Darnell Braswell likes what he sees.
The Allen boys basketball coach feels good about the Canaries program, starting at the junior high level right through varsity.
“The numbers have been really good,” the former Allen and DeSales standout said. “We’ve had over 70 guys in the gym from open gyms to where we had tryouts and began to trim the dead weight. Now, it’s time to focus in and try to stack days together so we can put stuff in motion. I’m excited.”
The Canaries created a lot of excitement last year in winning 16 games and reaching the District 11 semifinals. They bounced back from a loss to Parkland by winning the third-place game and reaching the state tournament. While last year’s leading scorer, Keith Jackson, has graduated after averaging 18.1 points per game, the next two leading scorers — Tiheed Wise, Jr., and Xayvon Wimberly — both return after averaging 10 points apiece in 2024-25.
Braswell has liked the way his team has worked in practice.
“We have a team full of athletes, so what we have to work on is being more disciplined,” he said. “We want to play more team-oriented basketball. These guys were consistent in the offseason. They showed up and were committed. So our staff has to do what it can to get them up to speed and to play for one another and understand what our strengths and weaknesses are.”
Braswell said that Tiheed Wise, Jr., who’s nickname is Chunk, will be one of the best players in the league. Wise and Wimberly are the only two returning starters, but Zazeer Chapman, Obed Lockhart, and Jaylen Walker all played key roles off the bench last season.
“We have people in place and we have a deep team and we’re ready,” Braswell said. “Every year is different. You have guys who are returning, who got minutes. We were beating Parkland last year in the district semifinals in a great environment. The guys who experienced that and the younger guys who were there and mixing, they saw what it’s like, and we worked hard all offseason. We’ve been all over the place, and they’ve gotten better. Now it’s a matter of putting it all together.”
Allen opens up the season with a league game against Parkland.
“We used to be in the Hershey Tip-Off Tournament to start the season, but they moved up the schedule and now we get right into the league,” Braswell said. “Of course, we’d like to have another game before we get into the league. But have to deal with it as best as we can. The kids have great attitudes, and like I always say, the best ability is your availability. The guys have been around and they’re working.”
Braswell is more energized and perhaps more feisty than he has been since replacing coaching legend Doug Snyder after the COVID-plagued 2019-20 season.
“Nobody respects us; nobody thinks Allen is anything,” he said. “I let other people do the talking, and we just put our heads down and keep working. Nobody respects us, and that’s cool. I like that. I don’t care about the opinions of others. I just care about what we do in the locker room and what we do when we get in that circle. We’re still figuring things out. The goal is the same. The goal is to make the league playoffs, districts and see how far we can take this.”
The Canaries at a glance
Coach: Darnell Braswell (sixth season, 54-57)
Last season: 16-11, 8-8 EPC (fourth in Lehigh Division)
Postseason: In the District 11 6A tournament, beat Pleasant Valley 69-28, beat Pocono Mountain West 66-62, lost to Parkland 55-49, beat Whitehall 62-60 to finish third. Lost to Coatesville 63-44 in the first round of the state tournament.
Season and league opener: Host Parkland, Dec. 1
Nonleague games: Dec. 29, host Edison, New Jersey in holiday tournament; Dec. 30, play either Wilkes-Barre Area or Woodson from Virginia in the consy or championship game; Jan. 7, host Muhlenberg Township; Jan. 16, host Freire Charter; Jan. 21. host Pleasant Valley; Jan 29, at Lincoln Leadership.
League non-division games: Dec. 4, at Bethlehem Catholic; Dec. 12, host Pocono Mountain East; Dec. 16, host Nazareth; Jan. 6, at East Stroudsburg North; Jan. 9, host Stroudsburg; Jan. 12, at Liberty.
Players to watch: Cameron Pearsall (6-4, Sr. G); Tiheed Wise, Jr. (6-3, Sr. G); Jaylen Walker (6-3, Jr. G/F); Zayvon Wimberly (6-0, Sr. G); Obed Lockhart (5-8, Sr. G); Majesty Hawkins (5-9, So. G); Timahj Plott (6-4, So. F; Zion Stokes (6-2, Sr. F); TeShon Gaynair (6-2, Jr. F); Nazeer Chapman (6-1, Sr. F); Tyler Martin (6-1, So. G/F); Kymahni Moss (6-4, Sr. F).
Of note: Allen has bright, new scoreboards, and one has a video screen. It’s part of a renovation that has made Sewards Gym much more attractive. .. The Canaries will scrimmage Executive Education on Wednesday and will participate in a tri-scrimmage at home with Dallas and Bethlehem Christian involved … The Jan. 21 game against Pleasant Valley is ASD kids with elementary school kids from throughout Allentown treated to see the game in person. … Allen’s coaching staff remained the same with Brent Williams, Mike Kaminski, Daquan Holiday, Alvin Wright, Bill Seng, and Bob Turko still involved. … Allen averaged 60.3 points per game last season and allowed 53.9. The Canaries made 166 3-pointers — third most in the league — and allowed 101.
