Simply put, I really love the Paul VI Panthers team. They are one of the top schools in the WCAC and watching them go to work is always a highlight for me. There is an energy, an ease and a sense of family in the gym. They enjoy each other and it’s obvious. This starts at the top with Coach Farello and the environment he creates. This year’s team is full of familiar faces, as the only key player the Panthers lost was point guard Aaron Thompson (Butler). But, that doesn’t mean that this year’s team may not struggle to find their identity early in the season. This PVI team is talented all the way through, but guys will be asked to step into roles that they haven’t been in before, and to me, that will decide the fate of this team. The player’s friendship, humor, chemistry and overall enjoyment while together on the court is palpable, even from the sidelines. When this team gets rolling they will be near unstoppable, but similar to DeMatha, with a lot of young talent, and new leaders, the key will be how they respond if things aren’t going well.
Villanova commit Brandon Slater is doing his best to pick up the leadership blueprint that Thompson left behind, but everyone knows he can’t do it alone. I’m very intrigued to see who steps up. As always, Paul VI has tremendous talent and I anticipate they will have a great year. Here are some of the players to keep an eye on:
Brandon Slater (Class of 2018)
There was no one like Slater in the gym last night, and honestly, there’s no one like Slater in any gym I’ve ever been in. On the court he is a freakishly long and athletic wing, who can score from almost anywhere with ease. And off the court, he is extremely outgoing and a great teammate, to say the least. Not only do I expect the Villanova commit to have a great year, he is my pick to take home the WCAC Player of the Year award. But, I also think he will use his senior year to train the younger talents in the program (Roach and Keels) how to truly be leaders, and they will learn from Slater, just like he learned from Thompson. Brandon Slater is a great overall asset to any team, and Paul VI is lucky to have him.
Jeremy Roach (Class of 2020)
After the star studded summer that Roach experienced, he is definitely coming back to Paul VI with his confidence at an all time high. After taking a trip to Argentina with the 16U USA Basketball team and capturing a gold medal (He told me it was his coolest basketball experience to date), playing a couple games two years up in the EYBL for Team Takeover, and he is being ranked as a five star recruit by nearly every recruiting service. It’s safe to say Jeremy Roach had a very successful summer. But, that didn’t stop him from improving his game, as he looked better than ever in the workout yesterday. He’s gotten taller, bigger, smarter and more confident. I’ve always admired how Roach never allows the speed of the game to get to him and that he always dictates his tempo. He continued to do that yesterday, while playing faster than I’ve ever seen him play before. Look for Roach to fill the gap at point guard and use his skill set, experience and IQ to guide him to a very successful year.
Josiah Freeman (Class of 2020)
The sophomore swingman is one of the players on this year’s Paul VI team that gets completely overlooked. Freeman is a pure scorer and a lights out shooter. He was very productive during his time on varsity last year, often putting up quick points in limited minutes. He will have guards such as Jeremy Roach and Miles Latimer to get him the ball in the right spot, so expect him to have a breakout year for PVI. Freeman is also only a sophomore, so get used to seeing the dynamic duo of Roach and Freeman in action, because they are here to stay for the next couple of years.
Miles Latimer (Class of 2018)
The Stony Brook commit is one of many great personalities on this team, and this year he has a new found confidence to go along with it. Latimer was a pleasant element of surprise for some people last year, as they didn’t expect him to impact the game as much as he did off the bench. But, that was just the start for the senior guard. Since playing key minutes for Paul VI last winter, Latimer has “caught his first body,” worked his way onto the EYBL Takeover team and played in high level events like the Peach Jam and The 8. And, he committed to play Division I basketball at Stony Brook. Latimer came back stronger, quicker and more aggressive, which are all great things for Coach Farello and the rest of the Panthers. Expect him to bring the same energy he did last year, and contribute like the starting guard they will be relying on him to be.
Trevor Keels (Class of 2021)
Another year, another stud freshman at Paul VI. The 6’3 guard already looked at home, and the thought of him in the same backcourt as Jeremy Roach for the next three years is scary. Keels can already play above the rim with the best of them, and proved that the speed of the game will be a relatively smooth transition for him. If there was a doubt about his game (which there aren’t many) it would be his shot making ability, and anyone in attendance yesterday, would have no choice but to dispute that. Paul VI doesn’t expect Keels to play like a freshman, and so far he’s done everything but play his age. So you would be kidding yourself if his age precluded you from expecting big things from him.
Jeremy Robinson (Class of 2018)
Last but certainly not least, the glue guy, Jeremy Robinson. The easiest way to describe the senior forward is as someone you would want to play with. Robinson is always hustling and giving his all for the team, not to mention his skill and touch in the low post. Shockingly, he only has one Division I offer, but I definitely expect that to change as the season progresses. I would flag him for college coaches as a guy to take a look at, I certainly liked what I saw on and off the court.
As I tweeted Wednesday, this Paul VI team is all heart, humor and hustle. Coach Farello is the best coach to be guiding, leading and shaping them into winners. His high standards as a head coach are exactly what this group will need as they strive to be champions. And, a special shout out and thank you to Coach for the awesome Paul VI gear and for always being so inclusive and welcoming.