Boys basketball: Berks II team-by-team preview capsules
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Berks Catholic Saints
(PhilMarPhoto)
PIAA Classification: 4A.
Coach: Snip Esterly, 13th season, 250-84 (792-217 overall, including 22 seasons at Central Catholic).
Last season: 9-3 league, 23-5 overall, District 3 Class 4A champ.
Schedule: Click here.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2023/2023.
Key losses: All-Berks F Ryan Koch, all-division G Josiah Jordan, G Jack Miller.
Top players: All-Division 6-3 Sr. C/F Josh McKoy, 6-2 Soph. G Kingston McKoy.
Key players: 6-2 Sr. F Parker Nein, 6-2 Sr. C Javen Diaz, 6-0 Sr. F Elijah Komoro, 5-9 Sr. G Armanni Dominguez, 5-6 Soph. G Brady Altimar, 5-11 Jr. G Zach Suski.
Outlook: The two-time defending District 3 champion Saints will look a lot different this year, that’s for sure. Gone is their all-time leading scorer, Josiah Jordan, who set the tone on both ends of the floor for the last three-plus season. Gone are outside snipers Ryan Koch and Jack Miller. There’s plenty left, including what may be the best duo in the league, brothers Josh and Kingston McKoy. They’ll score, defend, and rebound and, if Parker Nein can step up into a top scoring role, give their team a chance to wrest back control of the division and challenge for league and district titles.
Exeter Eagles
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Kevin VanGorder, first season.
Last season: 10-2 Berks II champ, 27-7 overall, District 3 Class 5A champ.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 5A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2023/2023.
Key losses: All-Berks C Anthony Caccese, All-Berks PG Zyion Paschall.
Top players: All-Division 6-3 Sr. F Reece Garvin, All-Division 6-3 Sr. G Kevin Saenz,
Key players: 6-3 Soph. F Aidan Dauble, 5-11 Sr. PG Alex Kelsey, 6-2 Jr. G Brady Murray, 6-0 soph. G Jayden Ware, 5-11 Sr. G Nevon Nester, 6-0 Jr. G Carter Redding, 5-10 Jr. G Aidan Magee, 6-3 Jr. F Tyler Flanders.
Outlook: Eagles are in a definite transition period, what with the loss of two All-Berks picks, three starters and head coach Matt Ashcroft, who quickly built a winning culture in the program. Even with the return of two of the league’s top players in Kevin Saenz and Reece Garvin and five of the eight pieces from the postseason rotation it looks like a hard re-start because of the coaching change. Key bench pieces Aidan Dauble and Alex Kelsey are more than ready to step into key roles. They won’t have a big guy to fall back on as they did the past two years with Anthony Caccese so they may have to get more out of the transition game and their defense. Definite contender for division and league titles.
Conrad Weiser Scouts
(PhilMarPhoto)
Coach: Mike Dooley, first season.
Last season: 3-9 league, 7-15 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA Classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2021/2018.
Key losses: None.
Top players: All-Division 6-0 Jr. G Donovan Gingrich, 5-10 Jr. G Brady McKee.
Key players: 6-4 Jr. F Josh Plummer, 5-10 Jr. G Alex Malone, 6-3 Jr. G/F Gavin Rapp, 6-2 Jr. G James Arnold, 5-7 Soph. G Kaiden Leonard, 5-8 G Brayden Sweitzer, 5-11 Jr. G Logan Werner.
Outlook: With all of their top scorers back the Scouts should be able to close the gap on the division leaders and move closer to .500, and possibly a district playoff bid. No team in the league will have more backcourt firepower: Donovan Gingrich and Brady McKee combined for 115 3-pointers as sophomores. Developing post man Josh Plummer will add balance and there are several young players ready to step up. There won’t be a senior in the rotation, never a positive. Of course that also means the team should return intact for 2024-25.
Twin Valley Raiders
Coach: Matt Herbener, second season, 4-18.
Last season: 3-8 league, 4-18 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA Classification: 5A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2012/1995.
Key losses: All-Division F Kannon Zdimal, PG Josh Phillips.
Top player: 5-11 Jr. G Evan Myers.
Key players: 5-11 Jr. Soph. G Evan Johnson, 6-2 Jr. G/F Matt Knight, 6-2 Jr. G Kooper Zdimal, 6-7 Jr. C Riley Gray, 5-10 Jr. G Carter Schmidt, 6-4 Jr. G Aris Drake, 5-11 Fr. G Lucas Myers, 6-4 Sr. F Zaire Wimbush.
Outlook: Raiders, with just one senior and two returning starters, are still playing catch-up in a top-heavy division. Return starter Evan Myers hit 27 3-pointers as a sophomore but there’s no one in sight right now capable of taking over the scoring load of graduated Kannon Zdimal, who went for 16.8 points a game last season and was one of the league’s top 3-point shooters. Extended football run could lead to slow opening month, what with most of the key players getting a late start. Still a building program.
Daniel Boone Blazers
Coach: Craig Tranovich, fourth season, 5-56.
Last season: 0-12 league, 3-19 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 5A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2010/2010.
Key loss: C Mason Sacarello.
Top player: 6-2 Jr. G Brendan Gaines.
Key players: 6-1 Jr. G Matt DiGiacomo, 5-9 Sr. G Tyson Pinchok, 6-1 Jr. F Harrison Delissaint, 6-4 Sr. C Kevin Rodriguez-Guzman, 5-9 Soph. G Noah Sherman, 6-2 Soph. Gavin Welker, 6-4 Sr. C Bryan Allinson, 6-2 Soph. G Freddy Lacy.
Outlook: Blazers should be able to snap 26-game league losing streak and move up in the division after returning all but one player from last season. Brendan Gaines is the top returning scorer in the league after averaging 15.5 points and knocking down 45 shots from beyond the arc. Matt DiGiacomo and Gavin Welker could also be outside threats. Tyson Pinchok returns as point guard for a second straight season. Harrison Delissaint adds athleticism but the start of his season will be delayed by an elbow injury.