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Philly Pride Media Day Standouts (April 16, 2022)

04/18/2022, 12:15am EDT
By Josh Verlin & Jerome Taylor

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
Jerome Taylor (@ThatGuy_Rome)

SPRINGFIELD — Philly Pride’s entire group was on display on Saturday at Cardinal O’Hara, as the Under Armour-backed travel program put on a series of scrimmages pitting Pride against Pride all day long.

CoBL was there to watch action on both courts; below are our picks for standouts from the games we watched, CLICK HERE for a recruiting notebook from the event:

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SCH Academy's Ron Brown III (above) showed off his ability to find open teammates as well as score the ball. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Ron Brown III (2024 | SCH Academy | 16U Select)
A combo guard typically known for his scoring ability, Brown impressed for his ability to run an offense and find his teammates for open buckets, as evidenced by his six assists in a win over Pride’s Bucks County squad in a 16U game. Brown did a good job of getting into the lane and finding shooters, or dumping off to a forward, and made the extra pass on the perimeter when the situation called for it. Brown also scored 10 points, knocking down his only 3-point attempt, and going 5-of-6 from the foul line, while grabbing four rebounds in that game.

Ty Burton (2024 | Lampeter-Strasburg | 16U UAA)
Burton was a member of the best Lampeter-Strasburg team in school history, they finished 27-1 with their first loss coming in the state playoffs. This summer the 5-9 guard is working on his defense and facilitating because his ability to score is already there. Against 16U Delco, he had 16 points knocking down four 3's off the catch; he also hit a turnaround mid range jumper, showcasing his multidimensional scoring ability. Burton currently holds one offer from Manhattan College and he’s been in contact with Ivy League schools like Penn and Columbia. 

Zha’Mere Crawford (2025 | John Dickinson, Del. | 15U Delco)
Crawford’s speed and agility make him stand out among his peers specifically on defense. The rising sophomore is a fluid athlete which allows him to stay in front of opposing guards, causing them to put in more work as they bring the ball up court. In his outing against the 15U Select squad, he deflected multiple passes and had two steals in the second half. Offensively he finished with 10 points, mostly coming from his ability to get in the lane. His quickness garners attention from defense and he finds open teammates for scoring opportunities whether they are cutting or if it’s a kick out pass to the perimeter. 


Donovan Fromhartz (above) was in attack mode on Saturday, getting to the rim and knocking down shots. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Donovan Fromhartz (2025 | Downingtown West | 15U Black)
Fromhartz got some solid play during his freshman year at Downingtown West, and he looked plenty confident on Saturday morning, scoring 16 points with five rebounds — all on the offensive end — in a win over the 302 (Delaware) 15U group. The 6-5, 180-pound wing has a smooth 3-point shot with his feet set and is a crafty finisher, and his result on the glass is proof of his willingness to stick his nose on the glass, with a couple second-chance buckets as well. Fromhartz is on a good trajectory and should see a much-increased role with the Whippets as a sophomore.

Matt Gilhool (2024 | Westtown School | 16U UAA)
A 6-10 forward/center, Gilhool was an intriguing young big man last summer, when you could already see the pieces coming together of a mobile modern post who can stretch the floor, defend the rim, and even put the ball on the floor a few times. Gilhool’s certainly taken strides towards that goal over the last year, and a move from his hometown school (Elizabethtown) to Westtown next year is going to mean a huge jump up in competition. Gilhool displayed great footwork in the post, had numerous full-on rejections and even knocked down a smooth pull-up 3-pointer to show the growth in his offensive game. No offers yet, but it’s really only a matter of time.

Nelson Lamizana (2024 | West Chester Henderson | 16U UAA)
Lamizana just completed his first year of high school basketball after a left knee injury sidelined during his freshman year. Coming into the AAU season, the 6-7 forward is trying to make a name for himself after an ankle injury sidelined him for the final eight games of his sophomore year. The rising junior’s defensive potential is evident when he’s on the court; against 16U Delco, he had three blocks and altered a lot more. This summer he’ll be working on becoming a more versatile offensive player, right now his game is predicated on diving to the basket, finishing off cuts or offensive rebounds so he wants to become a better player off the dribble. 

Matt Mayock (2023 | Westtown School | 17U UAA)
There’s little doubt that Mayock is one of the best pure shooters in the city, if not beyond. The 6-6 wing has a compact, easy form that puts up good after good shot, and when he’s on — which is usually — he’s the definition of “knockdown.” That was the case on Saturday, as Mayock hit his first six 3-pointers (missing only his last) in scoring 20 points in a win over the 302 17s. There were corner 3s and wing 3s, all off the catch, nothing rushed; only the last one caught any type of rim, the first five all going easily through the net. Though Mayock might not do much that’s flashy, his size and ability from the perimeter — as well as a one-dribble pull-up and the ability to finish at the rim — make it a wonder why he’s still waiting on his first Division I offer.

Izaiah Pasha (2023 | Cardinal O’Hara | 17U UAA)
When Pasha first started playing with O’Hara last year, coming in from the Harrisburg area, the 6-5 wing was versatile but still had a certain stiffness to his game, still somewhat figuring out his body and role in a new situation. A year later, it’s clear to see the progress he made during the season, as the rising senior is now a much more fluid and complete guard, clearly much more comfortable overall and getting better at the right time. His jumper has a nice high arc, even in mid-range pull-up situations, where he’s becoming much more consistent, and he’s a good rebounder who can lead the break. Siena’s his only offer for now, but that won’t last.

Kevin Rucker Jr. (2024 | Chester | 16U Delco)
After a successful high school season, where Chester reached the 5A seminal, Rucker Jr. was the driving force in 16U Delco’s matchup against 16U Bucks-Morris, as his aggressiveness set the tone for his team. The guard was able to get into the paint off the dribble and did a tremendous job finishing in traffic. When he was not able to get all the way to the rim, the Chester product found a lot of success on a mid range fadeaway from the middle of the floor. He hit that shot twice in his 13 point outing against Bucks-Morris. 


Horace Simmons (above) just picked up an offer from Mt. St. Mary's after last weekend's live period. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Horace Simmons (2023 | La Salle College HS | 17U UAA)
Speaking of shooters, the Explorers’ 6-5 wing guard is one of the other best snipers around. While Mayock was going off, Simmons was right there with him, knocking down his first five shots and going 6-of-8 overall (4-5 3PT) for 18 points, adding in nine rebounds and a pair of assists in the second game he played as a show of his versatility. Simmons just picked up his most recent offer, from Mt. St. Mary’s, joining a group that offered last offseason including GW, Richmond, Penn, Marquette and more. 

Brendan Styer (2024 | Conestoga | 16U Select)
Brown’s backcourt mate on the 16U squad had an equally strong day, on both ends of the floor. The 6-0 point guard is a strong defender, putting in great effort on that end of the floor, challenging his man on the ball with active feet and hands. Offensively, Styer has a nice jumper and also wasn’t afraid to take on contact at the rim, getting to the line on several occasions or finishing through traffic; he also did a good job of making the extra pass or dishing out to shooters when a lane to the hoop wasn’t available. 

Rashid Ushery (2025 | Academy New Church | 15U Black)
Ushery immediately stood out because of his long, athletic frame and his energy on the defensive end, playing at the top of the full-court press defense. But the 6-4, 175-pound wing then impressed with his ball skills and decision-making, making several impressive passes on the move while also showing off his scoring touch, finishing with nine points, five rebounds and three assists in a morning win. Ushery just completed his sophomore year at Delcastle (Del.) but will transfer to ANC and reclassify, moving into the 2025 class this fall and immediately becoming one of the more intriguing young players in the Friends’ Schools League.

Ryan Williams (2024 | Malvern Prep | 16U UAA)
Williams had a breakout sophomore year at Malvern Prep; the slender 6-2 guard is a super-smooth operator with a strong jumper, and he’s becoming a more well-rounded player with the ball in his hands, looking for teammates as well as his shot. Williams was strong in transition on Saturday, making good decisions about when to pull up and shoot, attack the rim, find a teammate or get settled in the half-court. Williams already has one Division I offer, from Temple.

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Honorable Mention: Mark Butler (2023 | Penn Charter | 17U UAA), Adam ‘Budd’ Clark (2023 | West Catholic | 17U Select) Ryan Everett (2024 | Archbishop Ryan | 16U Bucks), Kenny Gatling (2025 | Wilmington Christian, Del. | 15U 302), Greg Guidinger (2024 | Central York | 16U UAA), Kamani Healey (2024 | Cheltenham | 16U Select), Larenzo Jerkins (2024 | Chester | 16U Delco), Saaid Lee (2025 | Bonner-Prendergast | 15U Black), Jaiden McGee (2023 | Middletown, Del. | 17U 302), Eric Methange (2024 | Appoquinimink | 16U 302), Nadir Myers (2023 | Upper Darby | 17U Select), Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford | 15U Black), Toby Ojukwu (2024 | Roman Catholic | 16U UAA), Fazl Oshodi (2024 | Friends’ Central | 16U UAA), Zamir Parker-Barnes (2024 | Frankford | 16U Select), Ife West-Ingram (2023 | Abington Friends | 17U UAA), Kyree Womack (2024 | Chester | 16U Delco)


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