CHESTER & THE GREAT CLASS OF 2015 HIGHLIGHT THE PHILADELPHIA/EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA/SOUTH JERSEY AREA
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP

                    With only four players -- 6'7 Rondae Jefferson from Chester (H.S.) PA, 6'4 Rysheed Jordan from Philadelphia (Roberts Vaux) PA, 6'7 Brandon Austin from Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA, and 6'5 Steve Vasturia from Philadelphia (St. Joseph's) PA - ranked among the HOOP SCOOP's top 100 seniors nationally and only two players - 6'3 Jr Jaquan Newton from Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA and 6'2 Jr Skip Garner from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA - ranked among the HOOP SCOOP's top 100 juniors nationally - it's kind of hard for our Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey Editor Allen Rubin to get too excited about high school basketball in his backyard. That's, of course, unless you're talking about Chester (H.S.) PA, which will begin the reason with a 58-game winning streak, features the best player in the area regardless of class in 6'7 Rondae Jefferson, also has a great supporting cast with the likes of 6'1 Darius Robinson, 6'5 Richard Grandbury, 6'3 Diamante Reason, 6'4 James Kirksey, 6'0 Jr Conrad Chambers, and 6'6 Frosh Marquis Collins, and will be going after its third straight PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) AAAA State Championship.
                    Or, unless you're looking ahead to the Class of 2015, which has 14 players - 6'8 Soph Horace Spencer from Warminster (William Tennant) PA, 6'6 Soph Derrick Jones from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll) PA, 5'11 Soph Lamarr Kimble from Philadelphia (Newmann-Goretti) PA, 5'11 Soph Sam Foreman from Philadelphia (Roberts Vaux) PA, 6'5 Soph Amad Gilbert from Philadelphia (Constitution) PA, 6'3 Samir Doughty from Philadelphia (Communications Tech) PA, 6'8 Soph Tim Delany from Pittman (H.S.) NJ, 6'3 Soph Levan Alston from Haverfordd (School) PA, 6'2 Soph Devin Liggeons from Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA, 6'4 Soph Sean Lloyd from Haverford (School) PA, 6'6 Soph Travaughn Wilkerson from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, 5'10 Soph Malik Ellison from Burlington (Life Center) P A, 5'9 Soph Marcus Floyd from Malvern (Phelps School) PA, and 6'1 Soph Jake Silpe from Cherry Hill (East) NJ - listed above on Rubin's 10 All-Area Teams, which include the top 50 players in the Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania/South Jersey area regardless of class and position.
                    Spencer, who is ranked #14 nationally in the sophomore class by the HOOP SCOOP and promises to be the great big man to come out of this area, blocks shots, rebounds, is quick off his feet, scores around the basket, and can step out to about 14-feet.  However, for Spencer to live up to all of the hype and expectations, he has to continue to improve his offensive skills.  He also needs to make sure that he doesn't become complacent and rest on his laurels, because, according to Rubin, the race for the top spot in the class between Spencer and Jones is pretty close.  "Jones is a quick leaper, has great timing and a knack for being able to score round the basket, and he will get a chance play a lot more out on the perimeter with the arrival of Ernest Affakpui," says Rubin.
                    "Kimble is a very good point guard who can run a team, has the quickness to get to the rim, and is a good outside shooter.  Foreman is out of the same mold as Kimble, but he's even more of a prolific scorer.  Gilbert is a prototypical wing forward and this long lean lefty can shoot the three,  put it on the floor, and get to the foul line.  Doughty is a player with unlimited upside and he can shoot, score, pass, and make plays.  Delaney is the best low post player in the class.  He has very good footwork, uses both hands well, is a good rebounder, and can step out to mid-range.  Alston is a very intelligent player, a good outside shooter, can score from anywhere, and is still growing.  Liggeons is a solid 2-guard who can put it on the floor, is a good mid-range shooter, and is an excellent defender.   Lloyd is a power 2-guard who can score, pass, and defend.  Wilkerson is face-up four who is a good mid-range shooter, good rebounder, and adequate scorer around the basket.  Ellison has a good basketball IQ, can run a team, is a good 3-point shooter, and has a great pedigree.  Floyd is a scoring point guard who gets to the rim and can stop and pop.  Silpe is a throwback back.  I don't want people to compare him to Steve Nash, but that's who he plays like." 
                    And, if that weren't enough, Rubin also thinks 6'0 Soph Traci Carter from Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA, who missed his freshman year and part of the AAU season with a torn ACL, and 6'8 Soph Ernest Affakpui from Radnor (Archbishop) PA, who recently arrived from Ghana, both have the potential to move a  lot higher on his list. 
                    The two players that college recruiters at the high Division I level should get excited about in the senior class are 6'4 Rysheed Jordan from Philadelphia (Roberts Vaux) PA and 6'7 Brandon Austin from Philadelphia (St. Joseph) PA.  They both are still available and Rubin thinks the former is the next great point guard out of the Philly area, while the latter is the most versatile player in the area.  "Jordan is an athletic point guard with great size and vision, gets to the rim and dunks over people, is a good outside shooter, and a great defender," says Rubin.  "I also think he has the potential to play in the NBA and needs to mentioned in breath with guys like Kyle Lowry, Sean Singletary, and Mustafa Shakur.  Austin is big time athlete, has a good basketball IQ, makes plays, can score and shoots well from mid-range, and has the skills necessary to play three different positions." 
                    The senior class also features a pair of sleepers in 6'2 Anthony Durham from Abington (H.S.) PA and 6'6 Devonne Pinkard from Lancaster (McCaskey) PA.  "Durham has very good vision, one of the best mid-range games in the area and is one of the fastest players in the area," says Rubin.  "Pinkard has taken his game outside and is now a big long wing that can shoot the three, put it on the floor, and rebound.  He also is good enough to be a steal at the mid-major level." 
                    The best player in the state regardless of class is 6'7 Rondae Jefferson from Chester (H.S) PA. who also is ranked #11 nationally in the senior class by the HOOP SCOOP.  But he's already off the board and committed to the University of Arizona.  And likewise with the best shooter in the senior class, as 6'5 Steve Vasturia from Philadelphia (St. Joseph's Prep) PA, who shoots close to 50% from 3-point land and over 90% from the foul line, is a great catch for Notre Dame. 
                    The Class of 2014 is subpar at best.  But the fact that 6'6 Jr Jared Nickens has transferred from Elizabeth (St. Patrick) NJ to Westtown (School) PA means that the class may have three high Division I players.  Rubin also makes note of fact that this class has a number of mid-to-low Division I guards and wing players and it is probably worth mentioning that 6'4 Jr Muhammad Abdur-Rauhman from Allentown (Central Catholic) PA is the best player in the Lehigh Valley regardless of class and 6'2 Jr J.C. Show from Clarks Summit (Abington Heights) PA promises to be the best player to come out of up-state Pennsylvania since Gerry McNamara. 
                    And following in the footsteps of Chester (H.S.) PA a year from now in terms of being a nationally ranked team and playing in such prestigious tournaments as the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL, the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Hoop Hall Classic in Springfield, MA very well could be Philadelphia (Neumann-Goretti) PA.  If you will recall, this Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse will be chasing its fourth straight PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) AAA State Championship this winter; will return its two best players in 6'3 Jr Jaquan Newton and 5'11 Soph Lamarr Kimble , who ranked #1 and #3 in their respective classes in the area; and will also have a good supporting cast with the return of 6'0 Jr Troy Harper, 6'6 Jr Jamal Custis, and 6'5 Jr Antonio Toplyn when the 2013-14 season begins; and currently has Rubin's #4-ranked player in the Class of 2016 - 6'0 Frosh Vaughn Covington - waiting in the wings.