There are so many reasons to like Archbishop Carroll's odds to get past La Salle Wednesday and punch its ticket to the Catholic League championship game: Mainly, you've got three: D.J. Irving, Juan'ya Green and Ben Mingledough.

These are three of Delco's top 12 scorers this year. Irving, an All-Delco guard (pictured), provides leadership in the backcourt whereas fellow senior Mingledough, a forward, does so down low. And Green, well, he does just about everything right.

Against La Salle, however, the Patriots will face one of their stiffest tests of the season. The Explorers (19-4) have won 11 of their last 12 games, including Saturday's Catholic League quarterfinal. They are the Red Division's top team.

Sure, La Salle hasn't won a league title since 1981. But they own eight, which ranks among the league's leaders in that category. And in Eddie Mitchell and Troy Hockaday, the Explorers have two potent scorers who will create fits for any defense.

It's going to be a heck of a game (Palestra, 7 p.m.), so be sure to get there early to guarantee yourself a ticket.

For you Delco basketball fans out there looking to get caught up on some of the county's finest who have moved onto college, this semi-regular feature is for you. Today, we take a peek at Aaric Murray:

Glen Mills product Aaric Murray has come a long way from his early high school days, when he had never played organized basketball. After three years in Thornbury Township - leaping between varsity and JV as a sophomore to scoring 1,000 career points and being named an All-Delco twice - Murray has taken his game to the Division I level.

And boy, isn't La Salle happy he signed with them.

One of the nation's top recruits at the center position from the Class of 2009, the 6-10 Murray has started all but two of the Explorers' 18 games, averaging a third-best 12.2 points per game. The reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week, he leads La Salle with per-game averages of 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

He's the leading candidate - in this reporter's opinion - for the league's rookie of the year award. Here's hoping he gets it - because he deserves it.