Day 2 of the 2018 PIAA state championships here in Hershey, PA featured the Class 2A and Class 5A title games and these are some of the players who stood out in those contests today.
Keshaun Hammonds 6’0” ’20 Constitution HS – The term “a child shall lead them” probably doesn’t technically fit this scenario but on a team with some recruitable Senior guards (Damon Wall, Tyree Mitchell & Jahmir Marable-Williams) it was the Sophomore Hammonds who continually hit big shots to help the Generals maintain a lead that at one point was 14pts. But as is their custom, which must drive HC Rob Moore crazy, they build a lead then let the opponent close to within 3 or 4 then they sprint out again before repeating the process. But time after time Hammonds would get a key steal or knock down a timely 3 ball and the Con High faithful would let out a collective sigh of temporary relief till next time you know. Hammonds finished with 23pts 4 treys 3asts 5reb and 4stls in a well rounded performance that propelled the Generals to the programs 4th overall state title 81-71 over a very good Our Lady of the Sacred Heart HS squad which doesn’t have a senior on the roster. Hammonds has a feathery stroke that is deadly even beyond the arc and he can put it on the deck and blow buy a defender who gets a little too close. He also possesses a tight handle combined with great court vision and a steely demeanor on the defensive end this young man should garner plenty of attention on the recruiting front and just wait until he gets stronger to go with the quickness he already displays and the sky’s the limit.
Jabari Merritt 6’5” ’19 Constitution HS – Merritt who mans the painted area with 6’5” ’18 Leeron Wills-Worthy do a very good job together as they play different styles of basketball but seem to compliment each other nonetheless. For all intents and purposes though Merritt projects at a higher level due to his athleticism and talent level and it was on full display in Con High’s win over OLSH as he put up 18pts to go with 12reb and 5blks and if that wasn’t enough he added 3asts to his stat line too. He has excellent quickness in going after missed shots and he seems to instinctively know which way the ball is coming off the rim. He’s patient with the ball in the paint as well looking for his opening then blasting thru with a quick burst to the rim for a bucket or a trip to the charity stripe. His jump shot is still evolving but the signs are there for that to become a major weapon down the road and he is very good at the free throw line as in the state semi and final he drained 13-14 which is impressive. With his quickness and a bit of toughness that might be unexpected he has proven to be a solid defensive player which college coaches love. Merritt has the potential to draw plenty of college interest no question.
Austin Wigley 6’1” ’19 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart HS – The great thing about the State tourney is getting a chance to see some players that I have not seen before and Wigley was a very pleasant surprise with a cut college ready body and a good nose to get to the basket and put up numbers. While he is a bit undersized for play down low he kind of made up for it with his toughness and strength in getting to the basket and while he didn’t secure any rebounds his willingness to stick his nose in the mix was a trait that should endear him to college coaches especially in his home state PSAC conference. His shot looks really smooth as he finished 10-18 from the field and 2-6 from 3 for 25pts and and he played aggressive defense even against taller opponents adding 2blks and 2stls to his stat line. Wigley along with 6’3” Jr. Ricco Tate, 5’11” impressive freshman Dante Spadafora and injured 6’6” Soph Donovan Johnson I can see these guys making a repeat trip to Hershey next season and I’d be surprised if they didn’t.
George Tinsley 6’5” ’19 Abington Heights HS – This Jr. SF plays the game the right way and plays hard to the whistle as evidenced by his diving for a loose ball in the final minute of play with his team up 11pts as the Comets took home the Gold with a 67-55 Class 5A state title over the Fightin’ Planets of Mars Area HS proving to astronomer’s everywhere that a comet will come out on top of a planet every time. Of course all jokes aside this game was pretty even and if they played 10 times we might have to play an 11th to break the tie. Tinsley of course had his hand in everything it seemed and in the end they got just enough breaks to come out on top. He rebounds at a high level as he zeroes in on the ball and then explodes to the ball which is impressive since he is not what you would call a super athlete. I think this is misleading though as he is a basketball player and while coaches love those athletic guys it seems to me that basketball players make a ton of plays to help win games and on this night I’d suggest that Tinsley made more than a few of those. He finished with 29pts 9reb while adding 2 apiece of asts, blks & stls. He hit 11-14 from the field and while most came close to the basket he can finish in traffic and more importantly thru contact making him that much more valuable to his team. He battles on the defensive end as well using his strong frame to keep opponents from getting the advantage in the paint then he has the presence of mind to then box his man off to set up for a potential rebound. When the final horn sounds he’s a guy that would be welcome on my team any day.
Robby Carmody 6’4” ’18 Mars Area HS – Notre Dame commit – For Carmody the end of his fantastic HS career was no doubt bittersweet as the Fightin’ Planets fell short vs. Abington Heights