City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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CONSHOHOCKEN — The 2023 Donofrio Classic’s second round began on Wednesday night with a pair of teams returning to the court and two more making their debut at the Fellowship House after first round byes. The winners moved on to the quarterfinals, which begin April 12.

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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Game One: Keystone Blazers 107, K-Low Elite 98
Credit to K-Low, which was down 29 with under 10 minutes left and was one missed shot away from being running clock’d out of the Fellowship House but got a big second half from KJ Cochran (2025 | West Chester East) to get within nine with about two minutes left. But Keystone Blazers were able to hold them off down the stretch, the trio of Jalil Bethea (2024 | Archbishop Wood), Carson Howard (2023 | Archbishop Wood) and Thomas Sorber (2024 | ARchbishop Ryan) just too much to overcome. Bethea, who finished with 35 points of his own, scored 25 before halftime as he was on fire from the get-go; Sorber, who had 25 and what had to have been 15-plus rebounds, was all over the court; Howard had 20 points, almost all at the rim, a put-back and dump-off expert. Cochran, the talented 6-3 sophomore, had 35 of his own, scoring 26 after halftime, while Zion Stanford (2023 | West Catholic) had 21 before fouling out. 

Game Two: M-Sport 92, Flocco’s 74
The full-court press of M-Sport was too much for a young Flocco’s bunch, though on a group of Catholic League players it was Julian Sadler (2024 | Perkiomen Valley) who led the way with a standout 25-point outing, complemented by Milan Dean (2025 | Archbishop Wood), who had 19, and Tariq Jennings (2024 | West Catholic), who had 11. Flocco’s got 20 from Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford), 16 from Luke Rasmussen (2023 | Haverford School), and 11 second-half points from Rocco Morabito (2024 | Archbishop Ryan). 

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Zion Stanford (above) never backed off his commitment to Temple through the Owls' recent coaching change. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Zion Stanford staying committed to Temple through coaching change

It’s been a whirlwind past few weeks for Zion Stanford. In the midst of a historic run last month to a first-ever state championship for his high school West Catholic, the Temple commit saw his future head coach fired and his college plans suddenly clouded. Now, with a new name leading the way on North Broad, Stanford can see a clearer path forward.

Temple dismissed former head coach Aaron McKie last month after four seasons helming the sideline in North Philly. His replacement, former Penn State assistant Adam Fisher, was announced by the school at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Stanford was in attendance and came away with a positive impression of his future coach.

“My dad wanted me to go out to see what his plans were,” Stanford said. “He wants to shoot a lot of 3s, play our game. I feel like any coach that just lets their players play is going to be a good team.”

Stanford first met Fisher on March 29, the day Fisher was officially named as the new head coach at Temple. Stanford, who was already on campus that day working out, was able to talk to Fisher as he addressed the rest of the team for the first time. Fisher told him that he’d seen him play in the PIAA state tournament, and hoped he’d keep his commitment to Temple.

“He was basically telling me he wanted me here, he’s seen me play, he watched (a state playoff) game, he said he was going to come but he had to do something,” Stanford said. “I felt like what he was saying was genuine to me, he wanted me to stay, felt like I could get better at the school and make the school better.”

“I felt like (it was) all cool vibes, I felt like he was a genuine person, he really meant what he was saying to me and I felt like this year is going to be an exciting year.”

Even with a new head coach, Stanford thinks there will still be a feeling of continuity within the program, which is coming off a 17-17 season. Quite a few members of the Owls, including forwards Nick Jourdain and Jamille Reynolds, are already transferring elsewhere; others, including Hysier Miller, Zach Hicks and Damien Dunn, are still potentials to return to North Broad.

Stanford credits his relationship with assistant coach Chris Clark as a major reason for sticking with Temple, and the feeling of family within the team. 

“I’ve got a good bond with him, I felt like I could go to him whenever I need something,” he said. “Him staying there was definitely a big plus for me staying there too.”

At the moment he’s the only committed member of their freshman class, but the Owls are expected to hit the portal hard to rebuild the roster; Fisher said in his inaugural press conference that he wasn’t planning on a lengthy rebuild.

Stanford says he wants to work on his dribbling and shooting this summer, as well as getting faster and stronger. He’ll move into school on June 22 to start summer workouts. — Gedd Constable

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Lange weighing different opportunities as one stands out

Will Lange’s ‘senioritis’ hasn’t fully kicked in yet. He’s still completing his homework at Shipley and balling at the Donofrio Classic because he hasn’t yet decided where he’ll be playing hoops next year.

The 6-foot-5 forward thought about playing a few tournaments with the NJ ShoreShots over the next couple weekends, but he realized that the 90-minute drive to practice plus weekend tournaments wasn’t worth the time.

“My family and I had a discussion about playing AAU,” the senior said after his K-Low Elite squad lost to the Keystone Blazers at the Donofrio Classic. “It wasn’t worth it to do it for two weekends, when the coaches that I could go to, have already seen me, it wasn't worth my time.”

Lange is gonna use his time instead to mull over his options before he makes a decision at the end of the month. He has three Division III opportunities from Widener, DeSales, and Alfred (N.Y.), but in recent weeks Lange has garnered interest from Division I programs like Bucknell and Manhattan for potential walk-on spots.

Of course, Lange also has the option to attend Saint Joseph’s and play for his father and head coach Billy Lange as a walk-on.

“I trust him,” Will said about his father, Billy. “He’s worked me out my whole life. It'd be cool to maybe play for him.

“We’ve had times where we’ve butted heads, but that’s just because we were passionate about what we did and didn't always see eye to eye. But as I grew up and matured I realized that he’s pretty smart at what he does. So, I ended up listening to him and he’s gotten me to where I am right now.”

Even though he hasn’t made a decision yet, Will said he’s is leaning toward Widener because of his familiarity with head coach Chris Carideo, K-Low Elite teammate Keith Gee’s (Penn Charter) recent commitment, and the program’s culture.

“I feel comfortable with them,” he added. “I’ve visited them. I’ve known the coach. He’s like one of my uncles. He’s one of my dad’s best friends. I see them all the time. They talk to me all the time.

“I like playing with guys who like being around each other on and off the court. I’ve had teams where kids don’t like being with each other. It doesn’t reflect well on the court. But watching Widener play, they really like playing with each other and it reflects how they play on the court.” — Jared Leveson

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Jennings headed into key offseason for West Catholic

Tariq Jennings will be looking to have a huge offseason this summer. Not only for himself, but for West Catholic as well.

With 11 points in his second game of the Donofrio Classic, it was players like Julian Sadler (25 points) and Milan Dean (19 points) who were leading the team to the win, with Jennings scoring in double digits as an alternative option. But on the other end of the ball, Jennings played great defensively whether it was picking up the main ball handler, helping generate pressure through their full court press, or using all 6-foot-5 inches of himself to close out on perimeter shooters.

With all the talent leaving the Burrs (Zion Stanford, Budd Clark, Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui + Amyr Walker) West Catholic will be in need of some new leaders on and off the court. 

“I’m expecting him to be a leader,” West Catholic head coach Miguel Bocachica said. “Obviously [I] want him being more vocal but also lead by example everyday.”

Tariq, who will be a senior next year, is not only expected to step into that leadership role, but to also become a leader through his play as well. Although he was a huge role player for West Catholic last year, he will most likely be starting next year for the Burrs with the aforementioned departures, and will want to come equipped with an improved game to help West Catholic defend their school’s first ever state championship. 

Improving his offensive game all-around is his main focus this offseason, with a lot of emphasis on his dribble pull ups, his ball handling, and his three-point shooting. 

Coming off the bench and providing huge minutes during West Catholics historic state championship run should prove to be huge for his development as well. The more minutes he got during the final stretch of the state championship tournament helped him become more competent and prepared to attack this off season.

“Super super valuable minutes for him, confidence growing minutes.” Bocachica said. “But hard work pays off, and he’s always working hard. He earned those minutes.”

Going into his senior season, Jennings doesn’t have any offers, but potentially making the starting lineup for the defending state champions, as well as playing for the Philly Pride 17s Select team, he should have every chance to prove himself to potential colleges. — Myles Berry

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Rocco Morabito talks first year in the Catholic League

Archbishop Ryan guard Rocco Morabito netted a 3-ball from the right-wing and faced toward a group of hecklers who were barking at him all night at the Donofrio Classic.

“These kids kept talking,” the 6-foot-3 guard said. “So I had to be like ‘c'mon guys, you gotta chill, we just having fun out here.’”  

Morabito was having a lot of fun despite his Flocco’s team bounced from the tournament. But now his focus shifts to grassroots circuit and hopes to  build off a productive and valuable first season in the Philadelphia Catholic League after transferring from Shipley of the Friends School League. 

The junior had to adapt on and off the court. Not only did his 12-minute drive to Shipley turn into a 35-minute commute, but the level of competition offered by the Catholic League was more challenging. 

“There’s so much talent [in the Catholic League],” he said. “I just really figured out where to fit in, I'm still figuring that out. But there’s so much talent and like they play like dogs, every team plays like dogs.

“It’s a great league and I love it. I can’t wait to make it to the Palestra next year.” 

Morabito was most surprised with the spirit and enthusiasm that the students and fans bring to each game. His first real taste of PCL play came against Father Judge. 

“It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played against and I was shaking a little bit, but I [eventually] kept my cool,” he said. 

After a season in the PCL, Morabito has received interest from Lafayette, but he’s looking to garner more attention from Patriot League level teams and is itching to improve his game and make an impact this summer with his Philly Revolution team. 

Morabito idolizes former Villanova guard Collin Gillespie and is focusing his offseason workouts developing a similar game. 

“I want to play exactly like he plays,” he added. “I’m trying to get my guard post play up. I've been really trying to rip the 3-ball a lot but I'm still figuring out how to move off the ball, how to set my feet really quickly, quick release, hold my follow through, hold it high, cock my wrist back etc.

“I’m gonna get to my goals. Whatever it takes.” 

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Pennsbury's Ty Kocak (left) defends while Perk Valley's Julian Sadler attacks the bucket. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Quick Hits
— Julian Sadler (2024 | Perkiomen Valley) is hearing from some high-academic schools as he enters his 17U season of grassroots hoops, where he’ll be playing with the Penn Warriors on the Hoop Group circuit. The 6-2 left-hander said he’d been hearing from American University since last summer, but more recently had heard from D-II Chestnut Hill as well as D-IIIs University of Chicago and Amherst, two elite academic schools. He’s visited American, last September under the previous coaching staff, but wants to set up further visits after April. 

“It definitely feels good — I know they’re Division III, but they’re very high-academic, and they’re some of the best schools in the country, so it feels good,” he said. It definitely motivates me to keep my grades up.”

— Devin Booker (2025 | Cristo Rey) is a raw prospect looking to enhance his game this summer, and in his one and only game this year at the Donofrio Classic, he was able to showcase some of that raw talent. The 6-foot-4 sophomore finished with 10 points, all coming in the second half of the game, that his team K-Low Elite lost. A few flashy dunks and fierce defense on the wing aided by his 170-pound frame allowed him to be effective on both sides of the court, something that Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School is going to need next year if they want to repeat as defending Penn-Jersey League champions.

The morning of his Donofrio debut, Booker received his first DIvision I offer, from Mississippi State, and with the amount of potential he has if he can round out his game, and fine-tune his playmaking and shooting should allow him to see more D-I level offers by the time he’s ready to make his college pick.

He said he’s spending this offseason working on “my ball handling, working on moves that I’m gonna do next year in the games, just to build confidence in my ball handling and shooting.”

— Ty Kocak (2023 | Pennsbury), a SOL Patriot League first-team honoree, still hasn’t decided where he’ll play hoops next year. He has two D-III roster opportunities from Marymount (Va.) and Juniata on the table, but is still speaking with Susquehanna, Penn State-Abington, and McDaniel (Md.). Kocak is looking for a program that will challenge him, develop his game, and compete for championships. The 6-foot-2 senior guard will get together with his grassroots Rebels Basketball Academy team the next few weeks for tournaments and workouts and will make his final decision within the next two weeks.