In 2009, Imhotep and coach Andre Noble (C) accomplished a title trifecta -- overall Public League, 2A City Title and States
Philadelphia High School Basketball
A Look at
the First 18 Years of Andre Noble's
Coaching Career at Imhotep Charter High (2005-22)
He earned career win No.
400 (60-38 over Montoursville) in the second round of
the Class 4A state playoffs in 2019-20. The tournament then was halted by the
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. His record in 2020-21 was 14-0. The pandemic
also forced the Panthers' season to be cut short.
This page includes stories, special lists, record breakdown,
recaps of wins in
championship games and (at the bottom) the
names of all varsity players during
Coach Noble's 18 seasons. . . . To provide additions/corrections:tedtee307@yahoo.com.
Thanks!
Return to TedSilary.com Home Page
|
|
| Coach Noble's All-Stars and 1,000-Point Scorers ALL- PUBLIC HONOREES2005-20 (no team chosen in '21 due to effects of COVID-19)
DAILY NEW ALL-CITY
|
Andre Noble Tribute Page Andre Noble has coached basketball at Imhotep Charter for 18 seasons, winning 442 games and 24 championships. That breakdown: 10 Public, six City, eight State. His Panthers won their first crown in the 2009 Pub final, topping Franklin Learning Center, 49-43. Here is that story . . . By Ted Silary
IT'S ONE THING to show talent. It's another to exude class. |
League / Overall 2005: 13-3 / 16-9 2006: 16-1 / 22-7 2007: 9-1 / 22-8 2008: 10-0 / 27-4 2009: 14-0 / 32-1 2010: 14-2 / 25-6 2011: 11-0 / 31-3 2012: 10-1 / 22-8 2013: 9-2 / 28-5 2014: 8-2 / 20-7 2015: 6-4 / 22-10 2016: 10-0 / 24-6 2017: 10-0 / 31-2 2018: 10-0 31-2 2019: 10-0, 26-6 #2020: 9-1, 21-8 *2021: 3-0, 14-0 2022: 8-1, 28-4 #season halted by COVID-19 pandemic *season curtailed/halted by COVID-19 pandemic TOTAL RECORD 18 Seasons, 2005-22 League - 180-18 Overall - 442-96 PL PLAYOFF BREAKDOWN Appearances Ended in . . . Quarterfinals (4) 2007, 2008, 2014, 2016 Semifinals (2) 2020 Finals (10) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I was thinking about how I could be making history," Grant said. "Maybe
I put some extra pressure on myself. I
had to keep my head straight."
Now, like Prescott, he'll maintain his class when speaking with Yard.
"He's a great player," Grant said. "He always shows that."
--
This story
was written after Imhotep overcame Rysheed Jordan's 45-point
outburst to win the 2013 Public League championship . . .
By Ted Silary
"CELEBRATION" came pumping through the sound system at Temple's Liacouras
Center and Abraham
Massaley, like most of Imhotep Charter's delirious players, stood, listened,
beamed, grooved and even sang at a
spot near midcourt.
Then, after some prodding by teammates, he decided to step forward and
bust a move.
How fitting . . .
A few minutes earlier, the 5-11, 160-pound combo guard had uncorked a
basketball version, thus helping the
Panthers claim their fourth Public League championship in five seasons.
Imhotep 67, Roberts Vaux 66.
That was the final score, before a large, fully juiced crowd (especially
down the stretch), and those numbers
weren't frozen on the scoreboard until the very last instant, when Rysheed
Jordan, Vaux' superstar guard, could
not connect on a step-back, right-wing jumper off an inbound pass (by Amir
Butler, from the south side of the
east baseline) that was sent his way with 1.1 seconds remaining. The
defender, leaping right up there with him
to try to contest the shot, was Basil Thompson.
Jordan had already done everything possible, pouring in 45 points to
break the Pub final single-game record
established in 1954 by some guy named Wilt Chamberlain (40 for Overbrook vs.
Northeast).
As Jordan agonized over the miss, the bench Panthers and the team's star,
Brandon Austin, who'd fouled out
with 49.5 showing, exploded onto the court with the purpose, mostly, of
engulfing Massaley.
Ah, it's fun to be the hero . . . As long as the life isn't squeezed out
of you . . . And/or your ribs don't get
broken.
Massaley, the sixth man, finished with seven points and three assists.
Point No. 5, on the front end of a
double-bonus, came at 33.5 and provided a 65-64 lead. Jordan then was fouled
on a flying attempt at a layup
and hit both free throws at 27.2, thus tipping the scale back in Vaux'
favor.
Thompson missed a try-to-curl-it-in layup, the Cougars' Karon Snead
briefly snagged the rebound, then Jakwan
Jones wrested away the ball, enabling Imhotep to signal for time at 0:19.
In the huddle, coach Andre Noble looked around and decided to call upon
Massaley.
Very interesting. At times this season, the coach might have called for
Abe's head.
As both guys acknowledged, their relationship has often been strained.
"I'm really a big-on-effort guy," Noble said. "Abe needs to learn to show
it all the time, in practice as well as
games. My riding has been good for him, I feel."
Said Massaley: "We've had some rocky times. I do know why he takes that
approach."
Ultimately, Noble said he tabbed Massaley because "with Brandon out, he's
my next best guard with the ball
in his hands. "
The play was No. 1, which almost always features a move off a screen.
"We'd used it a few times in the game," Massaley said. "I was thinking
maybe they knew the play, and that
they'd jump me with two guys off the screen. I saw I could go without
waiting for it, so I did."
Massaley steamed down the left side and canned the layup at 0:12. What he
did next was just as enormous. As
Jordan full-barreled downcourt, Massaley tipped away the ball and, many
flails by many guys later, it was
squirting over the baseline at 1.1, meaning Vaux would be rushed on its last
gasp.
The fact that Jordan's most vivid memory will be a missed attempt at a
game-winner shows how unfair life can
be. He spent 32 minutes as pretty much a one-man gang.
Jordan racked up his 45 points by shooting 10-for-21 from the floor
(4-for-9 on treys) and 21-for-23 at the line.
He drained his first 17 free throws and packed 16 points into the fourth
quarter, won by Vaux, 23-13. He also
finished the afternoon with six apiece of rebounds and steals. The other
Cougars were 9-for-28 from the floor.
As is widely known by now, Temple is a member of Jordan's Final Three,
along with St. John's and UCLA.
Can't you just hear coach Fran Dunphy now? " Sheed, you gotta come here!
Look how you lit up our building! "
Jordan also made points with Noble.
In the teams' regular-season meeting, won by Vaux, 73-51, at Imhotep on
Jan. 22, Jordan handed the ball to a
Panther as the clock wound down and then slapped the halfcourt logo. Noble
was livid at what he later called
"a classless act" and milked it for motivation leading up to the final.
"I was definitely critical of Rysheed for what he did at our school,"
Noble said. "Today, he was a real class act.
He came over and apologized to me. Impressive. It's all behind us."
Austin, selected as the game MVP, notched 23 points, seven rebounds, six
assists, three steals and two blocks
before having to sit down.
"I was nervous, but I still felt good," said the Providence signee. "I
had trust in my team. We had each others'
backs coming down the stretch. This is a blessing from God."
Imhotep's early motor-starter was guard Deryl Bagwell, who took his
team's first five shots and hit two for a
5-0 lead. In all, he contributed 15 points and the last of his four treys
made it 62-58 at 2:42. This will sound dumb,
but Bagwell also did a respectable job against Jordan in a box-and-one.
"Deryl had been so up and down lately, we thought about taking him out of
the starting lineup," Noble said. "But
that would have damaged his confidence even more. We decided to stick with
him and see what would happen.
He really produced."
Outside Vaux' locker room, coach Jamie Ross looked shell-shocked.
"We made three mistakes down the stretch that really killed us," he said.
"We've been in lots of these types of
games. In most of them, we've been a little smarter. We expected to be here.
That's why we didn't play a
cupcake schedule. Without the three lapses . . .
"I thought Rysheed got fouled twice at the end. Once on the way downcourt,
and then on his last shot . . . Ah,
but you've gotta play through that. Gotta finish things off."
In his dance during "Celebration," meanwhile, Abraham Massaley flexed his
left arm, looked at his bicep, then
twisted his wrist so his fist pointed forward.
"That's my John Wall," he said, smiling, referring to a routine made
famous by the Washington Wizards' star.
Yeah, well, Sunday it was all Abe Massaley's.
Title tidbits
Imhotep is the first Pub squad to win football (Class AA) and
basketball (overall) titles in the same school year
since Frankford (both overall) in 1987-88. The hoops Pioneers topped West
Philly, 71-64, in four OTs, and one
of their stars was Jamie Ross (13 points, five assists, four steals before
fouling out) . . . Basil Thompson posted
nine apiece of points and rebounds . . . Amir Butler claimed 10 boards . . .
Jordan's 45 points rank No. 6 in any
Pub playoff. Lincoln's Larry Cannon is tops with 49 in a 1965 quarterfinal
vs. Roxborough.
This story was
written after Imhotep beat King for the 2017 Public League
championship . . .
By Aaron Carter
It was as if Imhotep tried to win the Public League championship with
every single jump shot. As a result, the
Panthers appeared to press until the title was on the line in overtime.
Despite all the forced and difficult shots attempted, the game came down
to the relative calm of the
free-throw line.
Daron Russell, the Panthers' senior leader and point guard, found poise
for the freebies, hitting 7 of 8 in the
final three minutes of Imhotep's 53-49 victory over Martin Luther King.
The championship calm Russell displayed helped avenge Imhotep's playoff
loss last year to eventual champion
Del-Val.
"This is everything I've been dreaming of since we lost to Del-Val, so I
wasn't going to let this slip,' said Russell,
who finished with 24 points and the game's MVP trophy. "I felt like we
needed this. "
Throughout the game at Hagan Arena, Imhotep, the No. 7-ranked team in the
nation according to USA Today,
desperately needed a shot to fall.
The Panthers (25-2) finished just 17 of 70 overall (24 percent) and 2 of
24 from behind the three-point line
(8 percent). Imhotep's stingy defense, however, forced 26 turnovers by King.
The Panthers, as they have done all season, also dominated the offensive
glass, finishing with 17 offensive
rebounds.
"We have a tendency to get tight sometimes," said coach Andre Noble, who
now has six Pub titles. "We talked
about it because they have such high expectations, and I think everyone else
has such high expectations for them
. . . But I'm just so proud of them. . . . They showed a lot of poise. . . "
King (20-8) was led by sophomore guard Jihad Watson, who scored 13 points
off the bench. His presence
helped King seize early momentum and keep the game at a slow and favorable
pace.
King entered the fourth quarter with a 38-32 lead after a 21-21 tie at
intermission.
In the interior, Will McNair, despite early foul trouble, finished with
six points and four blocked shots, including
a game-saving block with less than two seconds left in regulation.
The Panthers gained possessed with about 1 minute, 33 seconds left in
regulation and held on for the final shot.
Near the end of their filibuster, Bernard Lightsey missed a three-pointer
from the right wing that was rebounded
by Donta Scott underneath. Scott's put-back attempt was rejected by McNair.
In overtime, King trailed by two after Elijah Kial-El made an easy basket
with little more than a minute left. A
Dave Beatty miss was followed by a defensive rebound from McNair.
On King's ensuing possession, Kiah-El fed McNair in close, but the
6-foot-9 forward's dunk attempt missed off
the rim.
Imhotep retained possession, which eventually led to free throws by
Russell.
Fellow senior Koby Thomas finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds (seven
offensive). Scott added five points
and eight rebounds (six offensive).
Beatty, who shot just 4 of 17 from the field and 0 for 2 from three,
finished with eight points, including the
momentum-grabbing first points of overtime.
"I struggled in this game," Russell said. "So the guys came up to me
like, 'Don't stop. Don't stop. We need you.'
Dave kind of struggled and I was in his ear telling him, 'Don't stop. Don't
stop.''
Russell, who also led the Panthers to the Pub title in 2015, also won the
game's MVP as a sophomore.
"For us to lose last year against Del-Val," he said, "that hurt the whole
offseason. It was a struggle during
workouts because we knew the Public League championship wasn't home with
us."
"This feels amazing. I can't even describe it. We're not done, but this
is amazing."
|
Recaps of victories in
Public League championship games . . . 2009 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 49, Franklin LC 43 This first-ever Pub final featuring NO neighborhood schools went to the charter in its fifth year of membership. A largely forgettable game became a sweetheart in the fourth quarter and there was major excitement with 42.3 remaining after Denzel Yard hit a trey to draw FLC within 43-42. Thereafter, game MVP Sam Prescott (24 points, just like Yard) went 6-for-9 at the line to assure the title. Overall, he shot 7-for-13 and 10-for-15 while adding 13 rebounds and three apiece of steals and blocks. Yard's line included four boards, two assists and three steals. Yard’s percentage of FLC’s points (55.8) was the highest in a Pub final since FLC’s Rasiheed “Noot” Arnold managed 60.7 (34 of 56) in ’94 vs. Gratz. Overall, Yard poured in 132 points in five playoffs for 44.3 percent of 298. In this game he was the only Bobcat with more than one field goal and the other guys combined to shoot 6-for-26. Imhotep's Parrish Grant Grant finished with 10 points, five assists and two steals while likely becoming the first player in Pub history to start for championship teams at two schools (also Prep Charter in ’07). A year earlier, North Catholic’s Velton Jones had become the first guy to start for title teams in two leagues (also Gratz in ’06). 2010 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 58, Bartram 46 Completing a three-playoffs-in-four-days run, the Panthers became the first Pub team to capture back-to-back championships since Franklin in 1998-99. Ameen Tanksley won game MVP honors with 14 points while Erik Copes controlled the inside with 13 rebounds, seven blocks. Five others scored from six to nine points and 17 markers were provided by subs (Bakari White nine, Earl Brown eight). Scoring-wise, only guard Tyrone Garland (32 points, six treys) made an appearance for the Braves. The others combined to go 5-for-37 from the floor. 2011 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 57, Constitution 44 With Ameen Tanksley (15 points) again earning game MVP honors, the Panthers became the first Pub squad to win three consecutive titles since West Philadelphia collared five from 1974 to '78. Tanksley scored six points in a 12-6 third quarter, enabling Imhotep to create space after the first half ended 22-20. Tyhiem "Redz" Perrin made it 41-28 on a layup and three-point play off passes from David Appolon. During its three-year dominance, coach Andre Noble's squad went 55-2 and outscored its opponents, 3,911 to 2,435 (average of 69-43). And in the last three rounds of these playoffs, it forced opponents to shoot 46-for-146 (31.5 percent) and commit 56 turnovers. For Constitution, a special-admit school in only its second year of PL membership, Daiquan Walker scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. 2013 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 67, Vaux 66 Rysheed Jordan exploded for 45 points, the No. 1 effort in city history in any version of a championship game (Pub/Cath/City Title; Wilt Chamberlain dropped 40 in the '54 Pub final), but was unable to hit a buzzer-beating, right-wing jumper after Abraham Massaley canned a layup with 12 seconds remaining. The crown was Imhotep’s fourth in five years and avenged a 22-point, home-court setback incurred during the regular season. MVP Brandon Austin fouled out at 49.5 with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Deryl Bagwell (15) knocked down four treys and Basil Thompson posted nine apiece of points/rebounds. Jordan hit his first 17 free throws and finished 10-for-21 (4-for-9 on treys) and 21-for-23. He packed 16 points into the fourth quarter, which began with Vaux facing an 11-point deficit. He also finished with six apiece of rebounds/steals. The other Cougars were 9-for-28 from the floor. Imhotep was the first Pub squad to win football (Class AA)/basketball (overall) titles in the same school year since Frankford (both overall) in 1987-88. The hoops Pioneers topped West Philly, 71-64, in four OTs, and one of their stars was Vaux coach Jamie Ross. 2015 At Saint Joseph's University Imhotep 77, Constitution 75 The Panthers won their fifth championship in seven years in noteworthy fashion, overcoming a 55-45 deficit and catching a gigantic break when Constitution's last bucket -- layup by Chad Andrews-Fulton off a fastbreak feed from Kimar Williams -- was correctly ruled to have been sent hoopward a split-second after the final buzzer. Soph guard Daron Russell won MVP honors by totaling 19 points and four assists; his dish to DeAnte Robinson (spinning flip shot) put 'Tep ahead for good, at 74-73, with 0:17 left. Khalief Tinley (12), Robinson (11, eight rebounds), Devin Liggeons (10, three blocks) and Jaekwon Carlyle (10) also scored in double figures. Williams drilled three treys en route to 27 points while Andrews-Fulton (nine rebounds) shot 7-for-7 and 7-for-9 for 21 points. Star forward Ahmad "J.R." Gilbert added nine points and eight boards before fouling out with 3 1/2 minutes remaining. Imhotep became the third school in Pub history to win boy/girl crowns in the same season, joining University City in 1995 and Central in 2005. The Panthers were the first to have also captured a Pub football crown (AAA) in that school year. And by the end of the season, they were the most-defeated champion at 22-10. The 152 combined points were the third highest total in Pub finals history, trailing 167 by West Philly-Overbrook in '76 and 155 by Franklin-Frankford in '81. 2017 At Saint Joseph's University Imhotep 53, King 49 (OT) Check out these odd stats for a winning team -- 17-for-70 from the floor and 2-for-24 behind the arc. Ah, but in the last three minutes of the extra session, Daron Russell raised his point total to 24 by sniping 7-for-8 at the line. Oh, almost forgot. The Panthers forced 26 total turnovers. Koby Thomas contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds. 2018 At the Palestra Imhotep 66, King 37 Four guys scored in close-to-succession -- Bernard Lightsey 12, Donta Scott 10, Jamil Riggins 9, Chereef Knox 8 -- and the Cougars had trouble lighting up the scoreboard at all. They tallied just 12 points in the middle two quarters. This was Tep's seventh Pub championship and the first final to be played at the Big House since 1998. 2019 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 63, Constitution 43 The Panthers racked up an outrageous combined advantage in the first and third quarters, 34-8, while claiming their third consecutive crown and eighth overall. Donta Scott shot 9-for-11 from the floor while notching 22 points. He also secured 12 rebounds. Fatayn Wesley mixed 11 points with five steals while Jamil Riggins totaled eight points, six steals and three charges taken. 2021 At Engineering and Science Imhotep 69, Lincoln 56 Justin Edwards posted quite the double-double with 17 points and even more rebounds (18) to make Andre Noble the first coach in Public League history to win nine chamionships. Imhotep dominated in the first/fourth quarters with a 43-19 advantage. Soph Rahmir Barno racked up 18 points. The City Titles were not played and 'Tep had to shut down its season prior to the state playoffs due to the effects of COVID-19. 2022 At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 55, Lincoln 47 Coach Andre Noble upped his personal record for Pub crowns from nine to 10, thanks to five over the last six years. Justin Edwards and Ma'Kye Taylor scored 16 points apiece. Lincoln (Khrys Murray 14) shot a horrible 8-for-47 through three quarters, but created a 42-42 tie with 2:58 remaining. Mo Abdullah's only points, on a trey, helped to make it 47-42 and the Panthers rolled home from there. |
--
|
Recaps of victories in
City Titles . . . 2009 Class 2A At Temple's Liacouras Center Imhotep 59, West Catholic 53 (OT) In the first contest since the series was canceled in 1980, four players did a majority of the scoring. MVP Sam Prescott (26) and Will Adams (22) led Imhotep while Rob Hollomon (24) and Aquil Younger (17) topped West. Prescott added 11 rebounds, six steals and four blocks. Hollomon's outing included a 14-for-19 showing at the line. 2010 Class 2A At Northeast Imhotep 51, W. Catholic 42 In something of a snoozer -- Imhotep was still reeling from an exhausting march to a second straight Pub crown; West hadn't played in 2 1/2 weeks -- sixth man Bakari White hit two treys while scoring eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and prevented Aquil Younger (22 points, five threes, four assists) from causing late damage. Junior Erik Copes, already committed to George Washington, shot 6-for-6 (two dunks) for 12 points while adding seven boards and four blocks. Tyhiem "Redz" Perrin had 10 points, six rebounds. West's Kiwan Murray managed eight/six. 2011 Class 2A At SJ Prep Imhotep 68, West Catholic 40 Though the Panthers committed almost as many turnovers (24) as West (29), it barely broke a sweat. Leaving behind an 11-7 score with a 13-0 run made things easy. Khyree Wooten (13), David Appolon (11, three treys) and Ameen Tanksley (10) scored in double figures. Terrell Johnson (seven points) hit all three of his shots while also totaling three apiece of rebounds, assists and steals. Julian Lee managed 11 points for the Burrs. 2017 Class 4A At Phila. University Imhotep 84, Conwell-Egan 54 The Eagles created at least a hint of concern for 'Tep when they faced just a two-point deficit after one quarter. Alas, the score over the next two sessions was 41-16. Daron Russell and David Beatty halved 26 points for Imhotep while seven teammates contributed six to 10. Thanks with help from four three-pointers, Eric Esposito led C-E with 17 points. Darien Simmons (13) and Patrick Robinson (10) offered support. No Eagle snagged more than five rebounds. 2018 Class 4A At Lincoln Imhotep 99, Conwell-Egan 48 Imhotep was the Pub's overall champ and nationally ranked. C-E finished 2-11 in Catholic League play and needed to win a tie-breaking playoff with Lansdale Catholic to earn this spot. Thus, the result -- largest blowout (51 points) in City Title history, eclipsing 41 by Wilt Chamberlain and Overbrook vs. West Catholic in 1955 -- was not a complete shock. The Panthers (Dahmir Bishop 17) opted not to try for 100 points, dribbling out the final 30 seconds. They won the second half, 62-22. Patrick Robinson (17, 7-for-8 at line) and Eric Esposito (13, three treys, eight rebounds) led C-E. 2022 Class 5A At La Salle High Imhotep 66, Ryan 57 Rahmir Barno came within a whisker of evenly dividing his 29 points -- 15 first half, 14 second -- and those over the first 16 minutes were especially important because star Justin Edwards had to miss some time due to foul trouble. Edwards managed 15 points while Ronny Raphael added 10. Ryan soph Thomas Sorber totaled 21 points. |
--
|
Recaps of victories in
State Finals . . . 2009 Class 2A At Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Imhotep 75, Pittsburgh North Catholic 67 (2 OTs) Imhotep surrendered the game's first 12 points, then regrouped for five points in the last 11 seconds of the first quarter thanks to two steals by sub David Appolon (15 points). It wasn't easy after that, but the Panthers kept battling to collect the Public League's third Class AA title in four years. It was also No. 3 for point guard Parrish Grant (10 points), a sub for Prep Charter in '06 and a starter in '07. Sam Prescott was terrific with 21 points, 13 rebounds and five steals and he shot 8-for-8 at the line from the fourth quarter on (while his teammates were going 7-for-17). Kenny Battle (12) and Will Adams (11) also scored in double figures and Erik Copes, a 6-8 soph, added seven blocks to 11 rebounds. Four of PNC's starters were related (son/nephews) of coach Dave Long. 2011 Class 2A At Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Imhotep 67, Greensburg Central Catholic 34 The Panthers (31-3) frolicked while capturing their second state title in three years and completing a three-win weekend for District 12. Only twice before (D-3 both times) had a district from the eastern part of the state annexed three championships and the 33-point victory margin represented a record. In just 15 minutes, Khyree Wooten, a member of Strawberry Mansion's unsuccessful state finalists in 2010, shot 6-for-8 (two dunks) for 12 points. Brandon Austin and sub Earl Brown halved 20 points while Erik Copes (13) and David Appolon (10, also five assists and three steals) led in rebounds. 2012 Class 2A At Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Imhotep 56, Beaver Falls 54 (OT) Khyree Wooten scored 13 of his 15 points beyond intermission and Brandon Austin matched 13 points with as many boards as the Panthers claimed their third state title in four years (missed in 2010). Constitution (A) and Neumann-Goretti (AAA) had triumphed on Friday night. This win, accomplished on Saturday afternoon, enabled District 12 to become the first in Pennsylvania history to win three state titles in back-to-back seasons. Shakur NeSmith got the Panthers to overtime with a steal and layup and Austin (also four assists, three steals/blocks) put them ahead for good, at 52-50, with a theft/dunk combo. He left open the door to possible heartache by missing two free throws at 4.2, but BF's last shot did not connect. 2013 Class 3A At Hershey's Giant Center Imhotep 54, Carroll 45 The Panthers seized their fourth state title in five years (exception: 2010) and first in this classification as Brandon Austin led the way in points (25), rebounds (eight) and assists (three). In those five seasons, Imhotep went 49-3 in postseason action. Carroll shot 17-for-56 overall and 2-for-19 on treys. Big-guy sophs Ernest Aflakpui (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Derrick Jones (13, 11) posted almost identical stats. 2017 Class 4A At Hershey's Giant Center Imhotep 80, Erie Strong Vincent 52 The Panthers, playing in their third classification, ended a four-year wait for a fifth state crown in dominant fashion, thanks primarily to Daron Russell (25) and David Beatty (19). Their average victory margin through this five-game run to a state crown was 29-2 and they finished 31-2 overall. Russell notched six of his seven steals in a 48-26 first half. 2018 Class 4A At Hershey's Giant Center Imhotep 71, Sharon 35 A 31-2 overall record was again obtained in stress-free fashion. Only three Sharon players posted field goals and the not-so-grand total was eight. 'Tep coach Andre Noble removed his starters midway through the third quarter. Dahmir Bishop scored 20 points, shooting 6-for-9 (three treys) and 5-for-5. 2019 Class 4A At Hershey's Giant Center Imhotep 67, Bonner-Prendergast 56 After losing to B-P in the City Title, 'Tep impressively turned the table to win state crown No. 7 thanks in large part to Donta Scott. He hustled for 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Starter Dahmir Bishop added an expected point total (12) and sub Elijah Taylor provided a surprise by sniping 7-for-7 en route to 16 points. He also had five boards. The Friars received 29 points from Isaiah Wong, but were 17-for-45 from the field to 'Tep's 23-for-40. 2022 Class 5A At Hershey's Giant Center Imhotep 54, New Castle 39 After missing out on chances for titles in 2020 and '21 due to COVID-19, the Panthers returned and raised their record in finals to 8-0. In rather easy fashion, too; they stormed to a 14-0 lead. Justin Edwards started the barrage with a trey and finished 7-for-11 for 20 points. Rahmir Barno added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steaks. Sub Ma'Kye Taylor had eight points, five boards. |
Below are the players who
have helped
Andre Noble claim 442 wins and 24 championships
(10 Public/6 City/8 State)
in
18 seasons as the coach at Imhotep Charter. The year indicates the player's final
season. Most
were seniors. Some transferred and some were underclassmen who did not play in the
following season.
| Curshawn Banks | 2005 | Jahlil Williams | 2010 | Jaekwon Carlyle | 2016 |
| Darrell Washington | 2005 | Marcus Glover | 2010 | Jaquan Arrington | 2016 |
| Devin Summerville | 2005 | Markeise Chandler | 2010 | Joshua Townsend | 2016 |
| Dominic Washington | 2005 | Quantrell Kemp | 2010 | Khalib Cousins | 2016 |
| Gary Lawrence | 2005 | Sharif Saunders | 2010 | Koby Thomas | 2016 |
| Keith Mitchell | 2005 | Ameen Tanksley | 2011 | Nysir Marshburn | 2016 |
| Preston Tilghman | 2005 | Bakari White | 2011 | Bernard Lightsey | 2017 |
| Quaran Johnson | 2005 | Brian Virgile | 2011 | Daron Russell | 2017 |
| Steve Hackett | 2005 | David Appolon | 2011 | Naim Walker | 2017 |
| Victor Ellis | 2005 | Earl Brown | 2011 | Amear Johnson | 2018 |
| Curtis Jackson | 2006 | Erik Copes | 2011 | Davonte Canty | 2018 |
| Kenneth Battle | 2006 | Martez Smithers | 2011 | D'Shaun Seals | 2018 |
| Kevin Burwell | 2006 | Termir Sutton-Durham | 2011 | Jihad Jones | 2018 |
| Denzel Gatewood | 2007 | Terrell Johnson | 2011 | Karam Cummings | 2018 |
| Hanif Nixon | 2007 | Tyhiem Perrin | 2011 | Marquise Greenwood | 2018 |
| Jermaine Washington | 2007 | Anthony Rhem | 2012 | Themere Simmons | 2018 |
| Kashief Edwards | 2007 | Donovan Barnes | 2012 | Chereef Knox | 2019 |
| Ramone Williams | 2007 | Gregory Bennett | 2012 | Dahmir Bishop | 2019 |
| Shawn Rodgers | 2007 | Kamani Jordan | 2012 | Donta Scott | 2019 |
| Tamir Johnson | 2007 | Khyree Wooten | 2012 | Elijah Taylor | 2019 |
| Demar Morine | 2008 | Shakur NeSmith | 2012 | Fatayn Wesley | 2019 |
| DJ Newbill | 2008 | Trayvond Massenburg | 2012 | Jamil Riggins | 2019 |
| Jamal Jones | 2008 | Tyheem Harmon | 2012 | Kaleem Moultrie | 2019 |
| Jerrod Johnson | 2008 | Tyheem Harmon | 2013 | Elijah Taylor | 2020 |
| Lamar Trice | 2008 | Abraham Massaley | 2013 | Jahiem Bethea | 2020 |
| Miguel Bocachica | 2008 | Brandon Austin | 2013 | Jhakryr Harley | 2020 |
| Rashad Savage | 2008 | Carnel Harley | 2013 | Kamrohn Roundtree | 2020 |
| Steven Leath | 2008 | Deryl Bagwell | 2013 | Khalif Crawley | 2020 |
| Damien McBride | 2009 | Jalil Myers | 2013 | Lah-tee Childress | 2020 |
| Ivory Wells | 2009 | Nigel Grant | 2013 | Sami Wylie | 2020 |
| Jamal Jones | 2009 | Nysier Brooks | 2013 | Haseem Cannon | 2021 |
| Kenny Battle | 2009 | Ahmad Wimbush | 2014 | Naji Reed | 2021 |
| Lamont McLaurin | 2009 | Basil Thompson | 2014 | Rafiq Harris | 2021 |
| Parrish Grant | 2009 | Deion Evans | 2014 | Shakur Smith | 2021 |
| Saledeem Major | 2009 | Dymir Logan | 2014 | Stewart Clarke | 2021 |
| Sam Prescott | 2009 | Jakwan Jones | 2014 | Ahmad Nowell | 2022 |
| Tyree Morgan | 2009 | Kevin Brown | 2014 | Amaury Hunter | 2022 |
| Will Adams | 2009 | Sean Lloyd | 2014 | Chad Anglin | 2022 |
| Shaheed Fagan-Haynes | 2014 | Devin Booker | 2022 | ||
| Waheem Lowman | 2014 | Devin Carter | 2022 | ||
| Cananchet Jordan | 2015 | Isaiah Kennedy | 2022 | ||
| DeAnte Robinson | 2015 | Jay Chiles | 2022 | ||
| Devin Liggeons | 2015 | Jeremiah White | 2022 | ||
| Jamaal Brown | 2015 | Justin Edwards | 2022 | ||
| Khalief Tinley | 2015 | Makye Taylor | 2022 | ||
| Khatib Cousins | 2015 | Malcolm Muhammad | 2022 | ||
| Myron Sanders | 2015 | Mo Abdullah | 2022 | ||
| Wade Lowman | 2015 | Rahmir Barno | 2022 | ||
| Wyheem Lowman | 2015 | Ronny Raphael | 2022 | ||
| Yahmir Satterfield | 2022 |
