George School's talent recognized on the non-PIAA All-State basketball team
Ben Luber rebounded from a tough set of circumstances to emerge as the 2021-22 non-PIAA co-Coach of the Year.
Luber's honor, which he shared with Westtown's Seth Berger, capped another banner season for non-PIAA schools.
"I'm shocked, and I'm happy," Luber said. "This is a tremendous honor and I have to share with the George School, the school administration and staff, my players, and my family. I did not do this alone. I have a load of people to thank for this."
Luber is happy because a family emergency prevented him from giving his full attention to coaching during a part of the 2020-21 season. His wife, Nicki, was coming off a difficult pregnancy and their newborn daughter, Cecilia, was having a tough time. Luber and his son, Jaylen, stayed by their bedside until doctors cleared everything.
"We went through a very rough time," said Luber. "Matt Lopez, my assistant coach, deserves a lot of credit. He kept everything going until I returned."
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It also helped that the George School had some talent. Kachi Nzeh, a 6-foot-8 junior point guard and Christian Bliss, a 6-4 sophomore wing guard, spearheaded a team that finished 15-5. Nzeh, who has several college scholarship offers, was named to the first team non-PIAA squad. Bliss was a second-team selection.
"I can't say enough about them and what they did for this team," Luber said. "They did some things on the basketball court that were just unbelieveable."
And the best part of the story is that Nzeh and Bliss will return next season.
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"I think the entire team will be ready for next season," said Luber, whose team lost three times to Academy of the New Church. The final time was a 52-50 overtime loss in the postseason tournament. "We felt like we had more to give but we lost. Those things happen but I believe our players will use that [to their advantage]."
2021-22 non-PIAA All-State Teams
First Team
Derek Lively II, 7-1, senior, Westtown (Player of the Year)
Kachi Nzeh, 6-8, junior, George School
Elmarko Jackson, 6-3, junior, Academy of the New Church
Jameel Brown, 6-4, senior, Westtown
Muhsin Muhammad, 6-3, junior, Germantown Friends
Second Team
Christian Bliss, 6-4, sophomore, George School
Christian Kirkland, 6-6, junior, Friends Select
Anthony McCall, 6-4, senior, Academy of the New Church
Xavian Lee, 6-2, senior, Perkiomen
Chris Moncrief, 6-4, senior, Kiski
Third Team
Quin Berger, 6-2, senior, Westtown
Augie Gerhart, 6-9, junior, Hill
Kevin McCarthy, 6-2, sophomore, Episcopal Academy
Mark Butler, 6-0, junior, Penn Charter
Ryan Williams, 6-2, sophomore, Malvern Prep
Coaches (tie)
Seth Berger, Westtown
Ben Luber, George
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: George School's Ben Luber named non-PIAA co-Coach of the Year
