Boys basketball rankings 2016-17
1. St. Elizabeth: This could be Jordan Money's great chance to get a state championship in his last year. They have a new coach, and coaching staff. They will have new philosophy and a different approach to how they will play this year. They lost 3 seniors from last year and come back with possibly 6 seniors to lead this team. Along with a couple talented incoming freshman they could have the most balance team with a solid bench. Inside presence and chemistry with new coach and new system could be an issue.
2. Mount Pleasant: The year’s most athletic team comes back with a balance attack. This team met every expectations last year. Losing in the tournament to the eventual state champions they are looking to win it this year. It will be hard Losing 7 seniors and primary guard Raheem Burnett. This year’s team will have to make up for his lost. They have replaced the talent with transfer guards Famir Ali from Sallies, and Niger Hodges from William Penn. Along with the players they already seem to be the second favorite and the most athletic team. to get to the championship, but it will come down to their guard play and ball control of get there guards
3. St. Georges: This team made big noise last year, even after they lost an essential piece during the season. This team will lose 5 seniors from last year, but they have break out player and this year senior Kyson Rawls. Sophomore Nah'Shon Hyland had a great summer and will look to continue that during the school year. Last year’s runner-up’s will look to use their experience to get back there. The only weakness will be if they have a bench to get them back to the state championship.
4. St. Thomas More: They made it to the elite 8 in the tournament last year. They have taken the right step to continue grow and make a good run this year to the state title. With potentially 8 seniors coming back being led by Elias Revelle and Aaron Scott this could be there best chance to make a run. Guard play could be there only weakness.
5. Smyrna: This team intrigues me. One paper they look like a mirror image of Appo. They too have size, speed, and a solid bench to contend. They are led by Caleb Matthews, and Jaymeir Garnett. And three players over 6’5 that have transferred in that will make and immediate impact. If these players are truly what the hype is about and the rest of the team can buy into defense and a team concept they can put scare deep into the playoffs.
6. Sanford: The youth movement has begun for this year’s team. They lose 6 seniors and do it all guard Mikey Dixon from last year’s state championship team. I would say they are rebuilding but they will somehow find a way to get back to being dominate with Stan Waterman at the helm. The future of the team will be around freshmen Devin Harris, Corey Perkins, and Jyare Davis. Not seeing a state championship with this team, but they have plenty of experience to get back there and be competitive. The issues will be strong enough experience, bench help, and consistent inside scoring.
7. Sallies: There is so much to say about this team. I feel they under achieved based on the amount of talent they had last year. Internal issues could of affected how this team played. But they were still effective through the whole year and then losing in the second round in the tournament. They have plenty of size and youth led by Tariq Ingraham. They lost two top young guards to transfers and will hope to be able to recover from there lost. This team has so much size for a program in the state of Delaware. There big issue will be trying use that size and talent to compliment the entire teams play in order to have a successful season. Consistent guard play will be a big issue.
8. Caravel: This team kind of went under the radar. With having so many years not being relevant, they are starting to take the baby step to be back in the for state titles again. Last year’s team lost in the first. But there coming back a little better than last year. The offense centered around Okoye Parker. If rumors are correct they will have a transferred guard names Trevon Alderman from sallies that will make an immediate impact. They also have some legitimate size to go with these key additions. They will have a enough fire power to stay in the top 15 and go deep into the playoffs. There only weakness will be a real inside presence on both ends of the floor to contain the middle.
9. Newark: Newark has always had great guards in there program. This year they have the luxury of having an abundance of them. Two most notably are the turner brothers from Howard that have transferred in to go along with guards this team already had. Offense won't be a problem, scoring won't be a problem. Defense could be a big problem. And making sure they play team offense.
10. Cape Henlopen: They looked really good last year during the regular season picking into the top ten. They got into the first round where they faced Newark High school who had the same record. Newark moved on but you could see the baby steps to getting better. They have great size with 6'5 forward Randy Rickards, and 6'6 guard/forward Ian Robertson. They will continue to be competitive with their size. But losing 4 seniors that handled some the ball controlling responsibilities will be an issue.
The next 7
11. William penn: William penn will be hurting. They lost 5 seniors to last year’s team and a significant amount of offense and defense. Rumors of a sizable transfer student from sallies will be an immediate help with his size and experience.
12. Delcastle: Losing 9 seniors will hurt this team. They made a great run last year. It will be different this year. This could be a rebuilding year or two for this program.
13. Dover: Jordan Allen is gone. And what remains is a team that will begin to form a new identity. Not sure if #13 they will stay.
14. Woodbridge: There are a lot of people high on this team. I'm not sure they are going to make a run this like everyone thinks. They may beat up on the down state teams until they face an upstate team in the playoffs.
15. Appo: Rumored key offensive player for this team has transferred out. If this is so they will miss his production and his ability to give his teammates open shots because of the offensive attention he drew. They still have pieces to compete and defense will be there main focus. They will struggle offensively. The only weakness will be chemistry and if the coach can get them to buy into a team concept.
16. Glasgow: They lost two seniors from last year’s team, and they are looking to be a little more balanced. Most of their offense was behind Devon Earl who quietly made a name for himself as the season moved on. By the end of the season everyone knew who this kid was. Rumor has it that there is another guard that will be on the roster this year and should help give a balanced attack for the dragons. Not seeing them crack the top ten. But they could slip into the playoffs and have a solid showing.
17. Concord: They lose 4 seniors from last year’s team. They still have some size to compete. They fared well last year losing to the state champion runner ups in double overtime in the second round. They will have a lot more seniors this years, so the experience should get them to move up from this spot a make the playoffs. It will come down to their guard play and ability to defend the basket.
End of the year prediction: This year is tough. There was so much moving around of players and rumors of what schools was getting who it felt like the NBA free agency. But it looks like St. Elizabeth and Mount Pleasant have the combination of talent, size and the most experience. Not sure how the new coach will do with the talent at St. Elizabeth. Mount Pleasant is primed to be the first public school to win a state chip in some time if they can sure up there guards. And Stan waterman will have to do wonders to get his team to buy into strong team play until those young guys get some experience. St. Georges and Sallies will also be in the hunt this year as well. Sorry guys if there was a down state teams that has a shot it would St. Thomas More and Smyrna.
Freshman player impact: Obviously the biggest freshman impact will be Jyare Davis of Sanford. With Mikey Dixon gone he and Devin Harris are the future of this team. Hassan Perkins at Tatnall has had a great summer. Look to see him have good numbers this year. Others that had good summer Nasir Brown who is at St. Elizabeth. Javon Peace, and Jahkeish Demby.
Updated 10/4
1. St. Elizabeth: This could be Jordan Money's great chance to get a state championship in his last year. They have a new coach, and coaching staff. They will have new philosophy and a different approach to how they will play this year. They lost 3 seniors from last year and come back with possibly 6 seniors to lead this team. Along with a couple talented incoming freshman they could have the most balance team with a solid bench. Inside presence and chemistry with new coach and new system could be an issue.
2. Mount Pleasant: The year’s most athletic team comes back with a balance attack. This team met every expectations last year. Losing in the tournament to the eventual state champions they are looking to win it this year. It will be hard Losing 7 seniors and primary guard Raheem Burnett. This year’s team will have to make up for his lost. They have replaced the talent with transfer guards Famir Ali from Sallies, and Niger Hodges from William Penn. Along with the players they already seem to be the second favorite and the most athletic team. to get to the championship, but it will come down to their guard play and ball control of get there guards
3. St. Georges: This team made big noise last year, even after they lost an essential piece during the season. This team will lose 5 seniors from last year, but they have break out player and this year senior Kyson Rawls. Sophomore Nah'Shon Hyland had a great summer and will look to continue that during the school year. Last year’s runner-up’s will look to use their experience to get back there. The only weakness will be if they have a bench to get them back to the state championship.
4. St. Thomas More: They made it to the elite 8 in the tournament last year. They have taken the right step to continue grow and make a good run this year to the state title. With potentially 8 seniors coming back being led by Elias Revelle and Aaron Scott this could be there best chance to make a run. Guard play could be there only weakness.
5. Smyrna: This team intrigues me. One paper they look like a mirror image of Appo. They too have size, speed, and a solid bench to contend. They are led by Caleb Matthews, and Jaymeir Garnett. And three players over 6’5 that have transferred in that will make and immediate impact. If these players are truly what the hype is about and the rest of the team can buy into defense and a team concept they can put scare deep into the playoffs.
6. Sanford: The youth movement has begun for this year’s team. They lose 6 seniors and do it all guard Mikey Dixon from last year’s state championship team. I would say they are rebuilding but they will somehow find a way to get back to being dominate with Stan Waterman at the helm. The future of the team will be around freshmen Devin Harris, Corey Perkins, and Jyare Davis. Not seeing a state championship with this team, but they have plenty of experience to get back there and be competitive. The issues will be strong enough experience, bench help, and consistent inside scoring.
7. Sallies: There is so much to say about this team. I feel they under achieved based on the amount of talent they had last year. Internal issues could of affected how this team played. But they were still effective through the whole year and then losing in the second round in the tournament. They have plenty of size and youth led by Tariq Ingraham. They lost two top young guards to transfers and will hope to be able to recover from there lost. This team has so much size for a program in the state of Delaware. There big issue will be trying use that size and talent to compliment the entire teams play in order to have a successful season. Consistent guard play will be a big issue.
8. Caravel: This team kind of went under the radar. With having so many years not being relevant, they are starting to take the baby step to be back in the for state titles again. Last year’s team lost in the first. But there coming back a little better than last year. The offense centered around Okoye Parker. If rumors are correct they will have a transferred guard names Trevon Alderman from sallies that will make an immediate impact. They also have some legitimate size to go with these key additions. They will have a enough fire power to stay in the top 15 and go deep into the playoffs. There only weakness will be a real inside presence on both ends of the floor to contain the middle.
9. Newark: Newark has always had great guards in there program. This year they have the luxury of having an abundance of them. Two most notably are the turner brothers from Howard that have transferred in to go along with guards this team already had. Offense won't be a problem, scoring won't be a problem. Defense could be a big problem. And making sure they play team offense.
10. Cape Henlopen: They looked really good last year during the regular season picking into the top ten. They got into the first round where they faced Newark High school who had the same record. Newark moved on but you could see the baby steps to getting better. They have great size with 6'5 forward Randy Rickards, and 6'6 guard/forward Ian Robertson. They will continue to be competitive with their size. But losing 4 seniors that handled some the ball controlling responsibilities will be an issue.
The next 7
11. William penn: William penn will be hurting. They lost 5 seniors to last year’s team and a significant amount of offense and defense. Rumors of a sizable transfer student from sallies will be an immediate help with his size and experience.
12. Delcastle: Losing 9 seniors will hurt this team. They made a great run last year. It will be different this year. This could be a rebuilding year or two for this program.
13. Dover: Jordan Allen is gone. And what remains is a team that will begin to form a new identity. Not sure if #13 they will stay.
14. Woodbridge: There are a lot of people high on this team. I'm not sure they are going to make a run this like everyone thinks. They may beat up on the down state teams until they face an upstate team in the playoffs.
15. Appo: Rumored key offensive player for this team has transferred out. If this is so they will miss his production and his ability to give his teammates open shots because of the offensive attention he drew. They still have pieces to compete and defense will be there main focus. They will struggle offensively. The only weakness will be chemistry and if the coach can get them to buy into a team concept.
16. Glasgow: They lost two seniors from last year’s team, and they are looking to be a little more balanced. Most of their offense was behind Devon Earl who quietly made a name for himself as the season moved on. By the end of the season everyone knew who this kid was. Rumor has it that there is another guard that will be on the roster this year and should help give a balanced attack for the dragons. Not seeing them crack the top ten. But they could slip into the playoffs and have a solid showing.
17. Concord: They lose 4 seniors from last year’s team. They still have some size to compete. They fared well last year losing to the state champion runner ups in double overtime in the second round. They will have a lot more seniors this years, so the experience should get them to move up from this spot a make the playoffs. It will come down to their guard play and ability to defend the basket.
End of the year prediction: This year is tough. There was so much moving around of players and rumors of what schools was getting who it felt like the NBA free agency. But it looks like St. Elizabeth and Mount Pleasant have the combination of talent, size and the most experience. Not sure how the new coach will do with the talent at St. Elizabeth. Mount Pleasant is primed to be the first public school to win a state chip in some time if they can sure up there guards. And Stan waterman will have to do wonders to get his team to buy into strong team play until those young guys get some experience. St. Georges and Sallies will also be in the hunt this year as well. Sorry guys if there was a down state teams that has a shot it would St. Thomas More and Smyrna.
Freshman player impact: Obviously the biggest freshman impact will be Jyare Davis of Sanford. With Mikey Dixon gone he and Devin Harris are the future of this team. Hassan Perkins at Tatnall has had a great summer. Look to see him have good numbers this year. Others that had good summer Nasir Brown who is at St. Elizabeth. Javon Peace, and Jahkeish Demby.
Updated 10/4
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