's still a simple game with complicated people."
CARDINAL DOUGHERTY
Coach: Mark Heimerdinger, 27th year (also Maple Point, 1981-82). Education: Ryan, Slippery Rock. Career: 444-294; 421-272 at Dougherty.
Last year: 9-5, 14-11.
Savvy seven: Brandyn Wims, 5-8, G; Dawan Earle, 5-6, G; Christian Gibbs, 5-8, G; Norman Dorsey-Poles, 6-3, C; Brandon Brown, 6-3, F; Ryan Colbert, 6-1, F; Art Comas, 6-2, F.
Heimerdinger's comment: "We're still trying to figure out who we are, and how we're going to play."
CONWELL-EGAN
Coach: Rick Sabol, second year. Education: Conwell-Egan, Kutztown. Career: 13-11.
Last year: 5-9, 13-11.
Savvy seven: Jonas Skovdal, 6-4, F; Ryan Golin, 6-2, F; Isaac Robinson, 6-2, F; Kevin DeLorenzo, 6-2, F; Shayne Bonner, 5-10, G; Andrew Schaefer, 5-9, G; Ryan Fitch, 6-2, G.
Sabol's comment: "Our single purpose is to improve quarter by quarter, game by game, and do what we can to be included in the playoff mix."
KENNEDY-KENRICK
Coach: Jack Flanagan, third year. Education: Kenrick, Temple. Career: 3-47.
Last year: 0-14, 3-21.
Savvy seven: Rob Griffith, 5-11, G; Kevin Shemar, 5-10, G; Ronell Fairel, 6-1, F; Dave Tornetta, 6-3, F; Brad Miller, 6-5, C; Alex Byrne, 6-3, F; Billy Malescio, 6-foot, G.
Flanagan's comment: "Whether practice, game, films, team Mass ... we want to approach everything like it's our first, last, only chance."
LANSDALE CATHOLIC
Coach: Bernie Fitzgerald, first year (also La Salle, 1992-93, 2002). Education: La Salle, Lafayette. Career: 31-44.
Last year: not in league.
Savvy seven: Mike Barr, 6-foot, G; Liam Coyne, 6-foot, G; Brian Keane, 6-2, F; Joe Patzuk, 6-foot, C; Brendan Stanton, 6-foot, G; Matt Tumasz, 6-1, G-F; Alex Kirk, 5-10, G.
Fitzgerald's comment: "We're a work in progress."
Ss. NEUMANN-GORETTI
Coach: Carl Arrigale, 11th year. Education: Penn Charter, Lycoming. Career: 215-68.
Last year: 10-4, 15-10.
Savvy seven: Tony Chennault, 6-2, G; Daniel Stewart, 6-6, F; Tyreek Duren, 6-2, G; Andre "Scooter" Gillette, 6-9, C; Mustafaa Jones, 6-foot, G; Lamin Fulton, 5-9, G; Bradford King, 6-5, C.
Arrigale's comment: "I like this group a lot. We have great chemistry. I'm really looking forward to everything."
WEST CATHOLIC
Coach: Bill Ludlow, 16th year. Education: St. James, Delaware County CC. Career: 194-189.
Last year: 3-11, 12-12.
Savvy seven: Rob Hollomon, 5-8, G; Haleem "P-Nut" Hayward, 6-1, G-F; Ade Barek, 6-7, C; Larry Brown, 6-3, F; Dwayne Shaw, 6-4, F-C; Kiwan Murray, 6-2, F; Aquil Younger, 5-11, G.
Ludlow's comment: "We're just hoping to average as many points as the football team."