Prime Time Shootout Day Two Game Predictions
by
Alex Schwartz
After a fantastic opening night to the 2009 Prime Time Shootout at the RAC on the campus of Rutgers University, the event will be moving venues for the second and third days of games. Tomorrow night and all day Saturday, the PTS will be held at Villanova University. There will be nine games (three Friday, six Saturday) played over these two days, and there will be a distinct Pennsylvania flavor, as 13 of the 18 teams playing are from the Keystone State. Five of the six squads playing on Friday are from PA, and of the nine games, five are PA vs. PA. If you love Philadelphia-area hoops, then this is the weekend for you to go to the Prime Time Shootout. Have a look at how I expect the games to go this evening:
Friday, 6:00pm EST- Academy of the New Church (PA) vs. Bishop McNamara (MD)
Although the Lions of ANC—led by youngsters Savon Goodman '12 and Malcolm Gilbert '11, along with Warren Gillis '10 and Kenny Ross '09—will be playing in their home state, Bishop McNamara may well be too talented for ANC. The squad from the Old Line State has a big-time lineup, led by a trio of stud seniors: George Mason-signee Rashad Whack '09, Pitt-bound Talib Zanna '09, and Trask Ivey '09. Lawrence Smith '09 is another talented senior, while Brandon Coleman '10 is a solid junior. Zanna, a late blooming big man, will be a load for Gilbert, a raw, skinny 6'11 sophomore to handle. Ross will have to do a great job running the point and Gillis will have to consistently make shots, while Gilbert will need to do some damage on offense, if Kevin Givens' boys want to win this one.
Prediction- Bishop McNamara by fourteen, 76-62 . . . Zanna and Whack will go off for big games and will be too much for ANC
Friday, 7:30pm EST- Pennwood (PA) vs. Neumann-Goretti (PA)
This is going to be a great game, as arguably the best public school in the Philadelphia-area and arguably the top private school in Philly will duke it out. Pennwood features a number of talented players, including Duane Johnson '09, Thomas White '09, Tyree Johnson '10, and Dequan Pelzer '10. Yet, it is two sophomore big men who are key to the Patriots' success: Shawn Oakman '11 and Aaron Brown '11. Pennwood is very big and deep in the low post, while Neumann-Goretti has just one true low post baller, Niagara-signee Andre "Scooter" Gillette '09, and he will have to have a big game. "Scooter" is certainly capable of doing just that, though Daniel Stewart '10—who is more of a wing—may need to help out in the paint. Wake Forest-commit Tony Chenault '10 and Tyreek Duran '10 form a great junior backcourt, while Mustafa Jones '10 and Lamin Fulton '11 provide good depth. This is going to be a close game throughout, and both squads have a lot of talent, and a lot of depth.
Prediction- Pennwood by seven, 77-71 . . . The Patriots are more balanced and will win this one
Friday, 9:00pm EST- Chester (PA) vs. Roman Catholic (PA)
In another game that pits arguably the top Philly-area public school against arguably the best Philadelphia private school, there will be a pair of seniors who will staying local and heading to Big Five schools, one of whom will be playing on his future home turf. Big man Rahlir Jefferson '09 of Chester is headed to Temple, while point guard Maalik Wayns '09 of Roman Catholic (PA) is bound for Villanova. Unfortunately though, Wayns is out for the season and thus will not be playing. Jefferson is part of a talented Clippers squad that features players such as Dymere Crews '10, Laquan Robinson '10, Maurice Nelson '11 (Jameer Nelson's younger brother), Erikk Wright '12, and Kareem Robinson '12. Wayns' supporting cast is very good, and will need to be without him in the lineup. Koron Reed '09, Rakeem Brookins '10, football star Kevin Regan ’10, Anthony Mayo '10, and Andre Horne '12 are all gifted players. With Wayns, Roman Catholic probably has the advantage, but without him, it could be tough.
Prediction- Chester by eight, 69-61 . . . Without Wayns, Roman Catholic will struggle
After a fantastic opening night to the 2009 Prime Time Shootout at the RAC on the campus of Rutgers University, the event will be moving venues for the second and third days of games. Tomorrow night and all day Saturday, the PTS will be held at Villanova University. There will be nine games (three Friday, six Saturday) played over these two days, and there will be a distinct Pennsylvania flavor, as 13 of the 18 teams playing are from the Keystone State. Five of the six squads playing on Friday are from PA, and of the nine games, five are PA vs. PA. If you love Philadelphia-area hoops, then this is the weekend for you to go to the Prime Time Shootout. Have a look at how I expect the games to go this evening:
Friday, 6:00pm EST- Academy of the New Church (PA) vs. Bishop McNamara (MD)
Although the Lions of ANC—led by youngsters Savon Goodman '12 and Malcolm Gilbert '11, along with Warren Gillis '10 and Kenny Ross '09—will be playing in their home state, Bishop McNamara may well be too talented for ANC. The squad from the Old Line State has a big-time lineup, led by a trio of stud seniors: George Mason-signee Rashad Whack '09, Pitt-bound Talib Zanna '09, and Trask Ivey '09. Lawrence Smith '09 is another talented senior, while Brandon Coleman '10 is a solid junior. Zanna, a late blooming big man, will be a load for Gilbert, a raw, skinny 6'11 sophomore to handle. Ross will have to do a great job running the point and Gillis will have to consistently make shots, while Gilbert will need to do some damage on offense, if Kevin Givens' boys want to win this one.
Prediction- Bishop McNamara by fourteen, 76-62 . . . Zanna and Whack will go off for big games and will be too much for ANC
Friday, 7:30pm EST- Pennwood (PA) vs. Neumann-Goretti (PA)
This is going to be a great game, as arguably the best public school in the Philadelphia-area and arguably the top private school in Philly will duke it out. Pennwood features a number of talented players, including Duane Johnson '09, Thomas White '09, Tyree Johnson '10, and Dequan Pelzer '10. Yet, it is two sophomore big men who are key to the Patriots' success: Shawn Oakman '11 and Aaron Brown '11. Pennwood is very big and deep in the low post, while Neumann-Goretti has just one true low post baller, Niagara-signee Andre "Scooter" Gillette '09, and he will have to have a big game. "Scooter" is certainly capable of doing just that, though Daniel Stewart '10—who is more of a wing—may need to help out in the paint. Wake Forest-commit Tony Chenault '10 and Tyreek Duran '10 form a great junior backcourt, while Mustafa Jones '10 and Lamin Fulton '11 provide good depth. This is going to be a close game throughout, and both squads have a lot of talent, and a lot of depth.
Prediction- Pennwood by seven, 77-71 . . . The Patriots are more balanced and will win this one
Friday, 9:00pm EST- Chester (PA) vs. Roman Catholic (PA)
In another game that pits arguably the top Philly-area public school against arguably the best Philadelphia private school, there will be a pair of seniors who will staying local and heading to Big Five schools, one of whom will be playing on his future home turf. Big man Rahlir Jefferson '09 of Chester is headed to Temple, while point guard Maalik Wayns '09 of Roman Catholic (PA) is bound for Villanova. Unfortunately though, Wayns is out for the season and thus will not be playing. Jefferson is part of a talented Clippers squad that features players such as Dymere Crews '10, Laquan Robinson '10, Maurice Nelson '11 (Jameer Nelson's younger brother), Erikk Wright '12, and Kareem Robinson '12. Wayns' supporting cast is very good, and will need to be without him in the lineup. Koron Reed '09, Rakeem Brookins '10, football star Kevin Regan ’10, Anthony Mayo '10, and Andre Horne '12 are all gifted players. With Wayns, Roman Catholic probably has the advantage, but without him, it could be tough.
Prediction- Chester by eight, 69-61 . . . Without Wayns, Roman Catholic will struggle
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