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Philly Live II: Day Three Standouts (June 26, 2022)

06/26/2022, 11:00pm EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

The second weekend of Philly Live 2022 came to a conclusion Sunday at Jefferson University with a total of four courts going from morning through the evening. A ton of the region’s talent — and a few others who made the trek to Philadelphia — competed in front of a large group of college coaches to finish off the June live period.

The CoBL staff was once again there to keep an eye on almost every game throughout the day.

Here’s who stood out in front of the CoBL staff during Sunday’s action: 


Zaki Alston (above) had 25 points for Sankofa Freedom, scoring from all over the floor. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Zaki Alston (2023 | Sankofa Freedom)
Against Chichester, Alston frequently found the bottom of the net as the 6-4 guard probed the opposing defense to get to his spot. The rising senior dropped 25 points, showing off a variety of finishes around the rim and making several midrange dribble pull-ups. He even drilled two treys. Though Sanfoka suffered a 56-76 defeat, Alston’s scoring was undoubtedly a bright spot. 

Thomas Batties (2023 | Gonzaga, D.C.)
A 6-foot-7 wing, Batties led the charge for Gonzaga, scoring 19 points in a 60-46 win over Camden (N.J.). Batties showed off his athleticism with a put-back dunk and, later in the game, was fouled on another dunk attempt. He converted at least one three-point-play on a layup and showed his ability to work on the perimeter, handling the ball at points on the wing and also making two three-pointers. The three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, currently has offers from Howard and George Mason, though many other schools have shown interest. 

Jalil Bethea (2024 | Archbishop Wood)
Bethea put on another shooting clinic in Wood’s game against Hudson Catholic (N.J.). The rising junior hit four 3-pointers in Wood’s win over Hudson Catholic. Bethea was finding a lot of his success shooting in the right corner, but that wasn’t the only part of his game that was on display. He also showed off his playmaking skills in the game, racking up four assists to go along with his 27 total points. The 6-4 guard’s recruiting is continuing to heat up, as he just earned an offer from Mississippi State, and his scoring prowess will likely continue to attract college suitors. 

Terry Copeland (2024 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
Copeland’s forceful play style effectively willed Bergen back into their game with St. Joseph’s Prep before they eventually completed the comeback to win 58-55. Copeland makes his presence felt on the interior, frequently using his strength to establish position on the low block. The 6’9 rising junior finished with 17 points in the win. Copeland did all of his damage inside the paint or at the free-throw line (3-6). Defensively, Copeland uses his strength to make things tough on his opponent in the paint, as he was an active deterrent to opposing drivers and was tough to push around on the defensive low block. 

Connor Fleet (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
We didn’t see Fleet’s 41-point game in Henderson’s first game of the day, but his 18-point outing against Pocono Mt. West in a losing effort was still plenty good enough to get him written up. The 5-10 rising junior guard is quick on his feet and strong with the ball in his hands, getting to his spots even with a defender on his hip, and rising up and knocking down mid-range jumpers over and over again, going 8-of-11 from the floor, without a single easy bucket or layup. He was also a quality finisher around the rim, including with his left hand; Fleet also grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.


Luca Foster (above) is one of several promising youngsters at Archbishop Carroll. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Luca Foster (2026 | Archbishop Carroll)
Carroll coach Francis Bowe has a strong incoming group of freshmen, three of whom were in his rotation on Sunday afternoon in an easy win against an overmatched Shamokin Area, and the one who wasn’t was only out due to injury. It’s a group with a ton of long-term potential mixed with the ability to have an impact right away. The 6-3, 150-pound Foster had the strongest game on Sunday, with 15 points and three rebounds, showcasing a smooth athleticism on the floor and moving well for his length and age, finishing around the rim and hitting a 3-pointer while coming close on several others. 

Elijah Gertrude (2023 | Hudson Catholic, N.J.)
The 6-4 guard has seen his recruitment blow up since the spring and put on an impressive display for those there to watch him on Sunday against Imhotep. Gertrude had 16 points, doing most of his damage inside. Against an Imhotep team with lots of size on the floor, Gertude used his size and athleticism to finish in a variety of ways with both hands around the rim — including a two-handed slam on a baseline drive in the first half. His ability to shift directions with this dribble freed him up to get inside or pull-up for a shot. Gertude’s size and athleticism showed on the defensive end as well as he rose up to block multiple shots.

Tristen Guillouette (2024 | St. Joseph’s Prep)
For much of Prep’s game with Bergen Catholic (N.J.) Guillouette was battling with fellow junior Terry Copeland. In the first half, Guillouete showed off his touch from outside the paint, hitting multiple foul line jumpers en route to eight points. The impressive part about those jumpers wasn't that they were going in but how patient the 6-8 big man was before he decided to rise for the jump shots. Guillouette took his time and made appropriate reads throughout the game with the ball in his hands or whenever he was a screener for Prep’s guard. On the other end of the court, Guillouette had four blocks, showing off his defensive instincts. 

Dylan Harper (2024 | Don Bosco Prep)
Harper didn’t get a full run in against Shamokin as Don Bosco ran away with things pretty early in the second half, but in the minutes he was in there the recent Auburn offeree certainly left an impression. Harper scored 14 points, including 10 in the first half. A rip through from the top of the key into a two-handed dunk and a steal to set himself for a fastbreak slam were two exclamation points in the standout performance. He is 6-5 and handles the ball well out on the perimeter and also knocked down a three. He makes a lot of things look easy out on the floor that wouldn’t be for others.

Jackson Hicke (2023 | Radnor)
Radnor’s only two games of the weekend came on Sunday, and while we didn’t make the 8:30 AM set, his outing at noon against Teaneck (N.J.) left plenty to write home about. The 6-5 wing, who picked up offers this week from Cornell, Colgate and Army, was his usual Swiss Army Knife(™) self, slicing his way to a 26-point, 11-rebound, five-assist, two-steal stat line in Radnor’s 77-64 win. Hicke got into the mid-range and scored around the rim, going 2-of-6 from 3-point range with a few in-and-outs, led the break in transition and had a few no-look passes that led to easy buckets. 

Brady Loughlin (2025 | Don Bosco Prep)
After leading by just one at the half, Don Bosco Prep was in need of a spark on the offensive end and Loughlin answered the call. The rising sophomore scored 14 points in the second half including two threes during an 11-2 run by the Ironmen that gave them a 10-point lead midway through the second. Loughlin’s shooting ability was on display as the 6-4 guard knocked down three 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 6-of-10 from the field. The remainder of his team-high 21 points came on floaters in the lane and putbacks, proving he is more than just a shooting threat. Loughlin has found his role on this team and knows when to get his opportunities, focusing on efficiency.


Deuce Maxey (above) showed he's ready to be a major part of the Wood rotation with a 21-point outing against Hudson Catholic (N.J.). (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Deuce Maxey (2025 | Archbishop Wood)
Maxey's scoring prowess was also impressive against Hudson Catholic (N.J.), as the rising sophomore aggressively looked for his shot throughout the game. He finished with 21 points, knocking down five treys in the process. Once the defense began to overcommit to his outside jumper, the 6-2 guard was more than comfortable using a pump fake and stepping into mid-range jumpers after the defender flew by him. Based on his performance and playing time during the game against Hudson Catholic, it looks like Maxey will be a significant contributor for Archbishop Wood in the upcoming season. 

Cian Medley (2023 | Camden)
A speedy 6-foot point guard, Medley is typically more of a distributor. But with star guard D.J. Wagner traveling with the US junior national team, he had an opportunity to put his scoring ability on display as well. Medley took advantage of his quickness on Sunday, pushing the ball in transition for easy points and beating defenders off the dribble in the half court. He got to his spots and looked comfortable shooting jumpers, only opening up his advanced passing game even more. His fast-paced but controlled style makes him fun to watch with the ball in his hands, while keeping teammates involved in the offense.

Jaron McKie (2025 | St. Joseph’s Prep)
McKie was essential to St. Joseph’s Prep’s offense in their 55-58 loss to Bergen Catholic (N.J.) on Sunday. The rising sophomore’s shooting ability provided spacing for the Hawks, allowing teammates Tristen Guillouette to post up and Jalen Hornsby to cut freely. The rising sophomore finished with 16 points, doing most of his damage in the mid-range and even extended his range to hit a three. He was also an effective facilitator in transition and in the Hawks’ half-court offense. McKie's greatest skill on Sunday afternoon was how he navigated picks, whether it was pulling up for mid-range jumpers when the defense sagged too far or setting up a roller for a scoring opportunity if the defense was paying him too much attention. 

Ahmad Nowell (2024 | Imhotep Charter)
Nowell was Imhotep’s go-to guy in an overtime win over Hudson Catholic (N.J.) on Sunday. He poured in 23 points and came up with a pair of clutch threes for the Panthers (three overall in the game) to force overtime. Nowell, a broad-shouldered 6-1 guard, looks strong in everything he does on the floor. He used his strength to free himself for a midrange jumper or finish through contact at the basket. Nowell’s handles were impressive on Sunday and when he wasn’t creating for himself, he was getting into the lane to collapse the defense and find teammates. He made several standout defensive plays, his energy and hustle certainly playing a difference for Imhotep.

Spring-Ford 2025 Jacob Nguyen (above) showed off his abilities as a shooter and passer against Lincoln on Sunday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford)
Only a rising sophomore, Nguyen looks pretty advanced with the ball in his hands. He’s improved as a ball-handler since joining Spring-Ford as a freshman and truly impresses as a distributor. Nguyen did not put up a flashy assist total in the Rams’ matchup against Lincoln, but he showed an ability to find open teammates and pass them open as they cut, and made numerous impressive cross-court passes to find open shooters. He also shot the ball well from deep, pouring in 16 points. The potential is evident already for the 6-3 guard, and he should only keep improving with time.

Chidi Nwigwe (2026 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
Nwigwe had an impressive outing against St. Joseph’s Prep, and it becomes even more impressive when you realize the 6’6 wing is technically not even a freshman yet. Nwigwe finished with 18 points and was a major catalyst in Bergen Catholic’s comeback 58-55 victory. The incoming freshman hit four three-pointers in the game, and he had no problem absorbing and finishing through contact at the rim. Nwigwe showed an excellent ability to find open space when he was off the ball. Whether he was diving to the basket or floating behind the three-point line, he was a constant threat to the opposing defense. 

Lucas Orchard (2023 | Devon Prep)
Facing a talented Don Bosco Prep team in their first matchup of the day, Orchard’s dominance kept the Tide within reach for most of the game. He scored 24 of the team’s 30 first-half points to keep Devon Prep within one at the half. Orchard finished the game with 32 points, shooting 10-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. The 6-4 wing started the game with two triples forcing Don Bosco to extend their defense past the three-point line. This opened up the driving lanes and Orchard took full advantage, converting four and-one baskets in the game. 

Julian “Juju” Pagan (2023 | Pocono Mt. West)
West’s lead guard was in command the entire game during a 55-46 win over West Chester Henderson in a warm back gym during the morning sets. The 6-2, 165-pound combo guard scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out four assists, and grabbing a steal and block as well. Pagan’s got a lanky, athletic frame, a great ability to square up and knock down shots even with a hand in his face and through contact from all over the court. He’s got numerous small-college programs already interested, and if he can add the 10-15 pounds of muscle he wants to, he’ll be even more effective on both ends.

Tahaad Pettiford (2024 | Hudson Catholic, N.J.)
Quite a few of the high-major coaches watching Sunday’s Imhotep vs Hudson Catholic on Sunday were there to see Pettiford. Every time he drove to the basket, he exploded toward the rim, unafraid to absorb contact or even dish it out on his way to the basket. A violent dunk over a defender in transition was a good example of that. Not all of his shots were falling in a 13-point effort, but the lefty knocked down a three and got himself some good looks in the midrange with a pull-up jumper. The 6-1 guard also scrapped for rebounds to help undersized HC hang tough with the Panthers and displayed good vision to dish to his teammates.

Johnny Pierce (2024 | Windsor, Conn.)
In Windsor’s 65-59 victory over Gill St. Benard (N.J.), Pierce showed off his versatility on offense and defense. Defensively, Pierce switched on to many opposing players and had three blocks. Offensively, the rising junior showed his poise as a facilitator by picking up four assists and adding 8 points in the win. Earlier this week, Pierce picked up his first division-one offer from Central Connecticut, which he says brought him to tears. Pierce is using the summer with his AAU team, Black Ops Cadets, to continue to add strength to his 6-8 frame. 

Kevin Rucker (2024 | Chester)
In the second to last set of the event, Rucker erupted for a game-high 38 points in Chester’s 78-68 loss to Teaneck, N.J. The 6-foot-6 guard/wing was unstoppable going to the basket, using his long arms to finish layups and some floaters. Twice, Rucker got steals and broke away for buckets, the first time throwing down a dunk and the second time making a layup. Rucker routinely finished through contact for and-one opportunities and scored nine of his points from the free-throw line. He also knocked down a three off the catch and was active on the boards. At the end of the day, he was rewarded with offers from Rider and Drexel.

Mazen Sayed (above) shined for Chichester in a big win over Sankofa Freedom on Sunday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Mazen Sayed (2023 | Chichester)
Sayed dropped 23 points in Chichester’s 76-56 win over Sankofa on Sunday, and the rising senior was comfortable finishing in traffic and dribbling into pull-up jumpers. The 6-1 guard is using an improved dribble to get into the lane more frequently, and once he’s there, he makes good decisions with the ball, whether kicking out to an open teammate or finishing the play himself. Once he’s at the rim, Sayed is an ambidextrous finisher, and the natural righty says he’s currently more comfortable finishing with his left hand. 

Tyler Tejada (2023 | Teaneck, N.J)
Tejada, a 6-8 forward, prides himself on his versatility. Playing the ‘5’ for Teaneck, he brings a number of skills to the table that allows his team’s offense to flow. Of course, his size allows him to post up against smaller opponents with succes. But his ability to handle the ball and run the floor is what makes him unique. Tejada led the fast break a few times against Radnor, showing both finishing at the rim and showing off the ability to pull up with soft touch away from the basket. He finished with 25 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor, with five rebounds.

Charlie Thornton (2023 | Radnor)
We came really close to having three Radnor players on this list, as Danny Rosenblum was steady as ever on the point. But Hicke and Thornton were too good in leading Radnor to their win. Thornton, a 6-4 wing guard, had 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including one 3-pointer, with five rebounds, four steals and two assists. Thornton was challenging shots at the rim, and he’s a great transition defender, while he’s also become a much quicker decision-maker offensively and more dangerous with the ball in his hands. 

Rashawn Tibby (2024 | Windsor, Conn.)
Tibby was another 6-8 wing that impressed in Windsor’s win over Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.). The rising junior finished with 17 points. Tibby effectively got to the rim whenever he wanted and showcased a nice perimeter jump shot to keep the defense honest. Over the summer with Expressions Elite, Tibby will be looking to add weight and become an even stronger finisher. 

Honorable Mentions
Rahmir Barno (2023 | Imhotep Charter), Brandon Benjamin (2024 | Bergen Catholic), Brandon Bush (2023 | Cheltenham), Ty Carnegie (2025 | Teaneck, N.J.), Daquan Davis (2024 | St. John’s College, Md.), Blake Deegan (2023 | Archbishop Carroll), DaSear Haskins (2023 | Camden), Kamani Healy (2024 | Cheltenham), Duce Jackson (2023 | Collegium Charter), Zaiyin Keys (2023 | Chichester), Nick Losada (2023 | Gill St. Bernard’s, N.J.), Justin Love (2023 | Pocono Mt. West), Keith McKnight (2025 | Teaneck, N.J.), Omari Moore (2025 | Hudson Catholic), Geancarlo Peguero (2023 | Gill St. Bernard), Tavian Pullock (2023 | Immaculate Conception, N.J.), Seamus Rogers (2023 | Archbishop Carroll), Danny Rosenblum (2023 | Radnor), Anthony Williams (2024 | Windsor), Nasir Williams (2025 | Sankofa Freedom), Naseem Wright (2024 | Lincoln)


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