A league deep and strong

Savon Goodman (front) and Malcolm Gilbert, underclassmen at the Academy of New Church, are on the radar of recruiters. Photo by Charles Fox

A league deep and strong
Friends Schools offer top talent.
By Keith Pompey

Inquirer Staff Writer

When it comes to Friends Schools League basketball, the words talent and parity now apply.
“The perception when I came in was that the league was very weak,” said Kevin Givens, a 14-year coach at the Academy of the New Church.

Another perception was that Abington Friends or Friends Central always ran away with the title.

But this season, the Academy of the New Church and Westtown both have legitimate shots to win the title. And those schools, along with Shipley and George School, are also starting to become hotbeds for young talent.

“It’s not the Philadelphia Catholic League,” Westtown coach Seth Berger said, “but it’s not what it used to be.”

Givens went a step further in giving a comparison to other leagues.

“Back in the day, it was always the Public League, Catholic League and the Inter-Ac,” said Givens, who played at Academy of the New Church in 1980. “I think we can compete with the Inter-Ac with our teams this year.”