Storm and Germantown Academy boys set to face high-powered Westtown
While his two older brothers opted for Penn Charter, Cole Storm decided to chart his own path and attend Germantown Academy.
While his two older brothers opted for Penn Charter, Cole Storm decided to chart his own path and attend Germantown Academy.
"You can't go wrong with either school," the 18-year-old said. "Both offer a great academic and athletic experience. I just knew from my visit to GA that it was the right place for me."
Storm's play at point guard helped the Patriots claim their fourth straight Inter-Ac boys' basketball crown. After winning in outright fashion the last three years, they shared this season's title with Episcopal Academy.
"To be part of four league championship teams is a special thing," Storm said. "It will be great to come back to the gym, look up at the banner, and see what we accomplished."
Larry Storm, 39, excelled as a quarterback in football at Penn Charter and continued at St. Francis (Pa.) and Ursinus; Brett Storm, 35, starred in basketball for the Quakers and went on to play at Drexel for one season and Philadelphia University for three.
Cole Storm's father, also named Larry, played hoops at Roman Catholic and Villanova; his uncle, Chuck, did the same at Roman and La Salle.
His mother, Donna, is a local celebrity. She is a Sweat Fitness group director and was the host of a radio segment on WIOQ-FM (102.1), "The 12 Noon Workout," for almost two decades.
With Cole Storm regularly setting up prolific scorers Evan-Eric Longino (23.6 points per game, 37 three-pointers) and Kyle McCloskey (20.8, 40), GA went 8-2 in league play.
Does it bother Storm if he hears someone say the Patriots are a two-man team?
"Not really," he said. "I realize that scoring is not everything and that I need to get the ball in Evan-Eric's and Kyle's hands for us to be successful."
Storm, who played hoops for Holy Martyrs in Oreland and Norwood-Fontbonne Academy in Chestnut Hill while in elementary school, has a 3.1-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Last month, the 6-foot, 170-pounder produced 14 points and 10 assists as GA outlasted Inter-Ac rival Haverford School, 100-98, in five overtimes in Fort Washington. Two of his three three-pointers came in the first stanza.
Next for Storm and the Patriots (22-6) is a Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association semifinal against talented Westtown at 6:45 p.m. Friday at Malvern Prep.
That will be followed, about 8 p.m., by a semifinal between Episcopal Academy and Hill School.
Westtown (30-2) is powered by 6-11 senior center Mohamed Bamba, 6-8 junior guard Cameron Reddish, and 6-6 junior guard and Arizona recruit Brandon Randolph.
The GA-Westtown semifinal is a rematch of last year's PAISAA final. Behind Randolph's 29 points and Reddish's 17, the Moose gained their first title with a hard-earned 73-65 victory at Penn Charter.
"We're just going to have to go out there, give it 100 percent, and see what happens," said Storm, who is a middle-distance runner in track and field.
Storm's college options include Catholic University, Franklin and Marshall, Marywood, Scranton, and Boston's Wentworth Institute of Technology. He plans to major in business or psychology.
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