Two Reigning MVPs Historic Senior Campaigns
Two of the area's best scorers enter their senior seasons with a chance to make some history when it comes to individual accolades.
Korey Francis of Bonner-Prendie and Silas Graham of The Haverford School have already established themselves as two of the area's elite players. Both are recently committed Division I recruits and both have already surpassed 1,000 career points. Now they head into their final high school seasons with a chance to climb the record books.
Francis, a Rutgers commit, returns to Bonner Prendie as the reigning Philadelphia Catholic League MVP. He enters the season with 1,265 career points after leading the area in scoring last season at 21.5 points per game and finishing with 644 points.
Graham returns to The Haverford School as the reigning Inter Ac MVP. The St. Joseph's University commit has already accumulated 1,684 career points, the most in school history. He averaged 20.7 points per game last season and scored 621 points.
Those numbers put both players in position to make a run at some of the area's most notable individual milestones.
Graham is Already #1 at Haverford
At 1,684 points, Graham is the leading scorer in Haverford School history.
He took the throne from class of 2019 Christian Ray who accumulated 1,661 points in his time at Haverford.
Graham currently sits 8th on the Inter Ac's all time scoring list, and only 14 players in league history have broken the 1,600 point mark.
He also aims to become the 4th player in Inter Ac history to hit the 2,000 point milestone which he sits 316 points away from.
And if last year's performance is any indication, he's right on track.
| Inter Ac Players with over 1,600 Career Points | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deuce Turner | 2,452 | 2020 |
| John Phillips | 2,068 | 1998 |
| Gerald Henderson | 2,059 | 2006 |
| Jordan Longino | 1,759 | 2021 |
| Wayne Ellington | 1,756 | 2006 |
| Charlie Floyd | 1,725 | 1974 |
| Alvin Williams | 1,702 | 1993 |
| Silas Graham | 1,684 | ACTIVE |
| Christian Ray | 1,661 | 2019 |
| Evan-Eric Longino | 1,658 | 2017 |
| Billy Harris | 1,646 | 1971 |
| Billy Harris | 1,646 | 1971 |
| Sammy Zeglinski | 1,642 | 2007 |
| Brian Grandieri | 1,638 | 2004 |
| Paul Hutter | 1,627 | 1970 |
| Matt Walsh | 1,601 | 2002 |
Francis has his own history to chase
I know Francis is not one bit concerned with individual lists. His focus is on trying to bring the Friars their first PCL title since 1988. The two go hand in hand though in my opinion, he will have to score plenty if Bonner Prendie is to climb that mountain.
The Bonner Prendie guard sits with 1,265 points which is behind Jeff Jones (1,923), Rodney Blake (1,348) and Isaiah Wong (1,282) in school history.
Catching Jones would be a massive ask, but Francis should have a chance to make a significant jump up the list when it's all said and done.
There are only 17 players in the history of the PCL who have hit the 1,500 point mark. Francis sits 235 points shy of that mark and 391 from a top 10 spot. Both are within reach for the high output scorer.
| Philadelphia Catholic League players with over 1,500 Career Points | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ja'Quan Newton | 1,972 | 2014 |
| Jeff Jones | 1,923 | 2007 |
| Reggie Jackson | 1,861 | 1978 |
| Quade Green | 1,853 | 2017 |
| Lonnie McFarlan | 1,842 | 1980 |
| Steve Benton | 1,808 | 1985 |
| Charron Fisher | 1,804 | 2004 |
| Steve Vasturia | 1,764 | 2013 |
| Jalil Bethea | 1,683 | 2024 |
| Eddie Griffin | 1,656 | 2000 |
| Michael Brooks | 1,651 | 1976 |
| Derrick Jones | 1,645 | 2015 |
| Bernard Jones | 1,633 | 1991 |
| Tony Chennault | 1,621 | 2010 |
| Barry Brodzinski | 1,583 | 1973 |
| Reggie Redding | 1,568 | 2006 |
| Rahsool Diggins | 1,513 | 2021 |
A chance to break into Delaware County's top 10
The Delaware County all time scoring list is filled with some pretty recognizable basketball names.
| Delaware County Top 10 Scoring List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Hauer | Sun Valley | 2,209 |
| Dan Geriot | Springfield | 2,157 |
| Lamont Ferrell | Yeadon / Penn Wood | 2,114 |
| John Phillips | Episcopal Academy | 2,068 |
| Gerald Henderson | Episcopal Academy | 2,059 |
| Zain Shaw | Chester | 1,993 |
| Jeff Jones | Bonner | 1,923 |
| Nasir Robinson | American Christian / Chester | 1,828 |
| Jake Sniras | Garnet Valley | 1,779 |
| Aaron Brown | Roman / Penn Wood | 1,758 |
The #10 spot currently belongs to Aaron Brown, who scored 1,758 points during his career at Roman Catholic and Penn Wood.
That means Graham, with 1,684 points , needs 75 points to move past Brown and into the county's top 10.
Francis has a longer climb ahead of him. At 1,265 points, he would need 500+ points to move into the top 10.
Francis has already shown that he is capable of producing at a high level. He led the area in points and PPG last year, and another season anywhere near that level would put him in the mix.
I am so pumped to follow these two this season!
Graham has already reached the top of his school's record book and is now chasing 2,000 points and a spot among the Delaware County all timers.
Francis has a PCL title on his mind but along the way has a chance to put himself among the most prolific scorers in history.
By the time this season ends, both could have added another chapter to the history of their schools, their leagues and Delaware County hoops!