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Donofrio Classic Report: Wed., March 29, 2023

03/30/2023, 2:45am EDT
By Owen McCue & Konner Metz

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) &
Konner Metz (@konner_metz)

CONSHOHOCKEN — The 2023 Donofrio Classic’s first round continued on Wednesday night with its third night of play, four more teams taking the court at the Fellowship House to see who moves on into the second round of the five-round, 26-team affair.

Here’s a roundup and notebook from Wednesday night’s competition; CLICK HERE for all of CoBL’s 2023 Donofrio Classic coverage:

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Spring-Ford's Jacob Nguyen scored 38 points in Flocco's win on Wednesday. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Game One: Philly Hoop Group 108, Hunting Park I 82
Even without a few big names listed on its roster, Philly Hoop Group certainly looked like a title contender to begin its tournament run on Wednesday. Ahmad Nowell (2024 | Imhotep Charter) and Nasseem Wright (2024 | Math, Civics & Sciences)  led the way to get their team out to a 54-34 lead by half as it was smooth sailing the rest of the contest. Jermai Stewart-Herring (2023 | Roman Catholic) exploded for 21 of his team-high 25 points in the second half, while Nowell finished with 22 and Wright had 16. Ty Barlow (2026 | Weequahic, N.J.) chipped in another 13 points (three 3s) and Nasir Washington (2023 | Penn Wood) rounded out the team’s double-figure scorers with 10. A mix of familiar faces got into double digits for Hunting Park I: Jayden McKie (2026 | West Philadelphia) had 15, Nadir Myers (2023 | Upper Darby) 12, Laquan Byrd (2024 | Father Judge) 10 and Josiah Hutson (2025 | Cheltenham) 10.

Game Two: Flocco’s 115, Yellow Jackets 105
Flocco’s used a 3-point barrage to jump out ahead early, expanding its lead to close to 20 in the second half. An all-freshman Yellow Jackets team managed to come back and tie the game with six minutes left on a three by James Brenner (2026 | Unionville), but Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford) and Flocco’s were too much. Nguyen finished with a game-high 38 points, knocking down eight of his team’s 14 threes, including a big one during a Flocco’s run in the final minutes that expanded the lead back to double digits. Luke Rasmussen (2023 | Haverford School) and E.J. Campbell (2024 | Spring-Ford) were hot from deep as well as they finished with 19 points and three triples apiece. Washing College commit and Jack Swider (2023 | Phil-Mont Christian) hit three more as part of a 13-point game.

The young Yellow Jackets team had some sharpshooting of their own as well, combining for 14 threes. The freshmen were led by a pair of explosive outings from Stephon Ashley-Wright (2026 | Neumann-Goretti), who had 33 and three triples, and Ian Williams (2026 | Archbishop Carroll), who had 30 and six threes. Manny Butts (2026 | Haverford School) added another 15, getting the best of his older Haverford teammate Rasmussen on an and-one. Nasir Ralls (2026 | Archbishop Carroll) had 10.

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La Salle College HS senior Will Ryan plans to stay in hoops anyway he can. (Photo: Konner Metz/CoBL)

La Salle’s Ryan enjoying close to on-court career, while chasing other endeavors

Will Ryan (2023│La Salle) always finds a way to be around the sport of basketball, whether he’s on the court or off the court.

Wednesday night, he was on the court at the Donofrio Classic for Philly Hoop Group, scoring five points in a victory. But many times over the course of the season, Ryan put on a headset and was behind a microphone, broadcasting high school games around the area.

“My sophomore year when COVID was happening, there were district games going on at La Salle and they weren’t giving out tickets to just regular fans,” Ryan reflected. “I went to our director of basketball operations and said, ‘Hey, how do I get to the game?’ He said, ‘Oh we’ll throw you on the broadcast.’ 

“That’s where I met [La Salle broadcaster] Bob Long. I did the camera that game and … ever since then, we talk ball. I kinda realized that I watch a lot of high school basketball, probably a little too much. I think I got to 55 games last year.”

Ryan, who just wrapped up his senior season with the Explorers, has blossomed into a familiar color commentator for Long’s efforts that have expanded past the La Salle school, from the Diane Mosco Classic to state playoff games to some coverage for Catholic League schools such as Archbishop Wood.

And Ryan seems to have enjoyed the broadcast side just as much as he enjoys playing the game.

“It’s just a blast,” Ryan said. “I’m someone that if you sit with me for a game, I’m probably going to talk a lot. To have a microphone on, I guess it’s going to good use.”

The multi-talented Ryan will be heading up to Boston College next year, where he plans to pursue a degree in business general management.

He mentioned having his fingers crossed to become a manager on the basketball team, as some coaches he knows are in contact with members of the Eagles staff. That potential opportunity would be yet another extension of Ryan’s loaded experience.

“It would be so cool,” he said. “I like to think that I’m just a basketball guy, I like being around the game. It doesn’t matter if I’m the last guy on the bench, you know, doing the defense chants. I just like being around it. 

“At La Salle, they gave me a nice opportunity. I didn’t really play much but I got to help on the scouting reports and game preparation. And the thought of doing that at a higher level is just so, so cool.”

But as high school graduation and beginning college looms, Ryan is enjoying some of his final moments on the court in the Philly hoops scene, playing alongside some of the best in the area. He was able to get in contact with the Philly Hoop Group squad last year and is once again on the team for 2023’s Classic.

“This is probably my last organized basketball I’ll play for awhile,” Ryan said. “I’m super grateful for the opportunity to play. It’s a fun time, getting the opportunity to play with a lot of really good players, but also really nice kids.— Konner Metz

Carroll kids get taste of Donofrio

Archbishop Carroll head coach Francis Bowe got a chance to look at the future of his Patriots program Wednesday night.

As Bowe sat on the bench coaching the Yellow Jackets, three members of Carroll’s 2026 class helped keep the completely freshmen team competitive against a much older Flocco’s squad.

Ian Williams had 30 points, Nasir Ralls had 10 and Drew Corrao added six in the 115-105 loss, while classmate Luca Foster was on the roster ready to play if not for an injury. 

There’s certainly a lot to be excited for in Wayne.

“I just want to keep growing with this group because once we build a bond, it’s going to keep getting better and better as we start getting better and better,” Ralls said.

Williams made 23 starts as a freshman this past season, averaging 9.7 ppg and 4.6 apg. Ralls played in 24 games averaging 6.9 ppg. Foster saw action in 17 games, and Corrao, a lanky 6-8 forward, played in just six games. 

“We’re all freshmen, so the next three years we’re just going to build off what we did the year before,” Corrao said. “I didn’t really play much this year because I had an injury and whatever, so I’m excited for next year.”

The Patriots will have to replace four seniors next season, including second team All-PCL selection Dean Coleman-Newsome, Blake Deegan (Lock Haven), Seamus Rogers (Susquehanna) and Khair Dixon.

Class of 2025 guard Jake West will be a returning third team All-PCL selection and class of 2024 wing Su'meer Alleyne is another talented place slated to be back in the mix. However, with a good chunk of the rotation needing to be replaced, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see Corrao and Foster join Williams and Ralls in elevated roles for the next three seasons.

They hope to get a few more shots at redemption at the Donofrio over the next several years as well.

“Just learning, learning from it,” Ralls said of Wednesday’s experience. “Next year, we’re going to be right back in it too. We’re going to be even better.”

“We’ll beat ‘em next year,” Corrao added.


Haverford senior Luke Rasmussen is leaning toward walking onto a D1 program. (Photo: Konner Metz/CoBL)

Rasmussen eyeing opportunities at D-1 level

Luke Rasmussen’s opportunities post-high school are growing right alongside his stature. 

The senior, who is listed at 6-7, ended his season for The Haverford School even taller than he started it. And with a patient mindset when it comes to committing to a college, more and more good news has funneled in.

“I kinda waited a little longer, I’ve grown a couple inches since the fall,” Rasmussen said. “I’m looking at a couple preferred [Division I] walk-on spots, just a couple schools I’ve applied to. Hearing back this week from regular decision, so I’m just going to wait it out a little longer, but hopefully I’ll know soon.”

Earlier in the search process, Rasmussen had been in contact with local, high-academic Division III schools and some non-local programs at that level. But the prospects of playing basketball at the highest level are enticing, though he hasn’t come to a final decision yet.

“It’s super exciting,” he said of the D-1 possibilities. “I started my first high school game as an 18-year old, so I’m used to sitting on the bench. And I just love the sport of basketball so much, that’s what I want to do. I want to be around the highest level of people and the connections at some of the schools that I’m talking to are just great.”

The shooting guard turned stretch forward showed out at the Donofrio Classic Wednesday night, putting on display some of the reasons why his opportunities post-graduation are so abundant. Rasmussen had 19 points, stemming from some inside makes, an and-one bucket, a couple midrange jumpers, and three 3-pointers for the Floccos, who took down the Yellow Jackets, 115-105.

Rasmussen said he saw the Flocco’s squad last year and tried to get on the team, but was a bit too late. But he was able to secure a spot this season through the help of Jackson Gaffney’s (2023│Radnor) father, his son also being on the team. 

For now, Rasmussen envies being able to play in a fun environment at the Donofrio Classic and get some spring basketball under his belt, especially with his college decision looming. However, he’s not stressed about the choice; instead, confident about his future wherever he winds up choosing.

“Basketball can only take you so far,” Rasmussen said. “Wherever I end up, it’s more about the connections that you make there. And I’m learning through the recruiting process, that if you know people, you will succeed. That’s kind of why I want to expand.

“Take it as it comes, everything happens for a reason. Wherever I end up, I’m gonna end up and I’m gonna do well. I firmly believe that.” – Konner Metz


Senior Stanley had a strong season at Samuels Fels. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Fels’ Parker hopes to extend hoops career

Whether it was swatting shots or catching oops from his younger brother, Stanley Parker put the Samuel Fels boys basketball program back on the map in style this past season.

The walking highlight reel averaged 17.4 ppg for the Panthers after transferring from Sankofa, where averaged 11.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg as a junior. 

His addition was certainly a key factor in Fels going a perfect 13-0 in the Public League ‘D’ Division and following consecutive losing campaigns with a 21-3 mark and appearance in the Public League quarters.

“Before we transferred to Fels, Fels wasn’t that good, but when we transferred, we brought the attention to the team,” Parker said. “It was kind of fun. We had a lot of fans. I had a lot of people come up to me saying how we changed the environment at the school.”

Parker’s younger brother Shamar, whose twin Senaya had a historic scoring season for the Fels girls team, will hope to keep the Panthers humming next season as Stanley approaches the next step in his hoops journey.

The bouncy 6-foot-3 guard mentioned some school checked in with him throughout the season and he took a visit to Montgomery County Community College. He hopes to play in college and will play in several senior showcases along with suiting up for NEBC during the spring live periods. 

“Effort, basically,” Parker said of what he brings to the table. “Just effort and hard work, and I’m going to play good defense and use my athleticism to an advantage. 

— Owen McCue


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