City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The first weekend of Philly Live 2023 continued on Saturday at two venues, Jefferson University and St. Joe's Prep.

CoBL had writers at the majority of Saturday’s action; here’s who stood out to our staff during the games at Jefferson:

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More Philly Live Coverage: Day 1 Standouts | | Day 2 Standouts (Jefferson) | Day 2 Standouts (St. Joe's Prep) | Day 1 Local HS Notebook | Day 1 Recruiting Notebook |

Keiner Asprilla (2026 | Don Bosco Prep, N.J.)
No doubt one of the most impressive young bigs at the event, Asprilla is a true 7-footer from Colombia who looks like he’s really adjusting to the American level. In a 10-point, 13-rebound effort against Carroll, Asprilla grabbed four offensive rebounds, generally reeling in everything he could touch, and mostly did a good job of keeping the ball high on rebounds. He moves well for his age and size, and briefly showed the ability to put the ball on the floor in the open court, going ¾-length drawing a foul on a layup attempt; he also had an impressive block on a 3-pointer.

Adrian Brito (2025 | Pocono Mountain West)
Brito was a force down low, using his 6-5 frame to dominate the paint. Against Haddonfield (N.J.), he had 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. He showed off great footwork in the post and even knocked down a 3. He showed off a great motor and the ability to dominate the glass. The rising junior big man still has a lot of time left and showed off some serious potential, with D-II programs already interested.

Torrey Brooks (2026 | Neumann-Goretti)
With Robert Wright III moving on and Khaafiq Myers nursing a minor knee injury, the Saints looked at their new array of options in the backcourt and they may have found another diamond in the rough prepared to make a name for himself in Brooks. The 6-foot rising sophomore was homeschooled last year but he looks the part of prototype Neumann-Goretti guard with his fluidity to get into the lane and finish around the rim. He was not afraid of the pressure that Largo (Md.) defenders brought and he initiated the offense with ease, which bodes well heading into his season in the Philadelphia Catholic League.

Isaiah Brown (2024 | Don Bosco Prep, N.J.)
Brown had a strong 15-point outing in Bosco’s win over Carroll, the muscular 6-0 lead guard getting to his spots and to the rim, knocking down the mid-range ‘J’ and playing great on-ball defense, denying ball-handlers the ability to get into the lane and forcing a number of turnovers; he also grabbed six rebounds (three offensive) and dished out three assists. Brown was steady on the ball and had good natural feel for the game, with a nifty floater he put to use, and he was 5-of-6 from the foul line. Has offers from St. Francis (Pa.) and Marist.

Jaeden Bull (2024 | St. Georges Tech, Del.)
The 6-1 point guard had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him by Devon Prep in a 9:00 game Saturday. The Tide, with a plethora of strong, athletic wings at its disposal, picked Bull up full court, doubled him once he crossed halfcourt, and contested nearly every shot he took. The rising senior finished with 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists on multiple craft finishes at the rim and pull-up jumpers after singlehandedly beating the press. Being one of the best players on the court didn’t stop Bull from making hustle plays such as diving on the floor for loose balls and at one point collecting a ball midair and throwing it off a defender to retain possession for his team at a crucial moment in the game.

KJ Coles (2026 | Pocono Mountain West)
After an impressive freshman season where Coles averaged 14 points per game, on Saturday he showed off why he is one of the better rising sophomores around. In his first game against Haddonfield although the team lost 60-51, he scored 18 points and made four 3’s. Later on in the team’s second game which came down to the wire and ultimately ended in a 52-51 loss, Coles ended up with 23 points and another four triples. What was most impressive was his confidence to shoot and make threes all over the court including multiple steps behind the 3-point line. Coles also showed off his unselfishness and willingness to always make the extra pass. The rising sophomore guard is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Tyler Dandrea (2024 | Central Bucks East)
The 6-2 wing ran the show for the Patriots in a 58-53 victory over Central Regional (N.J.) Saturday morning with primary ballhandler Jacob Cummiskey out with a broken nose. Dandrea didn’t miss a bit, scoring 26 points including three buckets from long range. Dandrea — like the rest of CB East’s high-energy wings — have no issue laying their bodies out on the ground for loose balls for the benefit of the team. His high motor resulted in seven rebounds and a block; he also dished out two assists.

Connor Fleet (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
Fleet played a big role in helping West Chester Henderson secure a 91-86 win in overtime versus York. The rising senior guard scored 31 points and was clutch from the free-throw line down the stretch, going 14 for 17 from the charity stripe. He played a very efficient game going 8 for 13 from the field and seemed to always come up with a big basket when the team needed it. Fleet has been in talks with East Stroudsburg, York College, DeSales, Gettysburg, Swarthmore, and Ursinus.

Luca Foster (2026 | Archbishop Carroll, Pa.)
Despite not filling up the stat sheet, the 6-6 wing impressed. Foster showed toughness in the low block while defending a center six inches taller than him. In addition to the block and two steals he had, he altered or contested multiple shots around the basket and got a few deflections. Offensively, he showed glimpses of his shooting potential with pull up and catch-and-shoot threes.

Dame Givner (2025 | Imani Christian Academy)
Givner got the attention of the crowd of mostly Imhotep Charter fans with his sensational control of the ball against the vaunt Panthers press. The 6-2 rising junior drove to the middle of the floor then went behind the back to lose his defender on one occasion then faked toward the middle and spun out to the halfcourt line on another. Even more impressively, he tallied 15 points, going 4-for-4 from the foul line and also knocking down a three-pointer from the wing. Imani’s frontcourt gets the attention when the team plays but with guards like Givner facilitating the offense, it’s no wonder this team has aspirations to repeat as PIAA Class A champions.

Logan Golle (2024 | Taylor Allderdice)
Golle was one of two Allderdice guards who had a strong game in a losing effort to Union Catholic, the 6-1 combo going for 17 points with a few other assorted stats as he showed himself to be a shot-creator and shot-maker. Golle hit three 3-pointers on six attempts, with a high-arcing shot, and he also hit a couple mid-range pull-ups where he squared up and had good form all the way through; played with a healthy amount of confidence and got to his spots quickly with the ball in his hands.

Matthew Hodge (2024 | St. Rose, NJ)
Originally from Belgium, Hodge proved to be the best player on the floor against St. John's College from the nation's capital. At a legit 6-8, he impacted the game from all over the floor. He attacked with his back to the basket and facing up from the elbow. Then in crunch time, his coaches trusted him with the ball in his hands to close out the game. The big wing drove from the perimeter, collapsed the defense off the bounce and knew exactly where to go with the rock. His cool-headed decision-making helped them get the victory.

Kevair Kennedy (2025 | Father Judge)
The Crusaders surprised some by making the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs but they will not be surprising anyone this season and Kennedy will be a huge factor in that. The 6-2 combo guard had 16 points with most of his damage coming off steals and quick finishes in transition. His great defensive feel, which led to five steals, facilitates his offense as he takes a turnover and turns it into a basket or finds an open teammate for an easy jumper from drawing double teams off those steals. He started the scoring for Father Judge with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and also added five rebounds. 

Brady Loughlin (2025 | Don Bosco Prep, N.J.)
Loughlin had himself a strong game from the floor in Bosco’s big win over Carroll, going 4-of-9 from deep as the 6-5 wing showed off his picture perfect catch-and-shoot abilities, though he can hit pull-up jumpers as well. But he also had a few impressive takes to the hoop, including one finish through contact for an and-one and another old-fashioned 3-point play where his spinning overhead chuck somehow found the bottom of the bucket. Loughlin’s already got three D-I offers and more outings like that won’t hurt.

Alier Maluk (2025 | Imani Christian Academy)
At 6-11, Maluk is generally the biggest player on the court but his two-way skillset is what truly makes him stand out. He sent three shots by Imhotep Charter players flying into the stands and grabbed eight rebounds off the glass. His presence in the paint alone influences the opponent to resort to outside jumpers and his length prevents just about any player from entering. He is becoming more of a force at the offensive end as he scored eight points with most of his damage being done on two-handed slams and soft finishes off the glass. The shooting form is solid and as those jumpers begin to fall, defenders will be in for a tough outing every time they go against Maluk.

Ty Mishock (2024 | Devon Prep)
Mishock, a 6-0 guard, was the focal point of Devon Prep’s offense in a 62-60 overtime loss to St. Georges Tech in the 9:00 slate. Mishock hit four 3’s, none bigger than a banked-in buzzer-beater after a full-court heave from Zane Conlon to force overtime, and scored 22 points to go along with five assists. Mishock’s lateral quickness and strength make him a nuisance on the defensive end as he picked up two steals.

FK Muntari (2025 | Union Catholic, N.J.)
Muntari’s an intriguing prospect to be sure: long and athletic at 6-8, he’s more of a combo forward at the moment leaning towards power forward, but he’s quickly developing his abilities as a wing. His 17-point, 10-rebound, three-assist outing in a win over Pittburgh’s Taylor Allderdice featured a number of smooth catch-and-shoot jumpers in the mid-range, a few feeds to his countrymate Yaw Ansong and a knockdown 3-pointer, and he did well as a weak-side rebounder and shot-contester who was active inside on both ends.

Christian Nicholson (2024 | Morris Catholic, N.J.)
The 5-10 guard has a lightning quick crossover that allows him to get off an accurate, quick-release jumper. Nicholson hit four 3’s and scored 18 points in Morris Catholic’s 68-48 victory over Chantilly (Va.) Saturday afternoon. The rising junior’s speed translated to the defensive end as he stuck with Chantilly’s ballhandlers and got two steals. Nicholson’s game was a perfect complement to the bigger posts on Morris Catholic, especially 6-10 Michelangelo Oberti.

Ahmad Nowell (2024 | Imhotep Charter)
Nowell is the unquestioned leader of the Panthers and he will drive their success this season as Justin Edwards (Kentucky) and Rahmir Barno (Florida Gulf Coast) have moved on following a pair of PIAA Class 5A titles. The 6-2 rising senior with offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Auburn and Tennessee posted 17 points and seven rebounds in a 58-50 loss to Imani Christian Academy. His jumper is as good as any found at Philly Live and he looked like one of the best players in the country with Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts and others looking on. He will be called upon to teach the latest influx of talented Panthers players how to win but with Nowell running the show, Imhotep Charter should still be one of the elite programs in the Philadelphia Public League.

Michelangelo Oberti (2024 | Morris Catholic, N.J.)
Oberti was simply too big for anyone on Chantilly (Va.) — their biggest player stood 6-6 — to stop. He scored 19 points with five rebounds, two assists, and a block as Morris Catholic pulled away in the second half. Oberti’s sheer size allowed him to make plays other players can’t make — such as a thunderous alley-oop and multiple dunks through contact — but he also showed skill such as a sweet stroke from the foul line and wing, good footwork that got him in position for easy finishes, and the understanding of when to make certain passes and rotate defensively.

Major Rainey (2024 | Taylor Allderdice)
Rainey had a strong game on both ends of the floor for Alderdice in the loss to Union Catholic, going for 18 points with three assists, three blocks and a couple steals for good measure. The 6-3 combo guard picks his spots to attack carefully, hovering on the perimeter and waiting a moment or two before suddenly ripping towards the hoop, where he’s got the physicality to finish through contact around the rim; he also hit three 3-pointers on six attempts, threw in a floater and a 15-foot pull-up. 

Nyle Ralph-Beyer (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
Ralph-Beyer put on a shooting clinic against York in West Chester Henderson’s overtime win. The 6-4 combo guard finished with 32 points, shooting an impressive 7/10 from behind the three-point line. It was an efficient performance on the offensive end for the rising senior. His long frame allowed him to shoot jumpers over the outstretched arms of defenders and he was able to impress without requiring the ball in his hands a whole lot. Ralph-Beyer also did not back down from picking up the opposing team’s best player down the stretch on the defensive end and showed off some quick feet in order to stay with smaller and quicker guards. He currently has one offer from Sacred Heart and has had conversations with Rider, Mount Saint Mary’s, William & Mary, NJIT, Buffalo, Cornell, Princeton, and Navy.

Robbie Sukaley (2025 | Dock Mennonite Academy)
The North Penn transfer led the Pioneers with 19 points in their 59-36 blowout win against Penn Wood. Sukaley had five points in the first half, but then went on to score 14 points in the second. He did most of his work off the ball and in transition. He showed off his unselfishness and never over dribbled. He also knew when it was time to be more aggressive. Sukaley took only good shots which led to an efficient game on the offensive end.

Samson Reilly (2024 | East Catholic, Conn.)
In his first game of the day against MCS, Reilly's movement shooting was almost unstoppable. The 6-2 marksman shot the ball with confidence every time he came sprinting off of a pin-down in the corner. And each time he shot, the ball came out effortlessly. Reilly canned five triples in that game and led all scores with 21 points. 

Jaycen Santucci (2025 | Central Regional, N.J.)
The 6-3 rising junior wing came alive in the second half as Central Regional just fell short 58-53 to CB East Saturday morning. Santucci had 18 points, six rebounds, and an assist on the offensive end while blocking two shots and swiping a steal defensively. He missed a few foul shots that frustrated him, the only showing of youth in a player that just wrapped up his sophomore year in which he averaged 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Pavle Slepcev (2024 | Taylor Allderdice)
Slepcev, a sturdy 6-3 wing, just went about his business in Allderdice’s 54-47 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh in the 10:10 slate. He had 11 points and 12 rebounds in the second half alone and seemingly grabbed every rebound. He also hit a 3, blocked a shot, and showed the ability to knock down foul shots. Slepcev only received around three minutes per game on varsity last season — he averaged about 10 points and six rebounds on JV — as a junior. He’ll be in line for a much bigger role in his senior season if performances like Saturday happen.

Austin Spencer (2025 | St. Peter’s Prep, N.J.)
Spencer’s jumper is about as good as they come, picture-perfect just about every time, whether he’s in catch-and-shoot situations or pulling up in transition (or even just from a cold start); he knocked down four triples in Prep’s 67-50 win over Reading, propelling him to no fewer than 19 points in the win, and doing so with great efficiency. The Bergen Catholic transfer didn’t even start for a SPP group that’s super-deep, going more than five into the bench.

Makye Taylor (2024 | Imhotep)
As a small-ball big man, Taylor played well-beyond his listed size. He operated decisively as the lowman vs. PNR and commanded the paint with the way he communicated every time his man was setting a screen or someone else was cutting backdoor. He also fought for rebounds and bodied up everyone who attempted a shot near the basket. On the opposite end, Taylor ceiled and set good screens, in addition to moving the ball well as a connective passer and getting easy buckets from the dunker spot.

Blair Thomas (2024 | St. Georges Tech, Del.)
Thomas hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired in a thrilling 62-60 overtime victory over Devon Prep in one of the first games of the day. Thomas stands 6-5, but handled the ball well when point guard Jaeden Bull needed a break which happened often as Devon Prep deployed an aggressive full-court trap. Thomas’ handle is tight for a player of his height and he picked up six assists to go along with his 20 points and five rebounds. His ranginess and size allow him to impact the boards and defensive side as well.

Kareem Thomas (2024 | Salesianum, Del.)
The 6-5 guard displayed range on the defensive end. Thomas neutralized leaks in the defense with how much ground he covered on rotations before contesting the shot. When Sallies went to their zone press, he jumped two passes for steals. His third steal came from him putting the clamps on an opposing guard and stripping him. Those transition opportunities then allowed his athleticism to shine even more as he threw down some emphatic dunks. Thomas finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and a block. 

Juelz Tucker (2024 | York)
Tucker was a man on a mission, doing his best to will his team to a victory against West Chester Henderson. The Bearcats ended up falling short in overtime 91-86, but Tucker was nothing short of amazing. He hit the game-tying three with 4.2 seconds left to send the game into overtime and ended the game with 47 points. He showed that he could score on all 3 levels. He went 6 for 7 from the three-point line and 16 for 22 overall from the field. Tucker’s skill, physicality, and athleticism were on full display. He was creating for his teammates, crashing the glass, and had two transition dunks. Coming off a season where he averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists, Tucker looks primed for a huge senior season. The rising senior also received his first offer from Rider immediately after his breakout game.

Tarik Watson (2024 | Roselle Catholic, N.J.)
The bruising 6-7 forward had his way against Father Judge, including the Crusaders' latest addition in 6-9 big man Everett Barnes, with 18 points and six rebounds. He did all of his work inside the arc but Roselle Catholic consistently ran a play formation where one big caught the ball at the elbow and the other would seal their man for a quick turn and score. Naturally, Watson was the one receiving the ball and scoring over both shoulders and even threw down a dunk on one occasion. He looked sharp in a later matchup against Kings Fork (Va.) with a thunderous dunk off a good feed that ignited that Philly Live crowd. He holds offers from Creighton, St. John’s and Georgetown and with new head coach Todd Decker looking for more ways to get him the ball, that offer list should increase.

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Honorable Mention
A.J. Altobelli (2025 | Union Catholic, N.J.), James Anderson (2024 | Unionville), Yaw Ansong (2025 | Union Catholic, N.J.), Malachi Arrington (2024 | Immaculate Conception), Jalil Bethea (2024 | Archbishop Wood), Rich Brisco (2024 | Roselle Catholic, N.J.), Ryan Brown (2024 | Unionville), Laquan Byrd (2024 | Father Judge), Miles Chevalier (2024 | Central Regional, N.J.), Ben Costello (2024 | Devon Prep), Reece Craft (2025 | Devon Prep), Yadiel Cruz (2024 | Reading), Jordan Davenport (2025 | Chantilly, Va.), Daquan Davis (2024 | St. John's College, D.C.), Miles Demby (2024 | Central Bucks East), Isaac Dye (2024 | State College), Luca Foster (2026 | Archbishop Carroll), Preston Fowler (2025 | East Catholic), Logan Franz (2026 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Munir Greig (2027 | Imhotep), Justin Hinds (2024 | Salesianum, Del.), Andrew Kretkowski (2027 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Kionne Lang (2024 | St. Georges Tech, Del.), Ben Marsico (2024 | Plymouth Whitemarsh), Deuce Maxey (2025 | Archbishop Wood), Ethan Mgbako (2026 | Roselle Catholic, N.J.), Derrick Morton-Rivera (2026 | Father Judge), Jayden Myers (2025 | Union Catholic, N.J.), Zaahir Muhammad-Gray (2026 | Imhotep Charter), Marquis Newson (2027 | Sanford, Del.), Riley Ramirez (2024 | Union Catholic, N.J.), Josh Reed (2024 | Archbishop Wood), Jack Robbins (2025 | Unionville), Yayo Rodriguez (2024 | East Catholic), Rich Rosa Jr. (2026 | St. Peter’s Prep, N.J.), Julian Sadler (2024 | Perkiomen Valley), Mani Sajid (2026 | Plymouth Whitemarsh), Jayden Taylor (2025 | Sanford, Del.), RJ Sledge (2025 | Imani Christian Academy), Robert Thomas (2024 | Penn Hills), Nazir Tyler (2027 | Neumann-Goretti), Tommy Vaughn (2024 | Sanford, Del.), Cam Ward (2025 | Largo, Md.), Asa Wharton (2025 | Timber Creek, N.J.), Ian Williams (2026 | Archbishop Carroll), Nasseem Wright (2024 | Math, Civics, and Sciences)