City of Basketball Love

By Dan Arkans (@danarkans)
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2024-25 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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The names have changed but the goals still remain the same for the Constitution boys basketball team once again this season.

The Generals graduated four starters from a squad that went 25-7 and lost in the PIAA 2A semifinals to Holy Cross last season.

Gone to graduation are a talented group which included Amir Speights, Kyree Latimer, Kory Jones and Perry Fields.

This year’s squad may not have the talent of those four players, but the Generals are deeper, led by senior transfer guard Alantay Dawson, donning a Constitution general after Math, Civics & Sciences closed this summer.

“We are all like brothers,” Dawson said. “We go to the gym every day, We talk every day. We are all chilling. We want to win a state championship. We are coming for everything. We want to win.”

Last year’s ending still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of head coach Rob Moore. Constitution seemed primed for a state title before Holy Cross stopped them in the PIAA 2A semifinals. The Generals have a big eye on that state championship although the teams will be a bit different.

“I don’t want to say the state will be easier than the Public League because we should have won last year,” Moore said. “A lot of teams have moved out. Holy Cross went to 3A, the team that beat us two years ago Mahonay moved up. Lancaster Mennonite moved up to 3A. All these teams moved out to give us space, but Dock is going to be good, Delco Christian is going to be good. My expectation is to play in Hershey like it is every year. The team we have can play for a state championship.”

The speed and athleticism that the Generals play with should not change. Dawson leads the squad from his guard position, but he’s got help. Other seniors Khaleek Johnson, Khair White-Blaylock and Zayhier Patterson all figure to see plenty of time on the court.

“I am the big guy to step up,” Dawson said. “If we need a stop, a bucket, a game-winning pass I am the guy to step up. I am the team leader. If someone needs a talking to I will talk to them.”

It just won’t be the Dawson show either. Last season a lot of players stood around and waited for some magic from Latimer. Patterson for one was impressive in the preseason with a solid 6-foot-3 frame.

“We aren’t going to be so dependent on one or two guys,” Moore said. “Now everyone can step in. Without being super top heavy with Kyree and Perry and Amir, if you are not playing well, with 7-8 guys we are going with the guys who are playing well on that given day. 

“Once they figure out what they are capable of they aren’t going to stand around and watch Kyree dribble the ball. Now, we have other guys. We will get better each week. We have eight or nine guys that we can go to in the rotation. That’s a good thing.”

While the names have changed the philosophy is still the same. Moore preaches in-your-face defense and the rest will come later. Given Constitution’s track record it's not one to be taken lightly.

“If we play great defense, offense will come,” Dawson said. “We just want to win. I just want to win. State championship, pub champ, city champ, I just want to win.”

The Public championship may be a difficult hurdle to climb with the defending PIAA 5A champs Imhotep Charter at the top of the list.

“The league is the league,” Moore said. “There’s Imhotep and then everyone else is generally fighting to play Imhotep. I think it’s the same thing this year. There is more depth in the league. I feel everybody can compete for a top four spot, everyone can compete for a high seed. Everyone can compete to play in the Liacouras Center this year. It's good for our league that everyone is going to be competitive.”

Just don’t tell Moore’s players the Generals are playing for second place in any league. The feeling around the team is one got away from them last year and nothing will be taken by granted this season.

 “I think we will match up well,” said Dawson of Imhotep Charter. “We are going to have a gameplan for them. It’s not going to be an easy game. It won’t be a blowout. We are gonna play. It’s going to be tough. It’s not going to be easy. We are going to have to work for everything.”