skip navigation

2023 Donofrio Classic: Week 1 Standouts

03/31/2023, 3:15pm EDT
By Josh Verlin + Owen McCue

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

The 2023 Donofrio Classic got off to a great start this week, the annual all-star tournament once again bringing loads of talent to the court at the Fellowship House in Conshohocken for its 61st edition.

CoBL had writers there every night to check out the action and write about the various local and regional players who come down to Conshy to participate; click here to access all our coverage thus far, as well as rosters and an event schedule/bracket

We’ll also be putting together weekly and full-tournament standouts, highlighting the players who especially performed well in what can be a little bit of a frenetic on-court situation. Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff this week:

Ryan Archey (2023 | Rocktop Academy)
An uncommitted senior who received offers from Delaware State and Augusta (Ga.) within the last few weeks, Archey poured in 26 points in Just Cool It’s loss Monday. He’s got a real knack for scoring in the short to mid range, helped by a pretty fadeaway jumper, and likes to get into the paint and distribute as well.

Stephon Ashley-Wright (2026 | Neumann-Goretti)
The Saints’ guard had some impressive outings in the PCL this season and led the charge for an all-freshman Yellow Jackets team on Wednesday with 33 points, including three triples. He’s quick, can shoot and consistently frustrates whoever he is guarding.


Jalil Bethea (above) was one of many standouts from the first week of the 2023 Donofrio Classic. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jalil Bethea (2024 | Archbishop Wood)
Bethea’s going to be on these lists a lot this summer. The 6-4 sharpshooter just put together one of the best seasons in the city, and he’s carried that right into Donofrio, where he was toying with defenders this week, knocking down deep jumpers when he wanted and otherwise getting into the lane at will.

Aasim ‘Flash’ Burton (2024 | Cardinal O’Hara)
Burton couldn’t be the savior of the universe for Difference Makers on Tuesday night, but the O’Hara guard showed why he’s got a trio of D-I offers with a 25-point outing. The strong-bodied lead guard has a smooth pull-up jumper, knows how to get to the line and sees the floor well while being an unselfish passer.

Adam ‘Budd’ Clark (2023 | West Catholic)
Clark ‘only’ had 20 points in M-Sport’s overtime win Tuesday night, but it seemed like the 5-11 lead guard had double that because of his defensive pressure; he must have forced 10 turnovers on his own, his on-ball defense nothing but relentless. He’s picked up a couple offers this week, from Merrimack and FDU, with more likely to come this month.

Jordan Dill (2026 | Germantown Friends)
Dill, who already eclipsed the 1,000-point threshold as just a freshman at GFS, scored 28 points Monday for an all-freshman BW Elite White squad. The lefty is a crafty scorer, often going to the pull-up to get his points, though he certainly has a bag of tricks he can go to to get a bucket.

Elijah Hamilton (2023 | Octorara)
Hamilton went off this week for 42 points, including the game-winning layup with less than 10 seconds left as Hoop Dreams beat Great American Pub 119-117. An athletic 6-4 wing guard, Hamilton’s versatility is impressive, as he’s a great rebounder and aggressive in transition, but he can also step out and knock down 3s. 

Manny Joe-Samuel (2025 | Paul VI, N.J.)
The New Jersey product is a tough shotmaker and made quite a few of them in a 27-point outing for the Old School Cavs on Monday, helping lead the charge for a balanced scoring attack. The strong 6-foot-4 guard can put the ball through the hoop both inside and out and did both.

Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford)
Nguyen’s 38-point performance and 3-point barrage (eight threes) for Flocco’s made up one of the marquee performances of the Donofrio thus far. The 6-foot-4 guard also flashed some of his inbetween game, whether it was runners or fadeaways in the post. Pretty much everything he tossed up went through the hoop. He’ll be on a lot of colleges’ radars this summer after a stock rising sophomore campaign.

Ahmad Nowell (2024 | Imhotep Charter)
Nowell’s name should certainly be tossed up there in the ‘Best Player in the Region’ conversation, especially as he readies to become ‘The Guy’ at Imhotep next season with Rahmir Barno and Justin Edwards departing. He can shoot, pass and is incredibly strong, making him incredibly tough to stop as highlighted in a 22-point outing Wednesday for Philly Hoop Group.


Saleem Payne (above) had 32 points in his final Donofrio Classic game. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Saleem Payne (2023 | Phelps School)
In terms of pure ‘fun’ factor to watch them play, Payne’s up there with the best around. The 5-11 guard is lightning-quick with the ball in his hands, and he loves to score in all sorts of creative ways, including a mid-range pull-up he’ll pull out with frequency. His 32-point performance that kept Danny Rumph in a loss Tuesday night featured plenty of those; he’ll play at West Chester this fall. 

Will Riley (2025 | Phelps School)
One of the highest-ceiling prospects in the area, the 6-9 Riley had the week’s biggest scoring outing with 45 points in a big win Thursday night. Four 3-pointers showed his range out to the arc, with a smooth release, but he got a lot going around the rim, getting to the bucket in transition and finishing with both hands, including a few dunks. 

Thomas Sorber (2024 | Archbishop Ryan)
Sorber is really turning himself into an all-around force, the 6-10 big man now athletic and quick enough to be all over the court offensively and defensively, as opposed to the lumbering post he was as an underclassman. His 18-point effort in a win Tuesday wasn’t as impressive as his ability to guard posts and wings, and dominate the glass.

Jermai Stewart-Herring (2023 | Roman Catholic)
Stewart-Herring, a springy 6-foot-5 guard with an offer from Hampton, didn’t play during Roman’s PIAA run due to transfer rules, but he didn’t show any rust. He tossed down dunk after dunk for Philly Hoop Group in a win over Hunting Park I, finishing with 25 points (21 in the second half).

Ian Williams (2026 | Archbishop Carroll)
Another one of the youngsters on the Yellow Jackets who showed out, Williams poured in 30 points — no surprise given the fact that he saw extended action in the PCL for the Patriots this past season. Williams knocked down six threes Wednesday and got to the hoop as well. He’s certainly a name to know for the next few years.

Ryan Williams (2024 | Malvern Prep)
A 6-3 guard, Williams had a big night on Tuesday with 38 pointers for M-Sport, including a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation. The Friars’ star and sharpshooter had it going on the offensive end with a mix of pull-up jumpers, getting to the rim and knocking down shots from deep.

~~~

Honorable Mention
Ty Barlow (2026 | Weequahic, N.J.), Qudire Bennett (2023 | Plymouth Whitemarsh), Larry Brown (2026 | Coatesville), Manny Butts (2026 | Haverford School), E.J. Campbell (2024 | Spring-Ford), Blake Deegan (2023 | Archbishop Carroll), Carson Howard (2023 | Archbishop Wood), Luke Fryer (2024 | Owen J. Roberts), Zaiyin Keys (2023 | Chichester), Myon Kirlew (2024 | Norristown), Jayden McKie (2026 | West Philadelphia), Nadir Myers (2023 | Upper Darby), Jamaal Morris (2023 | Our Savior Lutheran, N.Y.), Jameel Morris (2023 | Our Savior Lutheran, N.Y.), Nile Mosby (2023 | Eng. & Sciences), Dayon Polk (2023 | Sanford School, Del.), Luke Rasmussen (2023 | Haverford School), Horace Simmons (2023 | La Salle College HS), Jake Sniras (2025 | Garnet Valley), Dom Vacchiano (2024 | Wissahickon), Vince Wildrick (2023 | Chichester), Nasseem Wright (2024 | Math, Civics & Sciences)


D-I Coverage:

HS Coverage:

Small-College News:

Tag(s): Home  Josh Verlin  High School  Boys HS  Catholic League (B)  Ches-Mont (B)  Delaware Valley (B)  Friends' Schools (B)  Inter-Ac (B)  Pac-10 (B)  Public League (B)  Suburban One (B)  Donofrio Classic