City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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MANHEIM — The Select Events Prime East tournament’s high-level, two-day affair concluded on Sunday, with teams from Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Select Events and the Hoop Group Summer League all battling for titles in action from 17U down on through middle schoolers

Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff during Sunday’s action in the 15U, 16U and 17U championship brackets:

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Haylie Adamski (2025 | Philly Rise EYBL 16U)
Adamski’s 16 points were a team-high in a 16U semifinal. The 6-foot Garnet Valley wing/forward had her shot falling as she knocked down four threes Adamski has the height and length and a pure shooting stroke and also a good feel for sliding to the wing or corner to fee herself for a good look. Adamski added four rebounds and a pair of steals in the semifinal and chipped in two blocks and a steal in the title game. She certainly looks like someone who can be an impact player on both ends.

Kennedy Austin (2025 | Team Takeover EYBL 16U)
Takeover’s 16s absolutely shut down a talented ShoreShots squad in a 16U quarterfinal, holding the Jersey group to just 24 points, and Austin’s energy was a big reason why. The 5-9 wing guard is a tremendous athlete and she puts that to work on both ends of the floor, though it was her ability to fly around the court defensively and force turnover after turnover (including three steals) that stood out. Offensively, that energy translated into four offensive rebounds and 10 points in the low-scoring affair, getting her production mostly on hustle plays.

Kaylinn Bethea (2025 | Philly Rise EYBL 16U)
Bethea’s shooting was a huge part of Philly Rise’s comeback from a 10-point first half deficit in the 16U championship game. The guard knocked down a deep three at the end of the first half to knot the score 27-27 and finished with 14 points in the title game with a very efficient outing. In the 16U semifinals, it was her defense that made the difference as the Penn Charter sophomore picked off six steals against Exodus 16U in a close game, including the final one that sealed the victory. She’s got quick feet and hands that can poke the ball free and help her team get out and run in transition.

Tessa Carman (2025 | NJ ShoreShots HGSL 17U)
Carman was just about all the ShoreShots had going offensively against Takeover in a 16U quarterfinal, accounting for more than half of her team’s offense, with 13 of their 24 points. The versatile 5-11 wing has a guard’s handles and a forward’s post abilities, and she’s got great natural touch and feel around the rim, scoring on all sorts of spin moves and tough finishes where she just somehow puts the ball up at the exact right moment to float up and through the hoop; she also grabbed nine rebounds in the game, ripping a few away from opponents. 

Lexi Carnegie (2026 | Jersey Gemz EYBL 15U)
Carnegie had quite a productive outing for the Gemz in a semifinal loss to Philly Rise, coming up with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double off the wing, with a couple assists thrown in for good measure. The athletic 5-10 guard from Teaneck (N.J.) grabbed seven offensive rebounds in a game where the Gemz had 25 on that end as a team, continually crashing the glass and trying for second-chance points. She had a nice step-through a couple defenders for a finish as well.

Savannah Curry (2024 | Team Takeover EYBL 17U)
The 5-11 Westtown wing had one of the most explosive outings of the weekend when she went off for 33 points (8 threes) in a semifinal win over Exodus. She had a slow start but continued to get open looks and knock them down to the delight of the large crowd that formed around the court. Curry didn’t put the ball on the ground a ton, but when she did it was with purpose, getting herself to the hoop or opening up a teammate for an open look. She said she’s working on her rebounding this summer and showcased that as she continually crashed the offensive glass to earn extra possessions. She wasn’t quite as explosive in the second contest but still made some big plays (nine points, five rebounds) to help her team bring home the title.

Alexis Eberz (2026 | Comets GUAA 15U)
With her team going cold in the second half of the 15U semifinals, Eberz came up with some timely plays to get the Comets into the championship round. The Archbishop Carroll freshman did the best thing a struggling offense can do by getting to the foul line, sinking three of four from the line early in the half before adding two short jump shots and fighting for several key rebounds, including one off the offensive glass. Eberz followed up with a strong showing in the 15U title game, adding 12 points as the Comets lifted the trophy against a solid Philly Rise EYBL squad.

Leah Harmon (2024 | Exodus EYBL 17U)
The Miami (Fla.) commit followed up an 11-point outing in the quarterfinals with 18 points, six assists and three steals in a hard-fought semifinal against Team Takeover. She hit a nasty step-back three from the wing in the first game and added two more long balls in the semis. Harmon embraces contact on her way to the hoop getting to the line often and finishing through bumps even when she doesn’t get the call. She can dish out some physicality on the defensive end as well, or bait her opponent before swiping the ball the other way. Her cour vision and playmaking stoodout in both contests as found a way to get the ball in the right place a number of different ways — whether that was whipping the ball across court to the corner or floating one over the top of the defense to her big inside.

Kennedy Henry (2025 | Philly Rise EYBL 17U)
Henry was absolutely lights out for the Rise’s top group in a semifinal win over Boo Williams. The Virginia Tech commit and Blair Academy (N.J.) wing hit eight of the first nine shots she took, including five 3-pointers, each one a high-arcing rainbow that splashed through the net. That was all she needed for a 21-point outing, throwing in a trio of offensive rebounds and steals plus a block for good measure in the 58-45 win. Henry, who’s been committed since last summer, still has two more years before the ACC needs to watch out.

Amaia Jackson (2025 | Exodus NYC EYBL 16U)
Jackson had a quiet first half before exploding down the stretch to turn the 16U semifinal from a blowout into one of the best contests of the weekend. Jackson scored 23 points as she rallied Exodus from a deficit that was up past 20 down to a single possession. She hit five triples freeing herself for good looks off the triple and looking ready to fire off the ball once she got hot. Jackson, a 5-8 guard, is quick with the ball in her hands and the threat of her shooting allowed her to use the bounce to the bucket. She’s a creative finisher around the rim as well.

Ryann Jennings (2026 | Comets GUAA 15U)
Jennings put together a terrific freshman campaign at Conestoga and she looks like she’s already gotten better. The 5-10 guard scored a team-high 15 points as the Comets knocked off Philly Rise for the 15U championship. Jennings knocked down three threes, looking comfortable off the bounce and as a spot up shooter. She wasn’t afraid to drive into traffic and finished once or twice amongst the trees. Jennings also added a pair of assists and five boards to her line.

Olivia Jones (2025 | Philly Rise EYBL 16U)
Jones took over when it mattered in the 17U title game, the 5-foot-10 forward ferociously attacking the backboard and willing her team to the finish in a back-and-forth duel with Empire State Blue Flames. Jones scored all 16 of her title game points in the second half, four of them coming on putbacks and six coming via and-one takes to the rim as she made Empire State feel her presence on the court. The Cedar Cliff sophomore, who already holds a nice list of college offers, just plays hard and it shows in her rebounding where she can move people out of the way to make sure she gets the ball. In a game where every possession mattered, Jones had six offensive boards, one steal and took a charge to create extra chances for her team.

Haley Kolk (2027 | Mid-Atlantic Magic 14U)
Kolk had a nice showing for the Magic in a win over K-Low Elite, scoring 18 points and playing with a lot of confidence. The 6-foot Kolk, who will play at Neshaminy next year, is a post player for the Magic but she was all net stepping out and hitting a trio of three-point shots from the top of the arc while also scoring three baskets inside the arc including an and-one. She also added two steals and moved well off the ball to get into spots where teammates could find her.

Kate Koval (2024 | Exodus EYBL 17U)
Koval piled up 23 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in a semifinal loss to Team Takeover in an outing that seemed all-too routine for the 6-foot-5 five-star forward. Koval didn’t demand the ball but was extremely efficient with her touches inside, finishing through contact for a pair of and-ones. She keeps the offense moving when she doesn’t have good looks as her height and vision allow her to feed the ball over the floor. On the defensive end, she plays very controlled, racking up the blocks while she avoids fouling her opponent. The paint is pretty much off limits whenever she is on the floor.

Ava LaMonica (2026 | Jersey Gemz EYBL 15U)
LaMonica was all over the place for the Gemz in a loss to Philly Rise in the 15U semifinals. The 5-8 Rutgers Prep (N.J.) guard played on the ball and did so with great aplomb, continually and aggressively attacking the bucket off the bounce with either hand, and not giving up on second or third-chance opportunities. She powered her way to a 24-point, 11-rebound outing with eight offensive boards, out-leaping a number of taller opponents (and teammates) for a few, and also came up with a couple steals on the defensive end. 

Serenity Lancaster (2025 | Connecticut Basketball Club 17U)
Lancaster likely had the Mid-Atlantic Magic saying “serenity now” after the New London (Conn.) standout burned them for 18 points in a win on Saturday afternoon in a 17U consolation game. The 6-0 wing forward, playing up an age group, had no issues with the physicality, scoring most of her points in the mid-range, with a smooth jumper that was butter from 13-15 feet; she also rebounded well (eight boards), blocked a couple shots and generally played hard on both ends. She’s got two offers already, with many more D-Is showing interest.

Layla Matthias (2024 | Philly Heat North)
Matthias scored one basket and was a main reason her team outlasted K-Low Elite’s 17U team in a scrappy, low-scoring game. The Pennsbury junior excels at making the kind of plays that don’t show up in a book but add up to wins, like the relentless pursuit of offensive rebounds, the crosscourt passes to shift a defense or just not being afraid to put hands on the ball to force a tie up. Matthias had five offensive rebounds, close to that many tie-ups forced, added four steals and assisted two pivotal threes in the second half of a 42-36 win.

Ava McKennie (2024 | Philly Rise EYBL 17U)
A slender 6-2 wing forward, McKennie plays much more physical than you’d think, the McDonough School (Md.) product hitting the boards well in both a semifinal win over Boo Williams and the championship game loss to Team Takeover. Bouncy and energetic, McKennie has great patience in the post to wait for defenders to jump or go for a steal, and then she’ll rise up and use her natural touch to score; she had nine points and nine rebounds (plus two assists and blocks) in the semifinals and 14 points, four boards in the title game.

Princess Moody (2025 | Team Takeover EYBL 17U)
Takeover was down two of its typical ballhandlers on Sunday with Kyndal Walker out to start the day and Madisen McDaniel later joining her. Moody, a 5-8 guard, steadied her squad at the point guard position through the second half of the semifinal game and the championship win. She reached double figures in both contests, doing a lot of her damage at the line as she attacked the hoop. Moody has a tight handle to operate in tight quarters and used a crossover and spin move to blow by defenders. After getting to the line quite a few times, she showed the ability to pull up as well.

Jessie Moses (2027 | Philly Rise EYBL 15U)
Watching Moses against her peers (well, actually, still playing an age group up) was an eye-opener after seeing her play as eighth grader at Westtown this past season. She put together a pair of monster outings on Sunday, tallying 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in a semifinal win before adding 17 points and five boards in the semifinals. Moses, a 5-10 guard, looked like she could do whatever she wanted to most of the time, getting to the basket with ease and looking smooth on both sides of the rim once she got there. She went 2-for-2 from deep in the semifinals and added a trio of triples in the title game, pulling up twice off the bounce and stepping into a transition triple. Her activity on the boards should be noted as well.

Gianna Nichols (2025 | MCW Starz S40 16U)
Nichols is a blur in the open court, as evidenced by the steal she had against Rebels Basketball Academy that turned into a one-way fastbreak layup. The 5-foot-7 guard from Worcester Academy, who is also a soccer player, is a tough cover and used her quickness to draw a pair of and-one drives while also moving with and without the ball very well and rarely stayed in one spot for very long. 

Emily Olsen (2024 | Delco Goats-Stackhouse 17U)
Olsen put together a 17-point outing in a tight semifinal loss to Philly Rise National on Sunday. The 5-10 forward was fun to watch on the offensive end, whether that was posting up to get some critical baskets for her team or using off-ball screens to cut to the hoop. She racked up three steals and deflected a couple other passes at the top of the Delco press too, which was important as the team rallied back late.

Kristen Phelan (2025 | Empire State Blue Flames 16U)
It was almost more surprising when Phelan didn’t convert on a shot against Philly Rise EYBL in the 16U championship. The 5-foot-9 guard doesn’t need a lot of time to load up and fire and more importantly, every shot looks exactly the same which helps explain why she made five attempts from the three-point line and at least half, if not a higher percentage of her looks from long range. She also showed some nice poise when a defender ran her off the line, taking a dribble inside the arc and sinking a midrange jumper as a counter.

Amaya Stewart (2025 | Philly Rise National 17U)
Stewart, 6-foot-1 forward from Wyomissing, had 16 points, six rebounds and a block in a win over the Delco Goats. She’s a real weapon on the offensive end as an on-ball screener as someone who can roll, slip or pop — showcasing all three in Sunday’s action. She’s got a good feel for the board and really good hands when her guards hit her with passes. Stewart also showcased her range with a triple. On the defensive end, she’s got strength and size but showcased the ability to switch and continue to stick with the offensive player.

Honorable Mention
Mary Amoaleng (2025 | Team Takeover EYBL 16U), Eva Andrews (2024 | Exodus EYBL 17U), Jenna Aponik (2024 | Heat Hoops 17U), Jessica Aponik (2024 | Philly Rise National 17U), Taylor Barnar (2024 | Boo Williams EYBL 17U), Jadyn Brenneman (2024 | CBC 17U), Taylor Brown (2027 | Philly Rise EYBL 15U), Ryan Carter (2027 | Exodus NYC EYBL 16U), Kelian Cedano (2024 | Gauchos 3SSB 17U), Olivia Celaj (2026 | Empire State Blue Flames 15U), Kellie Cieplicki (2024 | Havoc Rise Grey 17U), Tamiya Collier (2024 | K-Low Elite U17), Zhen Craft (2024 | Team Takeover EYBL 17U), Sydney Delisle (2024 | Havoc Rise Grey 17U), Talia DiMichele (2025 | Rebels Basketball Academy 16U), Cora Fattori (2024 | Delco Goats-Port 17U), Delaney Finn (2024 | Mid-Atlantic Magic 17U), Kayleigh Heckel (2024 | Exodus EYBL 17U), Analyse Intenzo (2025 | Rebels Basketball Academy), Madison Kocis (2026 | Philly Rise EYBL 15U), Mya Lambert (2025 | MCW Starz S40), Stella Lockhart (2026 | Jersey Gemz EYBL 15U), Corinne Lomax (2026 | CBC 17U), Brooke McFadden (2024 | Philly Heat North 17U), Greta Miller (2024 | Delco Goats-Port 17U), Sophie Nascimento (2025 | Empire State Blue Flames 16U), Camdyn Nelson (2025 | Empire State Blue Flames 16U), Megan Ngo (2026 | Comets GUAA 15U), Cadence Nicholas (2025 | Empire State Blue Flames 16U), Jordyn Palmer (2027 | Philly Rise EYBL 16U),  Priyanka Ponnam (2025 | Exodus EYBL 17U), Kitty Randa (2024 | Heat Hoops 2024), Megan Rullo (2026 | Comets GUAA 15U), Molly Rullo (2025 | Comets GUAA 16U), Taylor Sofikanich (2026 | Jersey Gemz EYBL 15U), Riley Stackhouse (2024 | Delco Goats-Stackhouse 17U), Lauren Swan (2024 | Exodus EYBL 17U), Kennedy Umeh (2024 | Philly Rise EYBL 17U), Bella Vincent (2024 | Havoc Rise Grey 17U), Mia Woolfolk (2024 | Boo Williams EYBL 17U), Reese Zemitis (2024 | Mid-Atlantic Magic 17U)