AFS Varsity Boys Basketball is starting the 2024-25 season strong but with four wins and four losses. The team would win the four games against AIM Academy, La Salle College High School, Mastery Charter North, and Audenreid, but would lose the other four games to four very tough teams; some even considered the best teams in the state. The four losses would be to Penn Charter, Westtown, George School, and Dobbins. Despite the losses, there are a lot of positives to come from the first games.
The season is still early with plenty of tough teams for the team to face, but the energy feels different this year compared to others.
I believe the 2024-25 season has the potential to be a great season for the boys this year, so much so that we could see the team making their way to the Friends School League (FSL) playoffs. It will not be easy, especially since the FSL has some of the top teams in the area, but the team is on the rise and seems to be progressing each day.
On top of progression, the chemistry the team has is unique and is a key strong suit of the team.
Assistant Coach Nick Dagget is new to the program this year but has a long background of coaching with teams in the area like Friends Central, West Catholic, and Imhotep. Dagget has had a big impact on the shift in energy this year.
I asked Dagget what is special about this team’s chemistry that will help them be successful.
Dagget said, “It’s evident that the guys on the team enjoy playing with each other. We developed a mantra: ‘Us Never Them!’ The guys enjoy the success of one another as well. Always cheering and anticipating to see the next man win. These attitudes and habits will help them be successful because they build good merit, camaraderie, and confidence in every guy.”
Dagget would not be the only person on the team to feel this rise in energy and chemistry. Guard Zamir Parker-Barnes ‘25 feels the bond this year is different from the bond last season.
I talked with Parker-Barnes about what he feels is different this season compared to last season.
Parker-Barnes said, “The bond and the way we play for each other, I feel like the chemistry and the way we are off the court. I also feel like we understand our roles as players and what we bring to the table for the team.”
The team went into this season losing two seniors from last season who played big roles in the program for a while, but the team welcomed many new players this year. Guard Rob Spruill ‘26 has been a key defender and finisher. Guard Andrew Lyn Jr. ‘27 has been great for the flow of the offense but also hustles and puts pressure on opponents. Guard Chase Miller ‘26 snatches up rebounds and will hit contested shots. Guard Trey Whitworth ‘28 will knock down threes.
With so many new players, it is important to make sure everyone connects and hopefully gets close to one another. So far, it seems that that has not been an issue for the team.
I had a chance to talk to Spruill, who transferred from Roman Catholic about what he felt was special about the team and the AFS community.
Spruill said, “Coming into AFS, I was welcomed into the team with open arms. I feel like from our first workouts, I meshed well with the group, so it was an easy transition.”
Many might think since the team has not made the FSL playoffs in some time that the team or program lacks talent, but that is not the case at all. The team plays day in and day out, from weekends to weeknights, and both in and out of school. The program has had many players in the last years who have gone on to play collegiate basketball in a variety of divisions.
The lack of playoff appearances in the last couple of seasons might not have been a talent issue, but maybe it was more of a struggle with chemistry or people not being on the same page.
Jason Green ‘25 has not only been at AFS his whole life but is the only person left on the team who has played for all four years of his time in high school. He has seen many teams at AFS come and go, but this group in particular, he feels is different.
I got a chance to speak with Green about what he felt was different this season.
Green said, “I feel like this is the first time in four years where I can confidently say that everyone on the team is working toward one goal and no one is focused on their success over the team’s.”
That is an interesting point Green makes about previous teams, maybe having players focus on their own success more than the team’s, but all the points and quotes I mentioned from players and coaches oppose the idea of players only caring about individual success rather than team success.
Dagget mentioned the guys enjoying the success of one another, Parker-Barnes talked about the way everyone plays for each other, Spruill mentioned how welcoming the team was and how well he felt he connected with the group from early on, and lastly, Green talked about how he feels this year everyone on the team this year is working towards one goal and not just themselves.
It is just the start, and I feel very strongly that this team can have much success and will go on to be a competitive team as the year progresses. I think the team will go further than a Quaker Cup Championship and possibly make the FSL playoffs due to the chemistry and mentality this team has.
The team looks ahead to a week full of Inter-Ac competition. On Tuesday, December 17th AFS plays Episcopal Academy in the Berman and travels to the Haverford School on Thursday, December 19th.
As always, it is a great day to be a Roo.
