CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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On Day 2 of Philly Live II on Saturday, full sets of games took place all day at both Saint Joseph’s Prep and Jefferson University.
The CoBL staff was present at both locations to observe the high-level competition. Here is a list of players who stood out most in the slate of games at Jefferson:
Jadin Collins (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.)
At this point, a Philly Live standouts list without Jadin Collins seems foreign. The 6-foot-1 guard has been one of the top players in all of the event, including last weekend, and continued his dominant play on Saturday, posting a 31-point, 10-rebound (seven offensive) double-double to lead Rutgers Prep past Varina (Va.), 74-69. Collins showed off his elite ability to get to the basket on Saturday, finishing layup after layup, even adding in a dunk. His shooting ability was also on display, as he made two pull-up jumpers and knocked down a three-pointer.
Blake Deegan (2023 | Archbishop Carroll)
The lengthy forward showed off his ability from deep on Saturday, splashing in 4 threes during Archbishop Carroll’s 73-57 win over Potomac (Va.). Deegan finished with 17 points, using his smooth stroke from the outside that he gets off with a quick release. Deegan has good chemistry with fellow senior Dean Coleman-Newsome, who found him for multiple open looks after the defense collapsed on him. Although Deagan’s shot is his main strength, he was able to impact the game in multiple ways using his length. Whether it was his constant presence on the offensive glass or disrupting teams by being a pesky defender, Deegan found ways to contribute.
Jayden Harris (2023 I Potomac, Md.)
Harris almost brought the house down on a couple of occasions when he rose up for a couple of poster slams, but was unable to convert. Harris gets off the floor effortlessly and doesn’t shy away from contact, going strong to the basket on each of his attempts. Harris showed that he wasn’t just an athlete, knocking down 4 threes in a 73-57 loss to Archbishop Carroll. The wing has nice touch from deep as well as his ability to slash to the basket. Harris showed that he can put up points in a hurry, finishing with a team high 18 points, all of which came in the first half.
James Iannelli (2023 | Bishop Eustace, N.J.)
In Eustace’s 57-47 win against Abington, Iannelli led the way for the Crusaders, scoring 19 points. The 6-foot-2 guard did most of his damage inside, finishing layups and a floater. Iannelli was able to drive to the basket and did a fantastic job moving without the ball to get looks down low. The rising senior also knocked down a three-pointer off the catch and made a jumper, and he was active on the defensive end, getting multiple steals.
Spencer Joyner (above) impressed as he returns from an injury that cost him the 2021-22 season. (Photo: Ty Daubert/CoBL)
Spencer Joyner (2023 | Arts HS, N.J.)
Back on the court after a shoulder injury kept him out of the entire high school season, Joyner is trying to get fully back up to speed, Even with all the time off, the 6-foot-4 guard showed why he was receiving high-major offers before the injury. Joyner pushed the pace in transition, hit jumpers and found shooters spotting up outside the arc. The buzz around his name should only continue building back up as he keeps taking the floor this summer.
Franklin Jones (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.)
In Rutgers Prep’s aforementioned win over Varina, it was Jones who did the little things that matter a lot. The 6-foot-5 forward scored nine points, including a clutch corner three late in the second half, but it was everything else that really stood out. Jones was everywhere on the defensive end, finishing with two blocks and four steals, one coming in the final minutes to help Rutgers Prep close out the game. He also added six rebounds (four offensive), one assist and two charges taken.
Kyle Jones (2023 | Father Judge)
A 6-foot-3 combo guard, Jones can definitely score the ball, but he shined even brighter on Saturday with his ability to share the ball with his teammates. He passed really well off his drives, able to create for others and get his team open looks. That only opened up more scoring opportunities for Jones, who took advantage of some looks at the rim to go along with his jump shot from the perimeter.
Izaiah Pasha (2023 | Cardinal O’Hara)
After showing out at St. Joe’s Prep early in the day, Pasha and the rest of his O’Hara squad made their way to East Falls for more action. The success only continued for Pasha, who added a George Washington offer on Saturday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 guard displayed all the different ways he can do damage: slashing, pulling up, rebounding and utilizing his length on the defensive end. With five offers now under his belt, the tools Pasha possesses should only bring more attention throughout the summer.
Zion Stanford (2023 | West Catholic)
Stanford was unstoppable on the offensive end in West Catholic’s 56-49 win over Manasquan, particularly in the first half. The 6-foot-5 wing scored 16 points in the first 16 minutes and finished with a game-high 26. Stanford was a force getting to the basket, where he routinely finished through contact, converting three three-point-plays on layups. He also showed off his pull-up mid-range jumper and made a three-pointer. Following the game on Saturday, Stanford picked up offers from Marsit and Hampton, which join a list of more than half a dozen schools that have offered him.
Thomas Sorber (2024 | Archbishop Ryan)
Only one word fits the bill when describing Sorber’s performance on Saturday: dominant. The 6-foot-9 center was too big and too skilled for Varina to handle, putting on the moves inside, blocking shots on defense and cleaning up seemingly every board. Sorber has been working to expand his game outward to improve his versatility, but, as shown at Jefferson, his interior presence isn’t matched by many. His combination of size and touch will keep him on the radars of numerous D-I programs.
Anthony Williams (2023 | St. Joe’s-Metuchen, N.J.)
In St. Joe’s (Metuchen) two games on Saturday, Williams was stellar. The 6-foot-3 guard/wing started his day scoring 14 points in a 64-56 win over Parkland and capped it off with a 25-point effort to lead the Falcons to a 74-55 win over West Chester East. Williams showed his high-level ability to drive strong to the basket, where he scored most of his points, finishing at least one dunk; he also rebounded well and made at least one turnaround jumper.
Robert Wright III (2024 | Neumann-Goretti)
Sometimes the Neumann Goretti point guard makes the game of basketball look so simple and effortless. Wright was getting into the lane with ease as he usually does, scoring 26 points for Neumann’s who were down two starters in a 68-63 loss against Gonzaga Prep. With his team down double digits for most of the first half, Wright seemingly flipped a switch and took over the game, going into another gear and eventually giving Neumann the lead which they weren’t able to hold onto. Wright didn’t shoot much from the outside, but he didn’t need to since he was able to blow by whichever defender was put on him and get to the rim.
Honorable Mentions
Darius Adams (2025 | Manasquan, N.J.), Rahmir Barno (2023 I Imhotep), Israel Bosenge (2024 | Archbishop Carroll, D.C.), Aaron Bradshaw (2023 I Camden), Nick Coval (2024 | Parkland), Budd Clark (2023 | West Catholic), Jeremy Clayville (2024 | St. Joe’s (Metuchen), N.J.), Kevin Freeman (2024 | Arts High School, N.J.), Joey Gerbasio (2023 | Parkland), Elijah Hester (2023 | West Philadelphia), Josh Ingram (2023 | St. Joe’s (Metuchen), N.J.), Kevair Kennedy (2025 | Father Judge), Jeremiah Lee (2024 | Abington), Academy Lewis (2023 I Sidwell Friends), Daniel Mason (2023 | Bishop Eustace, N.J.), Cameron Piggee (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Dante Regan (2025 | St. Joe’s (Metuchen), N.J.), Reggie Selden (2024 | Bishop Eustace, N.J.), KJ Wyche (2024 | Varina, Va.)
Tag(s): Home Matthew Ryan Zak Wolf High School Ty Daubert Boys HS Catholic League (B) Archbishop Carroll Cardinal O'Hara Father Judge Neumann-Goretti West Catholic