Five Players to Watch in Berks III boys basketball
Nevin Carter
Wyomissing
The Spartans are hoping to be a defense-first team, and it all starts with their post guy, senior Nevin Carter. He’s been a stellar shutdown cornerback for the football team for three seasons and will play the same key role this winter, protecting the rim, guarding opposing bigs and working the boards.
“He’s 6-4 and as athletic as can be,” said Spartans coach Ryan Ludwig. “He’ll be a problem with most team’s bigs, with how athletic he is around the basket. And when he runs the floor, we just throw it up to him.”
Carter averaged 6.8 points per game last season and is expected to expand his offensive game.
Jake Karnish
Fleetwood
Karnish may have the most well-rounded game of any player in the division. The 6-1 junior has an inside-outside game and a knack for scoring.
“He’s probably the best all-around player I’ve ever had,” said Tigers coach Terry Sitler. “He dunks, runs the floor, handles it well. He’s a 3 (small forward), but can play the 1 or 2 (guard spots).”
Karnish led the Tigers in scoring a year ago, averaging 13.9 points — tops among returning Berks III players. He also led the team with 23 3-pointers in 19 games and shot 78.2 percent from the foul line, among the best in the county.
“He’s our best outside shooter, and our best offensive rebounder,” Sitler said. “He’s always around the ball. He has an instinct for the game.”
Karnish had a career-high 28 points last season against Salisbury, hitting 11-of-14 from the foul line.
He started as a freshman, averaging 7.7 points.
Xander Menapace
Hamburg
Menapace will be a nightmare match-up for his Berks III opponents. He’s 6-4 and big enough to play inside effectively but has point guard skills and a deft shooting touch.
“He really creates mismatches,” said Hawks coach Nick Evangelista. “If they use a small guard to defend him, he can take it in the post. If they put a big on him he can take it outside.”
Menapace averaged a team-leading 11.8 points last season, shot 70.8 percent from foul line and knocked down 13 3’s in nine games before his season was ended by a broken wrist.
The injury kept him from playing basketball throughout the spring and summer but he recovered in time to have a productive season at quarterback, finishing as the third-ranked passer in Berks and leading the Hawks to their first district playoff victory.
Julian O’Brien
Wyomissing
O’Brien took his game to a different level last season, and after a big summer season (he earned All-Star recognition in the West Reading Summer League) he’s expected to take another leap forward. The Spartans need him to after they graduated their top three scorers. The 5-11 senior point guard will now be the focus of the offense.
“He’s shooting the ball at a really high rate, and he’s finishing inside craftily,” said Spartans coach Ryan Ludwig. “He’s on another level from last year; he’s shooting the ball with confidence.”
O’Brien averaged 8.5 points as a junior, made 11 3’s in 16 games and shot 77.1 percent from the foul line.
Will Ryan
Fleetwood
A strong season as a defensive end and tight end could lead to better things on the court for Ryan. He averaged 8.6 points as a junior but is playing with more confidence this year says his coach, Terry Sitler.
“I’m looking for him to dominate the boards and get out and run,” Sitler said. “He’s going to beat all the other big men (in our division) down the floor.”
The 6-5 Ryan is strong and athletic and will provide the Tigers with a solid post presence. He has a nice touch from the outside but knows his team needs him in the paint.
“He has good post moves, a good left hand,” said Sitler. “He loves playing inside; he likes the contact.”
Other key players to watch in Berks III:
- Nate Herb, 5-8 sophomore G, Fleetwood
- Kevin McFarland, 6-3 junior G, Hamburg
- Luke Seymour, 6-4 senior F, Schuylkill Valley
- Aiden Soumas, 5-11 sophomore G/F, Fleetwood
- Amory Thompson, 6-0 senior F/G, Wyomissing
