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This season, thousands of players will run up and down the 94 feet that comprise collegiate basketball floors. Many will vie for titles while most will have to settle for the thrill of competition.
Numerous graduates of local high schools will use the next five months to do the area proud. Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., leads with 12; Prep Charter, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., boasts six; Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 Ritner St., counts three; South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., claims two; and Center City’s Roman Catholic High School, with Hawthorne native Malik Perry, rounds out the list.
Tony Chennault, Tyreek Duren, Mustafaa Jones and Danny Stewart capped successful careers at Neumann-Goretti by capturing the PIAA Class AAA state championships last March. Chennault has taken his game to Winston-Salem, N.C., where the Demon Deacon will look to run the point for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Wake Forest University. Duren’s deadly jumpshot trekked to Olney to assist La Salle University’s ascent in the Atlantic 10.
Jones brings his energy to the America Coast Conference as a shooting guard for the University of Hartford Hawks. As a Bronc, Stewart hopes to be an immediate inside presence for Lawrenceville, N.J.’s Rider University in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clashes.
Junior guard Jamal Wilson, a Neumann-Goretti graduate, will provide increased leadership for the A-10’s University of Rhode Island Rams. Junior Earl Pettis, a transfer from Camden’s Rutgers University and yet another Neumann-Goretti alumnus, will give the Explorers another scoring option.
Sophomore Andre “Scooter” Gillette impressed fans of Lewiston, N.Y.’s Niagra University last season. The Purple Eagles’ small forward and Neumann-Goretti graduate will look to enhance his game in MAAC action.
Rick Jackson and Antonio “Scoop” Jardine, the final boys’ Neumann-Goretti graduates, served as instrumental parts in Syracuse University’s run to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 last year when Junior Jardine earned The Sporting News’ National Sixth Man of the Year Award. Jackson is back for his final year and will anchor the Orange defense.
Prep Charter’s Marcus Morris looks to build on an excellent sophomore season for the Big 12’s University of Kansas Jayhawks.
Twin center Markieff Morris came off the bench last season. The team will look for him to guard the paint this season with his shot-blocking abilities. A member of last year’s America East Conference all-rookie team, forward Ferg Myrick is making a name for himself at The University of New Hampshire following a successful career at Prep Charter.
Junior forward Khiry Gordon played sparingly last season for New York City’s Fordham University. This season will bear a resemblance to last, as the GAMP product will come off the Rams’ bench in A-10 tilts.
The final GAMP alumnus, Stefan Thompson, of Reading’s Alvernia University, will have plenty of opportunities this year for the Crusaders. The junior will fight for more minutes and a possible starting role in Eastern College Athletic Conference play.
Freshman guard Shaquille Gaskins goes from being a Southern Ram to a Westchester Community College Viking as he drives to the cup for his Valhalla, N.Y. school. Fellow Southern alumnus Ramone Moore will look to lead the Temple University Owls’ perimeter attack. The Associated Press ranked the A-10 team No. 21 in its preseason poll, and the team will need the junior guard’s contributions dearly.
Malik Perry will try to end a 10-year NCAA Tournament drought for the Ball State University Cardinals. The Muncie, Ind. squad will use his bulk to overpower Mid-American Conference foes.
Forward Gloria Brown leads a trio of Neumann-Goretti female graduates. She comes to The University of Texas at El Paso after time at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. She will look to add her name to the state’s athletic legacy when she competes against Conference USA’s best.
Jasmine Daniels will strive to finish her career with a bang at Daytona Beach, Fla.’s Bethune-Cookman University. The guard led her team in assists last year, cementing her role on the Wildcats’ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference squad.
Freshman Michaila Hatty of Maryland’s Washington College will look find her spot on a young roster. The undersized forward will wield her toughness on the defensive side and help the Division III Shorewomen excel in Centennial Conference games.
Freshman forward LaShay Banks became Prep Charter’s first female athlete to sign a Division I scholarship last May. She will be competing for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in the Big East Conference, where she will bump with top competition. Guard Raven Jones, another Prep Charter standout, will grace Clarion University of Pennsylvania’s Golden Eagles with her skills. The freshman will look to prove that youth can quickly mature.
Sydney Mallory, another Prep Charter baller, will aim for the same for the Bloomsburg University Huskies, a member of PSAC’s East league. ■
Review Intern Alvaro Balderas contributed to this article.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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