By Christian Mordi - @mordi_thecomeup on Twitter / @thecomeupradio on IG
Team: Pope John
Ranking: 14
Record Last season: 18-11, 9-0 in conference play
Key players: Samba Diallo, junior; Aaron Clarke, junior
Potential emerging stars: Jack Cavanaugh, sophomore
Team analysis: Pope John entered last year as a team poised to become a legit T.O.C. contender in 2016. In the off-season, highly touted recruits Atiba Taylor and Lou King transferred in. What was expected to be a match-made in heaven seemed to never come together fully. Atiba and Lou transferred out mid-season to new schools. Coach Hasson also left in the off-season to West Catholic Prep in Pennsylvania.
Pope John has bought in a new coach and revamped this off-season. Despite the loss of two division one prospects, the Lions are still stacked. Junior Aaron Clarke is set to lead the charge this year. In 2016, Clarke averaged 14 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds per game. Clarke plays with great tempo. The game seems to slow down when he has the ball in his hands. Junior Samba Diallo, if utilized properly has the potential to be one of the best juniors in the state. Diallo has had a monster summer on the circuit. He can play numerous positions and is a terror in transition. Be on the lookout for sophomore Jack Cavanaugh to have a much expanded role this year as well.
Pope John is known to play one of the most rigorous schedules in the state every year. They take pride in playing in the biggest tournaments and they do a great job at getting their players exposure. If Pope John can put it all together this year, they should be able to make some noise come tourney time.
Stat to know: Pope John was 9-0 in conference play in 2016.