City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The first weekend of Philly Live 2023 tipped off at Jefferson University, with four courts of action going from noon until after nine o’clock at night, featuring dozens of teams from the Philadelphia area and quite a ways beyond, dozens upon dozens of Division I coaches gathering to see them.

CoBL had writers at the majority of Friday’s action; here’s a notebook of action focused on some local high school squads:

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Greg Guidinger (2024 | Central York)

Guidinger’s growth can be broken down into several levels, all of which have proliferated his recruitment over the last seven months.

The first level has to do with his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame that gives him a substantial size advantage over smaller guards and allows him to drive past bigger forwards. The second deals with the overall growth of his game that started in the post when playing youth league games in Wisconsin where he grew up to now being a focal point of Central York’s offense on the perimeter. The final level is the growth of his recruitment that has stretched to a variety of Division I programs, including some that have only recently come into the picture.

While Guidinger emphasizes that he "grew up down low” when referring to his skillset, his perimeter versatility is what has transformed him into a budding prospect with more room to grow.

“I can really stretch the floor with my shooting ability,” Guidinger said. “That’s where I make my money but I’m also a threat passing the ball. I can get inside and work off the shot fake.”

Guidinger just completed a season that saw him average 16.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in helping Central York to a 22-8 overall record, York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I title and a berth in the PIAA Class Tournament. The strongest season of his high school career yielded offers from Lafayette, Marshall, and Mount St. Mary’s. Even as a sophomore he was gaining traction as the likes of Toledo – his first Division I offer -, Robert Morris and Drexel came calling.

To this point, two particular programs stand out above the rest, including one where a former Germantown Academy and Bucknell great has been leading the recruitment.

“Everybody is showing a lot of interest,” Guidinger said. “Cam Ayers at Lafayette has been recruiting me and he’s a great guy. Toledo was my first offer and they’ve been recruiting me from day one. They’ve been the forerunners with the longevity that they’ve shown.”

Seeing Guidinger’s growth to Division I prospect can be directly traced back to his dad, Jay who played at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he still sits third on the all-time scoring list (1.953 points) and first in rebounds (1,095) and played two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside the likes of Larry Nance and five-time All-Star Brad Daugherty. It’s no surprise that more schools have entered the conversation as Northeastern, Davidson and Boston University - the latter two of which were there to watch him play on Friday night at Jefferson University – are very interested in him.

Central York head coach Jeff Hoke has an interesting history with Davidson, which is entering its second season under the direction of Matt McKillop – the son of legendary coach Bob McKillop who stepped down after the 2021-22 season and accumulated 634 career wins. Guidinger took an unofficial visit to Davidson on May 12, a day before Hoke’s birthday which is why the day is implanted in his mind, and Hoke sees his star forward as being an ideal prospect for a program that is very particular in who and how it recruits potential players.

“They reached out to me a couple weeks before that and said, ‘We really like Greg. What do you think,’” Hoke said. “I lived two miles from Davidson before I moved back up to Hershey. I lived there for six years and went to their practices. I said, ‘Guys, he’s exactly your type of player.’ There’s definitely a good fit there. They love him but they’re very particular on offering as they don’t give them out like other teams.”

Guidinger combines the coveted facets of a skillset where he can create his own shot off the dribble and stroke it from deep, as he did for Central York in knocking down 36 three-pointers while shooting 49% from the field. He can score in the post, but with the addition of 6-9 rising junior big man Ben Rill inside, Guidinger has done most of his damage from the perimeter and that has contributed to his recruiting ascension. He still has work to do as Hoke notes “he’s getting quicker” and there is room to add more weight to his lean frame, but his head coach believes there’s much to like about his game and potential.

“It’s all about the right fit for Greg,” Hoke said. “He needs someone who sees that he’s not just a great shooter but a great kid and player. He’s a great passer and no one sees that. It’s going to be who’s looking for that person.”

With Rill and rising junior guard Ben Natal, Central York is primed for another strong season with greater aspirations. While the recruitment has taken off, Guidinger is keeping his gaze on improving his repertoire to continue his sensational growth, which he’s hoping will pay dividends next year.

“Getting more comfortable is the next piece in my game and getting stronger,” Guidingers said. “Finding more opportunities to get my hands on balls such as rebounds defensively. I’ve made a big emphasis on guarding positions one through five because in college I’m going to be a wing.” — Rich Flanagan

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Terry Copeland (2024 | Bergen Catholic)

The pressure of onlooking coaches who hold the power to change your future impacts every player differently. For Terry Copeland, it helps drive him.

“It gives me a little extra boost because this is what you wanted as a kid and it’s all right there in your hands,” he said.

His dreams are within reach as the 6-foot-10 Bergen Catholic forward prepares for his senior season.

At this point, Copeland has officially received an offer from Seton Hall and seen interest from a number of other schools. The regular contact from Seton Hall assistant coach Corey Lowery has been notable for Copeland, who was born and raised in North Jersey. He plans on visiting campus for the first time soon, but is in no rush to make a decision.

In addition, he has received interest from Xavier, Penn State, and Towson. Copeland also had preliminary conversations with Rice, Saint Johns, Quinnipiac, La Salle, Texas A&M, Creighton, and Ohio University earlier on in his recruiting process. With the door still wide open on what his college choice will be, Copeland has an idea of what he is looking for.

“Just me feeling like I can grow as a person there and become a better man,” Copeland said. “Obviously the basketball part where I can see myself playing and really somewhere that feels like home.”

For now his focus will be on competing in the EYBL circuit and preparing for the Bergen Catholic season following their 22-9 record last year. The impressive season ended at the hands of St. Peter’s Prep in the North Jersey Non-Public A League Final.

Copeland continues working to improve his individual game. He has put a focus on becoming a better three-point shooter, being more effective in face-up opportunities, and as a passer. The big man put this on display at Philly Live taking several opportunities to grab a rebound and push the pace which often led to a shot for his teammates.

He has been a valuable part of Bergen Catholic’s success over the past three years and has grown as a leader heading into his senior season. With team success at stake and his individual future still to be determined, Copeland is even-keeled on his outlook from here.

“Senior year is more of me showing what I can do and how my development and growth has taken off,” Copeland said. “Really just teaching my younger guys the game and giving them the knowledge that I’ve learned from being here for three years.” — Sean Barnard

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Ian Williams (2026 | Archbishop Carroll)

This truly has been a year of firsts for Ian Williams.

The Archbishop Carroll rising sophomore took off in his first varsity season seizing the starting point guard job in Francis Bowe’s lineup and showcasing what a freshman can do when given the confidence and patience to develop. A season after Moses Hipps transferred to McEachern (Ga.) leaving a vacancy at the guard spot, Williams stepped in and avg. 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals while making 36 three-pointers at the head of the Patriots offense.

He got his first taste of playing against some of the elite guards in the area in Neumann-Goretti’s Robert Wright III and Archbishop Wood’s Jalil Bethea and also teamed with one of the more versatile guards in the Philadelphia Catholic League in Dean Coleman-Newsome, who like Williams was a starter as a freshman. His first year at the varsity level ended at the hands of Neumann-Goretti in the first playoff game of his high school career, but it was far from the end of his firsts.

Williams went on an unofficial visit to the University of Albany on June 13 and after experiencing his first collegiate visit, he was presented with his first official offer. Head coach Dwayne Killings and assistant Ryan Daly – a former Archbishop Carroll standout and the 2016 Philadelphia Catholic League MVP – presented Williams with his first Division I offer.

Daly “reached out and asked if I wanted to come on a visit. To get that experience of seeing the school and getting to see the college level was great,” according to Williams. This offer is even more meaningful for the young guard as it shows that his commitment to his craft is opening doors he didn’t think were there.

“It’s a relief and shows all the work that I’ve put in,” Williams said. “It gives me a boost and shows that the work I’ve been putting in is paying off. It’s a benefit of me doing something, so I’ll keep working and getting better.”

The 5-11, 170-pound guard built a rapport with Daly and Killings. Daly has been in regular contact with Bowe as an Archbishop Carroll alumni to come to practice to maintain visibility with the program but he was struck when he saw how polished Williams was this early in his career. Daly pleaded with Bowe to get his improving floor general on campus to see a different side of him.

“He wanted to bring Ian up on a visit and knew what he could do basketball-wise,” Bowe said. “He wanted to see him as a human being and Ryan said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re offering him.’ He wowed them on campus.”

Another connection that resonated with Williams during his visit to Albany was his interaction with Ny’Mire Little, the former Archbishop Carroll guard who earned Third Team All-Catholic in 2019 then transferred to play his final two seasons at Westtown School. Bowe coached Little in his first season at the helm of the Patriots and Williams learned a great deal on what it will take to continue this upward trajectory in hopes of playing college basketball.

“I talked to Ny’Mire, and he talked to me about the things he goes through every day and the work he’s putting in,” Williams said. “It has gotten me into a mindset to know I can get to that next level like him.”

Williams has already been chosen as a team captain for next season. Bowe stressed that “he’s always been a natural leader and he was named captain for this season three weeks ago. We always knew he was captain. No one had to say it.” It’s never easy to determine how a freshman will handle the rigors that come with playing varsity from day one, but Williams has learned from mistakes he made his year one and his ability to not let one mistake turn into another has brought on the interest of Temple, St. Joe’s, Bucknell, Longwood University and Delaware.  

The maturity Williams is already showing has Bowe brimming with elation about what he will do over the course of the next three seasons. His maturity rivals that of a four-year player and Bowe harkens back to the end of the season when Williams made a change that surprised his head coach.

“When the season ended, I had a meeting with him and said, ‘What’s the biggest thing in your game that needs to elevate,’ and he said, 'I have to change my body,’” Bowe said. “A lot of kids say that but for a freshman, that’s kind of impressive. I said, ‘What are you going to do about it,’ and he said, ‘Coach, I’m not going to eat any sugar.’ He hasn’t had an ounce of sugar since April and his body has completely transformed.”

His first offer has been secured and he has, in essence, put himself on the map following his first season.

“I feel like that first one is the reliever, and I can reach the sky now,” Williams said. “If one coach wants me, I know a lot more do, too. I just have to keep going and do my thing.” — Rich Flanagan

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Quinn Woidke (2025 | Saint Ignatius, Ohio)

The 7-hour ride from Cleveland was the only thing in between Quinn Woidke and tearing up the Philly Live Showcase.

There were no signs of travel fatigue as he masterfully maneuvered through the defense to finish around the rim and knocked down jump shots off of catch-and-shoot opportunities. Woidke shined in the matchup against Archbishop Wood in which his offensive spark proved to be the difference. The 6-foot guard made the most of the moment with many notable college coaches watching on.

“I like it,” Woidke said. “I like playing in front of big crowds. I wasn’t here last year, but I’m glad I’m here now.”

The junior standout has kicked off the live period in impressive fashion. While he has not received any official offers yet, Woidke has already been in contact with Liberty, Ohio, Indiana State, and Toledo.

This is an especially impressive start to his recruiting process considering Woidke missed nearly the entirety of his sophomore season due to a shoulder injury. This injury occurred on the football field as he is also the starting quarterback at Saint Ignatius. Now back in action and feeling 100%, Woidke has been one of the biggest risers of the 2025 recruiting class.

While his confidence on the court is clear, Woidke is targeting playing with more control as his biggest area of improvement. He and the rest of the roster will be looking to build off a strong season last year which ended in the regional semifinals in a game he believes the team should have won. With most of the same core intact and Woidke back healthy, he will take it upon himself to continue improving.

“Just trying to work on taking better shots,” Woidke said. “Not settling and making sure I’m taking the quality shots.” -- Sean Barnard

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Quick Hits
— It has been a rather turbulent offseason for Cardinal O’Hara. After leading the Lions to their first two trips to the PIAA state tournament in program history, Ryan Nemetz stepped down in March to spend more time with his family. A month later, Archbishop Carroll assistant Mike Richards was named head coach but he chose to step away two months into the job. 

The one constant through all of this has been 6-3 rising senior Aasim “Flash” Burton. Burton was instrumental to Cardinal O’Hara’s return to prominence last season playing alongside Izaiah Pasha and leading a vaunted offensive attack with a smooth pull-up jumper and ability to rack up points in bunches. Even with so much taking place off the court, Burton has been the voice of reason in the locker room and at open gyms this spring and summer spurring his teammates to get better as they await a new head coach to be named.

“I would say for me that even though it’s been rocky here, I still have people behind my back telling me to keep my head up and don’t worry about it,” Burton said. “They want me to worry about playing my game and leading my team to some wins.”

He avg. 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 43.8% from the floor, but was ineligible for the state playoffs after transferring from Math, Civics & Sciences in the offseason. He showed up big in the Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals posting 19 points and six assists against eventual champion Roman Catholic and with Pasha having moved to do a prep year at St. Thomas More (Conn.) and Josh Coulanges committed to Montana Tech University, Burton is now the primary ball handler and shot creator in the backcourt. 

As he moves into a role that he himself is still very much adjusting to, he’s looking to fellow veterans such as 6-7 rising senior Pearson McGuinn and 6-5 rising senior Miles Johnson to aid in the transition and prepare younger players to make substantial contributions.

“It’s progress but it’s not going to happen overnight,” Burton said. “I will always tell them to keep their heads up and that if I’m not leading them well, speak up. At MCS, I wouldn’t talk and basically run up and down or shoot the ball. Here I’m more disciplined, especially now as a senior.”

As he deals with O’Hara’s transition with longtime Lafayette head coach Fran O’Hanlon and new assistant Matt McGowan leading the transition in the meantime, Burton is also preparing for his next transition as he hopes to play in college next season. He already boasts offers from UTEP, Drexel, Fairfield, Sacred Heart and Rider, the latter of which he picked up during its team camp last weekend. Additionally, he is receiving interest from Mount St. Mary’s, the University of Pennsylvania and Fairleigh Dickinson - the program that took down No. 1 Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. He visited Drexel before the season and he is scheduled to visit Fairleigh Dickinson on June 22.