Imhotep, Constitution set for Saturday’s Public League title game

If not for a 6-day period in the midst of 2009-10, Imhotep Charter's basketball team would own three seasons of Public League perfection.

As it is, the Panthers on Saturday can become the first Pub squad to claim three consecutive championships since West Philadelphia concluded a 5-year run in 1978.

The final, vs. Constitution, will be played at Temple University's Liacouras Center, at 3 p.m., following the 1 o'clock girls' title game between Central and Prep Charter.

Against Pub foes, Imhotep is 54-2 over these last three seasons - 19-0, 19-2 and 16-0. Last season's setbacks were consecutive, 56-55 to Communications Tech on Jan. 28 and 88-82 to Strawberry Mansion, in five overtimes, on Feb. 2.

Coach Andre Noble's squad features three Division-I signees, center Erik Copes (George Washington), wing guard David Appolon (Robert Morris) and swingman Ameen Tanksley (Niagara).

Constitution, a special-admit school in only its second year of Pub membership (the coach is Rob Moore), features forward Xavier Harris, who recently became the first PL player in 31 years to commit to Penn.

Because both schools have low enrollments (Imhotep is AA, Constitution is A) and small alumni bases, Public League administrators are concerned today's attendance total could be minimal.

Well, if the players have maintained friendships with friends at all of their former schools, that might not a problem.

This game will include 11 rotation guys (at least) who played varsity elsewhere before transferring to Imhotep or Constitution. The latter has three alone who began their varsity stints at Roman Catholic and one, junior combo guard Daiquan Walker, is generating national recruiting attention. *