Central Bucks East has a great team. If not for injuries, the Patriots probably would have reached the Class AAA state final last season.

Most members of that squad returned this season. As a result, I expect the Patriots to advance to the state tournament and go deep into it if they remain healthy.

Scouts probably don't know about New Beginnings Academy at this moment. That will change in a couple of seasons if the school is able to bring in top-notch basketball talent. The school will get some recognition if that happens.

Thanks for asking. I have a better grasp on teams in Southeastern Pennsylvania than ESPN does.

Lower Merion returns eight starters from a team that finished 20-2-2 last season. It was also the District 1 Class AAA runner-up. So far, the Aces (6-0) haven’t missed a beat, outscoring their opponents, 17-2. That's why Lower Merion is ranked ahead of a very talented Central Bucks East team in The Inquirer's Southeastern Pennsylvania rankings.

St. Joe's Prep was ranked, but dropped out after consecutive losses to fourth-ranked Father Judge and unranked Archbishop Ryan.

That’s a tough call to make five games into the season. But it will not be easy. The Rams will probably run into a very talented Holy Ghost Prep team in the postseason.

At this point in time, the strike hasn't effected the fall sports programs.

In a recent interview with The Inquirer, Souderton High athletic director Tom Quintois said, "everything is a go. All varsity, junior varsity and freshman games at the high school level are being played. Our strike will not have an effect on our games, home or away."

I expect Ridley to reach the state playoffs. I don't know if the Green Raiders will be able to duplicate last season's Class AAAA state semifinal appearance, though. Ridley would probably have to go through Neshaminy to get that far. That will be an extremely tough task against one of the state's top programs. Plus, the Redskins would have the motivational edge, losing 27-7 to Ridley in last season's postseason.