City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The second session of Philly Live 2021 kept the gym at St. Joe’s Prep humming from morning until night on Saturday, with all four courts active for a full 12 sets of hoops. The Division I coaches swarmed to Philly to see some of the top prospects in the Northeast, and there was no shortage of talent to watch.
Here are standouts from Day 2:

(More Coverage: Day 2 Notebook, Pt. 1 | Day 2 Notebook, Pt. 2 | Day 1 Standouts | Day 1 Notebook, Pt. 1 | Day 1 Notebook, Pt. 2)

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Denver Anglin (2022 | Gill St. Bernard’s, N.J.)
With numerous power six coaches in attendance, Anglin showed out in his squad’s 89-79 loss to Roman Catholic. The sharpshooter showed why he has that reputation, knocking down five threes and hitting some tough jumpers inside the arc, finishing with a game-high 31 points. The three-star prospect has high-major offers and has visited Stanford, Providence, Northwestern, and Georgetown all this month, and the head coaches of the latter three programs were all tuned in to this heavyweight showdown; he then added 19 in a loss to St. John’s (D.C.) later in the day.

Brendan Boyle (2022 | Notre Dame-Green Pond, Pa.)
Boyle had a real nice floor game for NDGP in a 74-63 win over Bound Brook (N.J.) earlier in the day on Saturday. A 5-11, 160-pound lead guard, Boyle is known as something of a gunner, given the green light in his team’s offense and taking advantage of that; he’s gone off for numerous 30-point outings this offseason, but it wasn’t that ability that stood out Saturday. Instead, it was Boyle’s point guard abilities, as he dished out nine assists to go along with 12 points; making smart reads and pinpoint passes all game long, Boyle’s got a great crossover which he uses to create space and get into the lane, and he sees shooters and rolling screeners equally well.

Aaron Bradshaw (2023 | Camden, N.J.)
The 7-foot big man is seeing his recruitment and comfortability with Rick Brunson’s offense improve with each game. Against Philadelphia Public League power Imhotep Charter, Bradshaw had a double-double with 17 points and 18 rebounds, the majority of which came on the offensive glass. With offers from Seton Hall, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma State, Penn State, Maryland and Rutgers, among others, his skillset is appealing to an array of different programs. His post game is smooth and emphatic. He alters shots and occasionally sends them into the bleachers. His improved form from the outside has been promising as shown by a pair of treys he nailed in the first half of the 64-56 victory.

Nick Coval (2024 | Parkland, Pa.)
Coval had a banner freshman year at Parkland, averaging nearly 17 ppg and earning co-MVP honors of his conference. He showed why in a Saturday afternoon game against Chester, scoring 20 points in a 58-50 win. A 6-2 guard, Coval started off hot, hitting four of his first five shots, and kept the hot hand all game long; when he missed, it wasn’t by much. The son of former Lehigh Valley standout and William & Mary guard (and current DeSales head coach) Scott Coval, Nick Coval is a talented combo guard who can shoot from range, and he also showed nifty handles and a floater amongst some easier finishes.

Andrew Ball (2022 | Shawnee, N.J.)
In the second set of the day Ball absolutely balled out in his squads 17-points victory over Central Bucks East. The 6-8 190-pound wing scored as many points as all of CB East, finishing the game 36 points. Ball showed his ability to hit pull up jumpers and shoot with range, burying six threes. The rising senior also showed his ability to handle the ball, bringing it up the floor and also driving inside to score around the rim. Ball’s big time performance today earned him a scholarship offer from the University of Albany, his second D-I offer, the other being from Bucknell.

Xzayvier Brown (2023 | Roman Catholic, Pa.)
In the aforementioned Gill St. Bernard’s vs. Roman Catholic game, Brown had a fantastic outing. The 6-1 guard scored 18 points, showing his ability to knock down shots from outside, finishing the game with two makes from deep. Brown also did a great job getting his teammates involved, delivering great passes. The rising junior already has five offers, including one from Marquette which he received yesterday.

Devin Dinkins (2022 | Gonzaga, D.C.)
Dinkins was one of four players in double figures following a 72-60 triumph over Rutgers Prep on Saturday. The 5-10 point guard knocked down five three-pointers on his way to 17 points. Four of those shots from deep came in the first half. His quick trigger mentality and pure form make him a lethal player to leave open and he made his opponent pay over the course of the game. He holds offers from George Mason, Virginia Tech, Fordham, DePaul, La Salle, Georgetown and Bryant.

Justin Edwards (2023 | Imhotep Charter)

When the lights are brightest, Edwards always seems to shine with them. The 6-7 lefty scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half of the Panthers loss to Camden. His fluid shooting form is too quick for defenders to contest and when they play up on him, he goes right by them and slams it home. His performance on Saturday earned him an offer from South Carolina to go with offers already from Tennessee, UConn, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, Rutgers and more. His length, agility and shooting ability continue to make him one of the most sought-after products in the area.

Amani Hansberry (2023 | St. John’s College, D.C.)
Part of a loaded St. John’s squad, Hansberry is a top-40 prospect in the rising junior class, and it doesn’t take long to figure out why. A powerful ‘4’ man at 6-8 and 225 pounds, Hansberry is a load to handle around the rim, but he’s also able to put the ball on the floor, stretch the court with his jumper, and makes great passes out of the high and low post. In an 80-54 win over Gill St. Bernard (N.J.), Hansberry had 16 points, second on his team. We’ll get to that in a minute.

Jermai Herring (2023 | St. Elizabeth, Del.)
After a strong showing at Philly Live I, Herring continued his stellar play into the second weekend of the event. The 6-3 wing scored a game high 22 points, attacking the basket earning numerous trips to the free throw line, and rebounded the ball well. The rising junior showed his ability to shoot, knocking down a triple and going 5-6 from the charity stripe. Against Cardinal O’Hara, Herring once again was the games leading scorer, finishing with 20 points. Herring hasn’t heard anything college-wise yet, but if he continues to play at this level, his phone will soon start to buzz with college coaches on the other end.

Moses Hipps (2024 | Archbishop Carroll, Pa.)
Hipps seems to get better every time he steps on the floor. The 6-4 combo guard had at least 12 points in the Patriots 72-39 win over Bethlehem Catholic. He nailed two fluent jumpers from behind the arc and consistently attacked double teams to find open teammates. He burst onto the scene as a freshman and that play earned him an offer from La Salle. He was named to the Pa. All-State Class 4A Second Team, becoming the first Philadelphia Catholic League freshman to be named to the all-state team since Roman Catholic’s Jalen Duren in 2018-19. He has a bright future ahead of him and his stock should only continue to rise.

Liam Joyce (2022 | Allentown Central Catholic)
The one-two punch of Tyson Thomas and Joyce makes the Vikings a viable contender for the PIAA Class 4A title once again. The 6-5 forward had 15 points and 11 rebounds in an overtime loss to Manasquan (N.J.). He did most of his damage in the high post and with quick up-and-under finishes on both sides of the paint. He can run the floor and, clearly, control the glass. When he corrals a rebound, he can move the ball into the frontcourt and set up the offense. He is a difference maker and affects the game in a variety of ways. 

Justin Moore (2022 | Archbishop Wood, Pa.)
Moore has thrived in his early work with Wood, his new home following the closure of Bishop McDevitt. Now primed to be one of the top senior guards in the Catholic League, Moore looked every bit that part in scoring 24 points in a 66-30 win over Don Bosco Prep (N.J.). Moore was the engine behind the Wood attack all night long, getting up and down the court with the ball in his hand and just making things happen. Not normally known as a knockdown 3-point shooter, Moore was 2-of-4 from deep and 6-of-7 from the line, and when he’s hitting his jump shots he’s an especially effective lead guard.

Khafiq Myers (2024 | Neumann-Goretti, Pa.)
A 5-10 guard, Myers didn’t have much of a role for the Saints as a freshman, but he looks primed to either start or be a top reserve this fall. The defensive specialist puts in a lot of work on that end of the court but also fits well within the N-G offense, and he’s starting to assert himself more on that end of the court. Myers did a little bit of everything in N-G’s 67-62 win over Windermere Prep (Fla.), finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. 

Josh Reed (2024 | Archbishop Wood, Pa.)
With four D-1 guards gone from last season and Justin Moore moving into the point guard spot, playing time at the shooting guard and small forward spots are up for grabs on the Vikings starting lineup. Reed will look to account for the bulk of those minutes if he can post similar performances as the one he put together versus Potomac (Va.): eight points and six rebounds. The 6-2 combo guard is a tenacious rebounder and is not afraid to mix it up with bigger players. He looks for contact on his way to the basket and can finish through contact. His shot will come in time but right now, he is still finding ways to score. Expect a rise in minutes and production as a sophomore.

Ben Roy (2022 | Manasquan, N.J.)
Roy was spectacular against Allentown Central Catholi and made key shots late to seal the overtime victory. The 6-1 point guard scored 22 points and scored six in the extra period. He drilled a pair of three-pointers and ran the pick and roll with forward Matt Solomon to perfection. He drove time and again into the lane and found open shooters in the opposite corner. One of the best weapons in his arsenal is his stepback jumper, which he hit on more than one occasion. He holds offers from Bryant, Brown, Nebraska, Fairfield, Monmouth, Holy Cross, Robert Morris and St. Peter’s. 

Masud Stewart (2022 | Neumann-Goretti, Pa.)
N-G’s most experienced guard and its only current Division I offeree really helped himself Saturday with a terrific performance in front of several D-I coaches. Stewart had 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, knocking down all three of his 3-point attempts; he was also aggressive on the boards, coming up with several second-chance opportunities amongst his six rebounds (three offensive). A 6-1, 180-pound combo guard, Stewart has always been a secondary offensive option but showed tonight he’s capable of taking charge.

Christian Watson (2022 | St. John’s College, D.C.)
The no-doubt star of St. John’s win over Gill St. Bernard was Watson, an impressive wing prospect who can border on unstoppable when he really gets going. A 6-7, 210-pound guard/forward, Watson can play anywhere from the ‘1’ to the ‘4’, playing with or without the ball in his hands and doing damage no matter where he goes. Watson had 21 points in St. John’s win, hitting shots on the move, spotting up, on second-chance points, and getting rebounds and running the break. Seton Hall offered afterwards, becoming his latest high-major offer.

Robert Wright III (2024 | Neumann-Goretti, Pa.)
Yes, one more Neumann-Goretti guard. Wright added 21 points in the Saints’ win, as he found yet another team that has had serious trouble staying in front of him for long. Wright’s a little smaller than N-G’s typical lead guards at 5-11 but he’s every bit as talented, with a great change-of-pace and stop-and-go ability where he can turn on a time to knock down jumpers or get defenders off their stance and to the rim. Wright is a true three-level scorer who also does a good job of drawing contact and getting to the line.

Honorable Mention

Rahmir Barno (2023 | Imhotep Charter), Matt Bauer (2022 | Parkland, Pa.), Quinn Clark (2022 I Gonzaga, D.C.) Aaron Davis (2023 | Hudson Catholic, N.J.), Ryan Frauenheim (2024 | Manasquan, N.J.), Cam Gillus (2023 | Sidwell Friends, Md.), Tresten Guillotte (2024 | St. Joe’s Prep, Pa.), Quadir Harrell (2022 | Bound Brook, N.J.), Sean Howlett (2022 | Notre Dame-GP, Pa.), Drew Kousaie (2022 | Windermere Prep, Fla.), Donovan Long (2022 I Rutgers Prep, N.J.) George Perkins (2023 | Sidwell Friends, Md.), Tahaad Pettiford (2024 | Hudson Catholic, N.J.), Ryan Pettit (2022 I Rutgers Prep, N.J.) Eduardo Placer (2023 | Windermere Prep, Fla.), Nico Pulieri (2023 | Allentown Central Catholic, Pa.), Kevin Rucker (2024 | Chester, Pa.), Chris Russell (2023 | Sidwell Friends, Md.), Horace Simmons (2023 | La Salle College HS, Pa.), Shawnn Smith (2022
| Archbishop Carroll, Pa.), Jared Turner (2022 I Gonzaga, D.C.) Nix Varano (2022 | La Salle College HS, Pa.), Jayden Williams (2022 | Windermere Prep, Fla.), Kyree Womack (2024 | Chester, Pa.)