Border Wars Part Deux: Maryland .vs. Pennsylvania
Words. HShoop
Very few places are producing high school players at the rate that Maryland and D.C. is right now. In the past few years they can claim prep legends Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. Pennsylvania is also a hot bed for high school talent. The city of brotherly love is known for their gritty, tough guards. This year they have another one in Maalik Wayns. Wayns is a rising senior at Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic high school and has already committed to play for Jay Wright at Villanova. If the two states went head-to-head with today’s talent, who would come out on top?
- Maryland
PG: Josh Selby 6-2 180 Jr. Dematha Catholic
SG: Naji Hibbert 6-5 180 Sr. Dematha Catholic (Texas A&M)
SF: Tristan Spurlock 6-6 215 Sr. Montrose Christian
PF: Terrell Vinson 6-7 195 Sr. Montrose Christian
C: Andrew Fitzgerald 6-7 240 Sr. Owings Mills HS
- Bench:
Roscoe Smith 6-7 F Jr. Wallbrock HS, Latavious Williams 6-7 Sr. Progressive Christian HS, Isaiah Armwood 6-7 F Sr. Montrose Christian, Dante Taylor 6-8 Sr. National Christian Academy, Rodney McGruder SG 6-4 Archbishop Carroll,
- Pennsylvania
PG: Maalik Wayns 6-0 175 Sr. Roman Catholic (Villanova)
SG: Jesse Morgan 6-4 175 Sr. Prep Charter
SF: Dalton Pepper 6-5 215 Sr. Pennsbury
PF: Aaric Murray 6-9 220 Sr. Glen Mills
C: Zeke Marshall 6-11 210 Sr. McKeesport Area SHS (Akron)
- Bench:
Tony Chenault 6-1 PG St. John Nuemann, Octavius Booker 6-5 F Jr. Friere Charter, Shaquille Duncan 6-7 Jr. C/F Prep Charter
- Guards:
This is a good match up, but it’s just unfair to Philly that the two guys they face are high school teammates at one of the more storied programs in the country. Selby is very active and a flat out scorer and he is going to get his points no matter what. But Wayns is a strong bodied and Selby would have a hard time keeping him out of the lane. Morgan can play both positions in the backcourt effectively, but he has a slight build which would present a problem for him with the Hibbert. Hibbert is a big two-guard for high school, he can shoot it and when he decides to take it to the rack, he is even more effective. The Advantage goes to Maryland by a slim margin.
- Forwards:
In a match up of the forwards Maryland has the athletic advantage. Spurlock and Vinson and are can grab a rebound and start the break on their own. On the other hand, Pepper is a strong small forward that excels in a half court game and Murray is a big bruiser in the post. Depending on what time of game it is either squad can gain the advantage of the forwards. But we have to think that this would be a high-tempo game with Selby and Hibbert in the back court. The Advantage goes to Maryland.
- Center:
The center match up goes to Pennsylvania. Marshall is still a work in progress but at 6-11 he can affect the game right now on the defensive end. Fitzgerald is a powerhouse but at 6-7 he is going to have major problems getting his shot off against Marshall.
- Bench:
Maryland also gets the nod between the two benches. They have so many athletes at the forward positions, something that Pennsylvania lacks, that eventually their athleticism will take over. Philly might have a slight advantage with Chenault off the bench, but they would be overmatched everywhere else.
- Verdict:
Maryland is producing players at a high rate right now, especially at the forward positions. Pennsylvania just doesn’t have the horses to run with the guys from MD and would eventually lose this game by double figures.
I think you forgot about a numer of philly players Dion Waiters top ten class of 2010,Micheal Gilchrist 2011 top 3 and your not mentioning none of the surrounding surburbs. Case in point 2009 top 15 lamar petterson. Its unfair to get the best players from the state of maryland and compare them against the city. Furthermore, ur trying to slant a one sided argument.
Those Philly guys all play in New Jersey and Waiters in Connecticut.