Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
If you’re a high school basketball fan, don’t make plans for Friday, January 21. I’m told Reading and Berks Catholic will be part of an exciting doubleheader at Santander Arena in Reading. The Red Knights will battle Vertical Academy in the nightcap. Vertical Academy is based in Charlotte, but plays a national schedule. Reading will be going up against one of the top guards in the country in this matchup. 5-star recruit Mikey Williams has numerous Division I offers including Kansas. The 6’2 guard is ranked #11 overall in the Class of 2023 by ESPN. The Red Knights are coming off their second Class 6A state championship in the last five years. They went (26-2) a season ago. All-State selections Ruben Rodriguez and Daniel Alcantara are back. Rodriguez, a junior guard with plenty of big game experience, averaged nearly 15 points last season. He knocked down 40 three-pointers. Alcantara is a versatile senior forward who put up 14 points per game. Joey Chapman, Myles Grey, Xavier Davis, and Amier Burdine return for Reading. Keep an eye out for Aris Rodriguez as well. The Red Knights hold the state record with 2,188 all-time victories.
Berks Catholic is scheduled to meet Executive Education Academy of Allentown in the first game of the doubleheader on January 21. That will be a 6:15pm tip. The Saints struggled last season, but return a solid trio in JayJay Jordan, Ryan Koch, and Aiden Sands. Jordan, who’s also a standout football player for Berks Catholic, averaged 14 points as a sophomore. Head coach Snip Esterly has won a Berks County record 746 games over 32 years. The Saints played well this summer. They defeated Wilson in the championship game of the West Reading League.