Big Apple Rules Philly vs. New York All-City Classic
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The top names in New York City basketball took their talents to Philadelphia last weekend to compete in the Philly vs. New York All-City Classic, an annual All-Star event that pits the best of the best from both rival cities against each other. The two-day event, played at Imhotep Charter and Benjamin Franklin High School, featured nationally ranked players from grades 8 to 12.
Senior guards Isaiah Washington '17 and Jose Alvarado '17 headlined team New York’s in the 2017 game, facing off against Neumann Goretti duo Quade Green '17 and Dhamir Cosby-Roundree, both of whom are top-100 prospects. Markquis Nowell '18 was crowned MVP in the 2018 game following a 16-point performance, and then suited up for the senior game.
Alvarado, fresh off his verbal commitment to Georgia Tech, scored a team-high 15 points and won MVP as New York beat Philly 81-76 in the marquee game of the tournament. Washington and Green were the headlining matchup heading into the game and although they didn’t spend too much time matched up one-on-one, they still put on a show for the packed gymnasium crowd with the Washington, who recently pledged to Minnesota, dropping 14 points, while the hometown point guard scored a game-high 16 in an MVP-outing.
Nowell added 12 points while spending some time matched up against Green, which has been a long time coming.
“He’s like a mentor, a big brother to me,” Nowell said of his relationship with the Philly floor general. “We was talking, it started a few months back, he was like I can’t guard him, so I had to guard him today.”
The recruiting process has taken off for the Bishop Loughlin guard, who said he’s been in contact with several big-name programs across the country, which include California, Louisville, Michigan, and Syracuse, in addition to Rutgers and Seton Hall.
He doesn’t plan to take any more visits at the moment after a trip to Seton Hall earlier this month, which he said went good. “I actually liked it,” Nowell added, “It had nice campus and they treated me well so it’s good.”
Iona Prep junior guard Bryce Wills '18 and Precious Achiuwa '19 of Our Savior Lutheran both showcased why they’re some of the prospects not only in the region but nationwide. After falling behind early in the 2019 game, Achiuwa scored 9 of his 15 points in the third quarter before Wills broke away for 10 fourth-quarter points, including the go-ahead buckets in the waning moments of a 62-59 New York win.
Wills has seen his national profile rise over the past few months, playing with the PSA Cardinals on the AAU circuit. The 6-foot-5 guard is still taking the recruiting process slow as things fall into place.
“My summer has been crazy, a whole bunch of offers all summer, from Maryland, UCONN, Wake Forest, St. John’s,” he said after his 14-point performance. “Pretty much everybody’s in equal contact. I’m not making my decision anytime soon, so I just want to see how it plays out.”