Boys basketball: Berks III team-by-team preview capsules
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Fleetwood Tigers
(PhilMarPhoto)
Coach: Terry Sitler, 12th season, 118-120.
Last season: 10-1 Berks III champ, 22-5 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA Classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2023/2023.
Key losses: All-Berks G/F Jake Karnish, F Braden Williams.
Top players: All-Division 5-11 Sr. G Aiden Soumas, all-division 5-11 Sr. PG Nate Herb.
Key players: 6-7 Sr. C Hunter Svoboda, 5-11 Sr. PG Liam Hilburt, 6-2 Sr. F Mason Musitano, 5-10 Soph. G Mason Senna, 6-2 Jr. F Caden Ryan, 6-1 Jr. F Chris Sandt.
Outlook: Replacing the program’s all-time scoring leader Jake Karnish (1,422 points) won’t be easy, if even possible, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers can’t make a run at a third straight division title. They’re well-stocked for a Three Peat. Last year’s No. 2 scorer Aiden Soumas, a Kutztown University baseball recruit, returns after averaging 13.6 points. Point guard and four-year starter Nate Herb, who will play college soccer, returns, though an elbow injury will keep him off the court for several weeks. William & Mary football recruit Hunter Svoboda, at 6-7, will tower over the rest of the division. All-League wide receiver Mason Musitano, another potential scholarship player, adds yet one more athlete and competitor to a seasoned lineup.
Wyomissing Spartans
(Philmarphoto)
Coach: Garrett Etzel, first season.
Last season: 5-6 league, 8-14 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA Classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2022/2021.
Key losses: F Ben Zechman, G Drew Eisenhower.
Top players: 6-0 Soph. G Danny Fleischood, 6-0 Jr. G Dylan Latourelle, 6-3 Sr. G/F Aiden Schippers, 5-11 Sr. G Alex Campbell.
Key players: 5-10 Sr. G Logan Hyde, 6-4 Sr. C Andrew Forrey, 5-9 Fr. G Justice Hardy, 6-2 Jr. F/C Birkley Ziegler, 6-2 Jr. C Max Tipton.
Outlook: Spartans took a big hit during football season when 6-4 Andrew Forrey broke his leg; Wyo’s only big won’t be back until mid-January. There’s still enough talent and scoring balance to get by until his return and enough athletes to force the action on the defensive end. Danny Fleischood is one of the top sophomores in the league and will impact the offensive end. Alex Campbell returns after leading the team in scoring, and with 39 3’s. Dylan Latourelle is back after hitting 30 shots from beyond the arc. And then there’s freshman Justice Hardy, who will make an impact with his speed and athleticism. Capable of making a run at division title.
Schuylkill Valley
(PhilMarPhoto)
Coach: Taylor Grim, 12th season, 116-129.
Last season: 8-3 league, 17-7 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance: 2021/2017.
Key loss: All-Division G Mark Rajnath.
Top players: 6-1 Jr. G Dominic Giuffre, 5-10 Soph. G Cooper Hohenadel,.
Key players: 6-1 Jr. G Kowen Gerner, 6-2 Jr. F Lucas Spotts, 6-0 Sr. G Jacob Zimmerman, 5-9 Sr. G Donovan Miley, 6-0 Sr. G Julian Kemmerer, 6-0 Sr. G Maddyx Dissinger, 6-0 Sr. G Drew McGonigle, 5-11 Soph. F Logan Cammauf, 5-10 Soph. G Derek Grim.
Outlook: The Panthers will be without their top long-rang shooter, Cooper Hohenadel, possibly until January after he fractured his elbow late in the football season. That will hurt an already thin rotation. All-Division guard Dominic Giuffre made big strides as a junior and continued in the summer, when he earned a spot on the West Reading All-Star team. Kowen Gerner, another top football player, is expected to take over at point guard and adds yet more athleticism to the lineup. Lucas Spotts, at 6-2, will be the tallest player in the lineup. Other than that very few other players saw much time last season.
Hamburg Hawks
(Rod James photography)
Coach: Will Wilson, first season.
Last season: 5-6 league, 10-12 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA Classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance: 2006/2000.
Key losses: All-Division F Xander Menapace, all-division G Kevin McFarland III.
Key players: 5-10 Sr. G Joe Martin, 6-3 Sr. F/C Braden Fetherolf, 6-1 Sr. F Jared Heck, 5-10 Jr. Tyler Shuey, 5-10 Sr. F Alex Bentz.
Outlook: Hawks are starting over after graduating a pair of all-division players, losing their top six players and their head coach. Ty Werley, who played in every game last season and averaged 6.7 points, broke his ankle late in the football season and is out; he would’ve been the leading return scorer. They head into the season with a roster that combined for all of three 3-pointers and two free throws last season.
