City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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It’s not hyperbole to say that CoBL’s camps and events have been a game-changer.

Since running our first camp in 2014, we’ve been able to help hundreds upon hundreds of prospects from the Delaware Valley both work on their on-court skills as well as get their name and game out there in front of the multitudes of college coaches that have come to watch them play. 

Our events have also been a key part of CoBL’s success as an organization, providing us with the funding we need to be able to provide the coverage that our readers, followers and supporters all enjoy; the type of coverage which is otherwise quickly vanishing from this area and too many others. 

But in order for our camps to grow, for our business to grow, we needed help. Someone who could help us run more events, expand our reach, help more area players, and increase our coverage at all the same time. Someone who loves the game and the Philadelphia area with equal measure, who wants to help this region’s young ballplayers and put on high-quality events to showcase talent from this area and beyond.

From a field of highly-qualified applicants, we’ve found our guy. We’re thrilled to announce that Torre Harrison will be taking over as CoBL’s Camp & Event Director, becoming a major part of CoBL’s operations and our future from this point forward. 

“Torre is the perfect person to take CoBL’s camps to the next level,” CoBL editor-in-chief and board president Josh Verlin said. “His extensive background in the game and knowledge of the area’s high school and grassroots landscape, combined with his well-known positive attitude and work ethic, will make him an invaluable member of our organization.”

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with CoBL and help grow this awesome brand,” Harrison said. “I felt it was time for me to service our basketball community on a greater scale, and there was no better opportunity than working with CoBL.”

Jason Ritter, who’s helped CoBL run its camps since 2016, will help bring Harrison on board as he transitions into his role as a member of our Board of Directors.

A graduate of West Philadelphia High School, Harrison played for the Speedboys and then at Alvernia College before transferring to Newbury College (Mass.), where he finished out his on-court eligibility, receiving his Bachelors in Behavioral Health. He then spent time as a group home supervisor and Philadelphia police officer.

Harrison’s career then took him back to the hardwood, and he’s been in basketball ever since. Most recently, he was the director of K-Low Elite’s middle school programs, while also running youth camps for Philly Youth Basketball, for whom he also coordinated their ‘I Am Because We Are’ outreach program. 

He was also an assistant coach at Cheltenham High School, for whom his son Zahree Harrison — now a sophomore at St. Francis (Pa.) — played until his 2020 graduation.

Prior to Cheltenham, Torre Harrison was the head coach at Girard College High School for one season (2018-19), coached with Team Final (2013-16) and was also a longtime assistant coach under Paul Romanczuk at Archbishop Carroll (2005-14). 

“During my coaching years, I was able to see firsthand how CoBL provided exposure opportunities for players through their camps and high school team events,” Harrison said. “CoBL’s coverage of the area’s high schools was second-to-none, and I was immediately a huge fan. When the opportunity presented itself to come on board, I knew instantly that it would be a great fit.”

Harrison will help CoBL run its upcoming Underclassman Camp (Aug. 21) and College Exposure Camp (Aug. 22), as well as its CoBL Shootout (Sep.18-19), taking over full-time camp operations for several TBA fall and winter events.

Look for an expanded slate of CoBL camps and events, including our first girls’ events, coming in 2022.

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CLICK HERE for more information on CoBL’s Camps & Events