Exeter’s Anthony Caccese named Wyomissing PT Player of the Week
Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
Exeter’s most effective weapon during its run to the District 3 Class 5A championship was 6-6 senior Anthony Caccese, a lineman-sized center who can move around the basket, establish strong position in the low post and convert shots at a high rate.
“He’s just a blessing to have,” said teammate Kevin Saenz.
Caccese scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the district championship game, leading Exeter to a 67-53 victory over top-seeded Manheim Central and earning Wyomissing Physical Therapy Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.
Caccese hit 8-of-9 shots and scored 16 points in the first half, helping Exeter to a 32-23 lead that grew to 19 at one point in the fourth quarter.
“He was getting great post position,” said teammate Reece Garvin. “As soon as I saw that, (I thought): ‘Why not dump it down to the big guy.’ He has height over everyone, weight over everyone. You get him the ball down there, 90 percent of the time it’s going in.”
Caccese was dominant during the district run, averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds over the four games. He shot 71 percent from the field, converting 32-of-45 shots.
Over seven postseason games, including three in the league playoffs, Caccese is averaging 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds, with five double-doubles.
He’s shooting 70.2 percent from the field. He matched his career high with 27 points against Berks Catholic in the league semifinals.
“He’s a beast,” Eagles coach Matt Ashcroft said of Caccese after the win over Manheim Central.
Caccese came up big for the Eagles in the postseason last year.
He scored 19 points in a Berks quarterfinal win over Wilson, 19 in a District 3 Class 5A win over Milton Hershey and 16 in a state tournament loss at Chester.
For the season he’s averaging a team-leading 13.3 points.
The championship gave the All-Berks center gold medals in two sports: He was a top lineman on Exeter’s District 3 Class 5A championship football in 2021.
“It’s awesome to make history for our school, to get the first district ‘chip,” he said.
Caccese, an All-State lineman, is committed to play football at th University of Delaware. He was selected for the Big 33 Classic last month. He was named Lineman of the Week in football last season after a strong performance in a 44-22 win at Hempfield.
Caccese was also named Wyomissing Phyical Therapy Player of the Week in February after scoring a career-high 27 points in a win over Berks Catholic.
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also considered for Wyomissing Physical Therapy Player of the Week:
- Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Madyx Gruber, Wilson
- Javon Hollis, Antietam
- Josiah Jordan, Berks Catholic
- Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Ryan Koch, Berks Catholic
- Jay’Daniel Mosquera, Muhlenberg
- Zyion Paschall, Exeter
- Aris Rodriguez, Reading High
Players selected earlier this season:
- Dec. 12: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Dec. 19: Mark Rajnath, Schuylkill Valley
- Dec. 26: Ryan Koch, Berks Catholic
- Jan. 2: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan 9: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 16: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Jan. 23: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 30: Aiden Soumas, Fleetwood
- Feb. 6: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- Feb. 13: Cooper Hohenadel, Schuylkill Valley
- Feb. 20: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 27: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
Players selected last season:
- Dec. 20: Matt Harley, Gov. Mifflin
- Dec. 27: Colin Payne, Exeter
- Jan. 3: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 10: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan. 17: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Jan. 24: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 31: Julian O’Brien, Wyomissing
- Feb. 7: Xavier Goodman, Kutztown
- Feb. 14: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Feb. 21: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 28: Hector Tiburcio, Antietam
- March 7: Joey Chapman, Reading High
