The Parkland boys basketball team had a trio of players sign national letters of intent to continue their playing careers at the collegiate level. The Trojans players include Jake Melady (Catholic University), Nick Rappa (Elizabethtown College) and Dylan Rhoads (St. Josh Fisher College).

This past season the trio helped guide Parkland to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinals and the District 11 Class 6A quarterfinals.

Melady was a team captain and a two-year starter as a shooting guard. He was the team’s go-to option offensively and was named to the All-EPC Second Team. He will study nursing while at Catholic.

“I think that stepping into a lead role and being named captain was made easier by my teammates and coaches having confidence in me,” said Melady. “Getting in the weight room and gym in the offseason helped me build chemistry with the team and it carried over into the season helping us be successful.”

“Jake is a gym rat,” said Parkland head coach Andy Stephens. “He is one of the best shooters I’ve coached in my career. He wants to keep improving, and he will. He is also a very smart basketball player. He will do well at the next level.”

Rappa started games as a junior forward last year but became a full-time starter this season.

“I’ve been on varsity since my sophomore year and was mostly just a role player before this season,” said Rappa. “This year I felt that I needed to take that next step. I was able to be put in a position to help lead the team and guide the younger players.”

Rappa’s head coach saw that growth over his three years on the varsity team.

“Nick’s progress throughout the season and even his career was remarkable,” Stephens said. “He was coming off a very serious elbow injury from the summer prior to this year, and as time went on he really excelled. He has excellent timing and a great motor. He will be ready for college.”

Rhoads broke out this season as a senior and was a spark plug and arguably the most athletic player on the team.

“My senior season was a big one that I was looking forward to for a while,” said Rhoads. “It was cool to go to practice as one of the older guys and be looked at to teach the younger guys and bring them along.”

Rhoads’ production as a senior was key to the team’s success.

“Dylan had a really good year for us this past season,” said Stephens. “I knew that for us to be a good team Dylan would have to have a successful year, and he did. He is a very athletic player who will just continue to improve his skills.”