City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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MANHEIM — The courts at Spooky Nook were once again packed with talent as the Hoop Group finished out its Summer League championships on Saturday and Sunday. Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff this weekend in the games we watched:

Jaxson Bell (2024 | Kyle Guy Elite 17U)
Attack, attack, attack is a good way to describe Bell’s game. He forced the issue inside throughout Saturday’s quarterfinal OT win over Mass Rivals. The 6-foot-3 guard/wing has a high motor that led to a number of trips to the line (9-for-9) where he got to show off his pretty looking shot. Bell also stepped outside to knock down three. The fact that he finished with 18 points despite not having the offense run through him is a testament to his talent and feel for the game. He did pick his spot, however, including a big bucket to begin the scoring in the overtime period (first to five points) when he converted an and-one.

Josh Caruso (2025 | New England Storm Regan 17U)
The 6-foot-2 shooting guard popped off for 22 points in a win over Team Loaded 757 on Saturday. He’s a lethal shooter who caught fire quickly with five 3-point makes in the first half as part of his six in the game. Credit to Caruso for finding open spaces on the floor and his teammates for finding him — the storm moved the ball exceptionally well in the win — but he also showed he doesn’t need much room to get off a good look.

Dan Civello (2024 | Rise Above 17U)
The 6-10 stretch big man made his presence felt on both ends in a tight loss to WeR1 Select early on Saturday. His height and length are certainly the first thing that stands out about him. On the defensive end, he did a great job blocking shots without fouling, erasing quite a looks at the rim.. At the other end of the court, his shooting stroke is legit, burying an early trail three in transition and getting off a few more good looks in pick and pop situations. Down low, his footwork was impressive and he displayed some soft touch as well. As he continues to add strength, he’ll be a really good two-way weapon.

Jeremey Clayville (2024 | All in Beasts 17U)
Clayville went unconscious in the first half of his team’s win over Team Wildcat Select on Saturday, scoring 17 of his 24 points before the break. The 6-foot-1 point guard only needs a sliver of space to get off a good look off the bounce, catch-and-shoot or the move, and his range extends several feet beyond the arc. He was effective in the inbetween game as well, using his floater multiple times to drop in a bucket, including an and-one. He got broke down the defense to get to the basket as well, a few tough rolls keeping him from an even bigger outing. As a passer, he did a really good job getting the ball inside to his team’s big man, floating it over the defense where it was easy to catch.

Mekhi Conner (2024 | Team New England HGSL 17U)
The 6-1 guard held five Division II offers following his senior season with Notre Dame High School (Conn.) and announced his decision to do a post-grad year at Putnam Science Academy back in May to continue refining his game to garner Division I interest. That interest — Bryant, Gardner-Webb, FIU, and St. Bonaventure offered within the week — has shown up this summer and Conner showed why in TNE’s 66-48 victory over BW Elite in the HGSL Championship 17U bracket Saturday. Conner’s handle and passing goes perfectly with bouncy, taller teammates; he set up 6-5 Khalil Badru and 6-7 Fallou Gueye multiple times for easy buckets. Conner’s layup package and defensive intensity add another layer to the team’s attacks. He scored 11 points with five assists, four rebounds, and a steal while running the point as TNE will play Kyle Guy Elite in the semifinals Sunday morning.

Quinn Costello (2026 | Middlesex Magic HGSL 16U)
Costello, a 6-9 wing, was a man on a mission in the Magic’s 59-55 victory over BW Elite for the Summer Jam Fest HGSL 16U title. He had 11 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in the first half as the Magic built a 32-20 lead and finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Costello has nice form/rotation on his shot and shows coordination to play on the wing that some players of his size don’t possess. A coach said Costella still may grow more and he’ll be looking to continue filling out his frame; he reclassified into the 2026 class and will be attending the Newman School next season after playing last season at Boston College High. 

Abdurahman Coulibaly (2025 | BW Elite HGSL 16U)
Coulibaly height at 6-4 allows him to play a variety of positions on the court and he showed that capability throughout the weekend at Summer Jam Fest as BW Elite went on a spirited run to the HGSL 16U Championship, narrowly falling 59-55 to Middlesex Magic in the title game. Coulibaly had 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, a block, and a steal in the game; the wing from West Philly was a steady presence throughout the ebbs and flows of the game that saw BW Elite trail by double digits on multiple occasions. He orchestrated the zone offense from the high post effectively by making the correct decisions of whether to shoot or pass. Defensively, he covered the 6-9 Quinn Costello at times in the low post and also stepped out to defend quicker guards.

Thomas Ferdinando (2025 | Middlesex Magic HGSL 16U)
Ferdinando, a 6-1 guard from Governor’s Academy in Mass., can heat up quickly; he dropped 41 points in a game as a freshman at The Derryfield School in N.H. He might not have dropped a 40-bomb but he did provide the scoring punch for the Magic in its run to the HGSL 16U title. Ferdinando scored 26 points in a 64-47 Sweet 16 victory over Team Final, led the team in scoring again in a 61-42 win over Penn Warriors in the Elite 8, and then dropped a game-high 18 points in the 59-55 championship victory over BW Elite. Ferdinando is a lethal shooter, but has clearly been working on getting to the rim and finishing with either hand. He has a good sense of where defenders are and uses different angles to avoid getting blocked. Ferdinando rebounded after his shot wasn’t falling in the first half of the championship and made a bunch of clutch shots — from deep and inside — to help the Magic hold off BW Elite.

Fallou Gueye (2024 | Team New England HGSL 17U)
A 6-7 wing, Gueye possesses a versatile game that saw him both playing in the post and guarding the opposing team’s ball handler at the top of the key in a 66-48 win over BW Elite Saturday. Gueye, like his teammate Mekhi Conner, decided to do a post-grad year at Putnam Science Academy. His wingspan makes life difficult for opposing offensive players — evident by his two steals and multiple tipped passes — and his skill set offensively impacted the game in multiple ways. He scored 11 points — showing the ability to get his own bucket off the dribble or catching a variety of passes from Conner — while also dishing out four assists of his own. Gueye had 10 rebounds too if you needed to be sold more.

Larenzo Jerkins (2024 | BW Elite HGSL 17U)
The 6-6 forward from Neumann-Goretti always has a high motor, but he had a turbocharged engine in BW Elite’s 66-48 loss to TNE Saturday. Jerkins didn’t impact the game much offensively in the first half — instead focusing on rebounding the ball, which doesn’t leave his hands if he gets them on it — but once BW Elite went cold and the deficit grew, he took matters into his own hands. He fought through contact for multiple and-ones and tough finishes in the post in the second half. Overall, his statline read 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Owen Kelly (2026 | Philly Revolution HGSL 15U)
The 6-3 wing from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was a steady presence throughout Philly Rev’s 53-49 victory over PA Hoops Academy in the Sweet 16 of the HGSL Championship 15U bracket. Kelly had eight of his 11 points in the first half as Philly Rev jumped out to a 14-point advantage. He grabbed multiple clutch rebounds and scored his three points in the second half on a tough bucket and a free throw in crunch time to preserve the victory. Kelly brought the ball up the court on a few occasions and can handle/defend at times like a guard (three assists, three steals), but can also be effective at his size in the post (11 rebounds, two blocks).

Luke Kennevan (2025 | East Coast Power HGSL 16U)
East Coast Power’s 16s had a rough game offensively against Team Final Red HGSL’s 16s in a Sweet 16 HGSL championship loss on Saturday afternoon, but Kennevan had a strong game with 16 points and eight rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The 6-4 wing guard had his mid-range jumper working, getting into the 14-17 foot range with a one-dribble pull-up or coming off screens to pop for a shot, and he went 7-of-14 from the floor, plus 2-of-2 from the foul line. 

Makhi Leach (2025 | Ohio Buckets 16U)
Leach flirted with a triple double (20 points, eight assists, nine rebounds) with coaches from Toledo, Wright State and others watching in a quarterfinal win over Team New England. The 6-foot-2 guard made the impressive outing look quite routine. He was in complete control at the point, doing simple things like finding open cutters and reading when to dish or take the ball to the hoop himself. He earned a number of opportunities at the foul line by driving to the baskets (8-for-8) and had a few WOAH moments using his athleticism to finish inside as well with both hands. He pulled up in the midrange and hit a stepback three to showcase even more of the offensive arsenal. His presence on the court feels bigger than 6-2, as highlighted by his work on the glass. He took a charge on defense, which coaches like as well.

RJ McKinnie (2024 | Young & Restless HGSL 17U)
Young & Restless made it all the way to the Elite 8 of the HGSL, not a bad showing for a talented group from Illinois. McKennie got them off to a hot start in their Sweet 16 win over East Coast Power’s 17s, scoring 18 points with eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in a strong two-way showing. McKennie is an athletic, left-handed point guard who’s a vocal leader on the court, continually bringing his team together for pep talks; he’s also a strong outside shooter (four 3s) hitting in both catch-and-shoot and pull-up situations; he showed good depth on his jumper as well. He really gets up when rebounding, not letting them fall to his hands, and can push the rock and make plays happen in the open court.

Ryan Mulroy (2025 | Penn Warriors HGSL 16U)
Mulroy, a 6-2 guard, willed Penn Warriors 16Us to a 54-52 comeback victory over Red Rush in a HGSL Championship Sweet 16 matchup Saturday afternoon with his constant effort and sedulous attitude. Penn Warriors trailed by eight late in the second half when it decided to intentionally foul to send Red Rush to the foul line; Red Rush didn’t take advantage and Mulroy and Penn Warriors seized the opportunity, even with top scorer Mani Sajid sidelined. Mulroy’s final stat line (six points, six rebounds, three assists) might not wow you; sometimes stat lines don’t tell the whole story. The rising junior at Upper Dublin still showed the ability to get to the rim and had multiple shots and layups that would typically fall narrowly miss — potentially a product of playing in Atlantic City the previous few days — that would’ve added to his point total. Regardless, Mulroy never backed down when the going got tough and inspired teammates with his emotion on the court.

Chike Ndefo (2024 | Crown Basketball 17U)
It’s hard to watch Ndefo and not be impressed with his play. The 6-foot-7 forward feels even bigger due to his strength and hard-fought style of play, vacuuming in rebounds while piling up blocks to make his presence felt in the interior. He put up 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a quarterfinal win over Jersey Force, also sprinkling in a pair of assists.Ndefo can put the ball on the deck to attack from the perimeter. He’s relentless in the interior and earned himself four separate trips to the line in the Saturday game.

Josh Reed (2024 | Philly Revolution HGSL 17U)
Reed did his best to help the Revolution to a win in the 17U HGSL Sweet 16, though they fell just short, losing by a point to VA Premier HGSL. The 6-2 guard from Archbishop Wood was on a tear to start the second half, getting to the rim at will and finishing (mostly with his right hand) in all sorts of creative ways; he’s got great natural touch and feel within 12 feet, utilizing a one-handed floater/jumper hybrid once he’s gotten himself above the defense. Reed finished with 22 points (16 in the second half), nine rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Santana Sinvilcin (2024 | Jersey Force 17U)
Sinvilcin is a 6-5 wing with quite a bit of positional versatility on both ends given the strength he possesses at that height and motor he plays with. He finished with 20 points and eight rebounds in a tight loss to Crown Basketball on Saturday, battling with Crown’s impressive forward Chike Ndefo throughout. The tweener can attack bigger players off the bounce with great strength to finish through contact (two A1s). He also displayed his range with three 3-point shots in the contest. He switched onto guards in the contests and was comfortable hanging down in the paint where he refused to be pushed around. His eight rebounds were hard earned as well as he fought inside on both ends.

Kareem Thomas (2024 | WeR1 Select 17U)
Thomas exploded for 13 points after halftime to help WeR1 take down Rise Above on Saturday. Explode is a good word to use when describing Thomas as its an adept description of the way he attacks the rim both in transition and the halfcourt, throwing down quite a few two-handed slams.. The 6-foot-6 guard/wing is blossoming as a prospect, showing some feel as a primary option on the offensive end with his shotmaking — pulling up in the midrange and knocking down shots from beyond the arc — and ability to change speeds and manipulate the defense. 

Rashaad Williams (2024 | Team Loaded 757 HGSL 17U)
Williams, a 6-0 point guard, displayed his rare quickness Saturday morning in a 72-56 victory for Team Loaded 757 17Us over Rens EYCL. The guard has a quick first step that gets him past defenders and a bunch of crafty maneuvers to get to the basket; once there he can finish against bigger defenders, drop off pocket passes to teammates for layups, or kick out for open 3s. The quickness translates to the defensive end as Williams had three steals in the second half alone. Williams averaged 11 points, 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.0 steals during his junior campaign; a bigger workload next high school season and more strong showings throughout this summer should ramp up the college interest.

Honorable Mention

Khalil Badru (2024 | Team New England HGSL 17U), Reid Belcher (2024 | WeR1 Select 17U), Tyler Bike (2025 | New England Storm Regan 17U), Kobi Bowles (2024 | Kyle Guy Elite 17U), Javon Brooks (2025 | Team Richmond HGSL 17U), Ron Brown III (2024 | Philly Revolution HGSL 17U), Dywane Chess Jr. (2025 | Team Final Red HGSL 16U), Zane Conlon (2025 | Team Final Red HGSL 16U), Maurice Davis (2024 | Team Richmond HGSL 17U), Josh Decady (2024 | Crown Basketball 17U), Oscar Edelman (2024 | Mass Rivals 17U), Wesley Enis (2024 | Team Wildcat Select 17U), Robert Fiore (2024 | Middlesex Magic 17U), Quinn Gibson (2025 | Penn Warriors HGSL 16U), Derek Goodman (2024 | Team Wildcat Select 17U), Micah Hill-Benitez (2024 | PA Hoops Academy HGSL 17U), Cory Hogan (2026 | PA Hoops Academy HGSL 15U), Oliver Jones (2024 | WeR1 Select 17U), Jaden Kelly (2024 | All in Beasts 17U), Chris Levy (2024 | Miami City Ballers 17U), Davius Loury (2024 | Young & Restless HGSL 17U), Kevin Lucas (2024 | Team Richmond HGSL 17U), Josh McCoy (2024 | East Coast Power HGSL 17U), Isaiah Marshall (2025 | Team Final Red HGSL 16U), Evan Morton (2024 | VA Premier HGSL 17U), Alexander Mostashari (2024 | VA Premier HGSL 17U), Logan Murphy (2024 | Rise Above 17U), PJ Noles (2025 | Ohio Buckets 16U), Shane O’Brien (2026 | PA Hoops Academy HGSL 15U), Sean O’Leary (2024 | Middlesex Magic 17U), Tavian Pullock (2024 | All in Beasts 17U), Mason Pulliam (2024 | Team Richmond HGSL 17U), Reece Randolph (2024 | Miami City Ballers 17U), Josiah Rickards (2024 | Team Loaded 757 HGSL 17U), Josiah Roberts (2025 | Red Rush HGSL 16U), Markus Robinson (2024 | Team Loaded 757 HGSL 17U), Mani Sajid (2026 | Penn Warriors HGSL 16U), Caiden Sullivan (2025 | Middlesex Magic HGSL 16U), Darrion Sutton (2024 | Young & Restless HGSL 17U), Tucker Tornatta (2024 | Kyle Guy Elite 17U), Anthony Troncellito (2024 | Mass Rivals 17U), Nasir Washington (2024 | BW Elite HGSL 17U), Rocco Westfield (2026 | Philly Revolution HGSL 15U), Alex Wilkins (2025 | Team New England HGSL 16U)