City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Anybody who’s paid attention to the local hoops scene over the last year can tell you it’s no surprise that Jalil Bethea (Archbishop Wood) has shot into the top group of prospects nationally, that Thomas Sorber (Archbishop Ryan) had become one of the most versatile bigs in the country, that Jacob Nguyen (Spring-Ford) and KJ Cochran (Perkiomen School) were ready for breakout summers after strong sophomore years.

After all, there’s plenty of local players who entered this summer playing at a high level, and who maintained it throughout the offseason. But there are others who have noticeably elevated their play of late, who’re getting a different level of college attention than they were several months ago, or who look like they’re ready to take a massive step forward for their high school programs this winter. 

Here’s who the CoBL staff noticed really taking a step forward in their play this summer (June/July) compared to their high school seasons:

(Ed. Note: there are a few area players who had big summers from a recruiting standpoint but who we haven’t seen play since the spring; those players are not included on this list):

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Click Here to see our Summer Discoveries

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Devin Booker (2025 | Cristo Rey)
After a breakout sophomore season, Booker took his game up a notch as one of the featured options for both CR during the June Live Period and KLow on the 3SSB circuit. His athleticism popped as an above the rim finisher and as a point-of-attack defender. But what really sealed the deal for college coaches was his jump shot. Across the Post & Pivot Spring League, two Mid-Atlantic team camps, and multiple AAU events, Booker showed that his three-ball is just as potent as his dunking. His high volume of threes - to go along with his at-rim finishing and steals - kept his teams in some games and were the deciding factor in others. He's now one of the premier 2025s in the area. 

Ron Brown III (2024 | SCH Academy)
It’s nothing new that Brown has looked the part physically: the 6-1 rising senior has been a muscular, athletic guard since his early years at Springside-Chestnut Hill, that side of the game never an issue for him. This summer, it’s been about his game rounding out — scoring from all three levels, playing point guard, looking every bit like a scholarship-level guard with his play at both ends of the court for both SCH and the Philly Revolution 17U squad, which enjoyed a strong July.

EJ Campbell (2024 | Spring-Ford)
Campbell had a terrific junior season for Spring-Ford, helping lead the Rams to the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship and into the state semifinals. But the 6-0 lead guard still looked like a small-college prospect, a little too small as a pure scorer to get to the D-I level. Instead, all he’s done this offseason is show his value as a point guard, which earned him an offer from Rider in June and brought numerous D-I coaches to Spring-Ford games at Philly Live. Campbell and Nguyen look like one of the best backcourts in District 1 in 2023-24.

Zane Conlon (2025 | Devon Prep)
It seemed like every time we watched Conlon with either Devon Prep or Team Final Red’s HGSL 16U squad, the 6-4 wing was finding a way to make a major impact on the game. Conlon’s got an interesting combination of skills and body: he’s got a strong frame and can play the small-ball ‘4’ role, especially at the high school level, but has quality ball skills and plays on the perimeter much more than in the post. He’ll be a major piece for the Tide this year and could lead them in multiple categories.

Luca Foster (2026 | Archbishop Carroll)
Carroll’s 2026 group is as strong as any around: Ian Williams and Nasir Ralls played major roles as freshmen, while Foster and 6-9 Drew Corrao played more limited minutes off the bench. But Foster, a 6-4 wing, has easily taken the biggest step forward of the group this summer, drawing attention with both Carroll and the K-Low Elite 15s for his ability to score at all three levels, his physical length/athleticism and his upside. No offers yet, but it seems like it’s only a matter of time for the talented underclassman.

Ryann Jennings (2026 | Conestoga)
It was a great summer for the Comets’ 15s, and Jennings was one who enjoyed a particularly strong summer. The 5-10 wing guard can light it up from the 3-point arc, and she’s got good size on the perimeter, while showing she can put the ball on the floor and get to the hoop; she also pulled in her first Division I offers. Jennings had some big outings as a freshman for the Pioneers, who are one of the Central League favorites in 2023-24; now it’s about putting together consistency as a sophomore.

Larenzo Jerkins (2024 | Neumann-Goretti)
After not getting an opportunity to play for Neumann-Goretti last season due to PIAA rules, Jerkins didn’t waste any time this summer to showcase his improved abilities in front of college coaches. He impressed during big-time matchups during Philly Live and continued to excel with BW Elite later in the summer, showing off an improving outside stroke to go along with the athleticism and motor he’s had dating back to his Chester days. St. Thomas Aquinas College (N.J.) and West Chester are the D-II programs who have already extended offers.

Deuce Ketner (2024 | Bonner-Prendergast)
Ketner consistently produced in front of the CoBL staff with Bonner in June and with K-Low Elite in July. The strong 6-foot-6 forward has rounded out his game with improved shooting and handling but he continues to stick to his strengths — using his strong body to finish down low and really feeling the game for when to make his impact. A confident Ketner, who firmed himself as a D-I recruit with a few more offers this summer, should be an impact player in the PCL.

Aidan Langley (2025 | Westtown School)
Langley didn’t get to play a ton for Westtown in her first year there; the 6-1 rising junior forward suffered a preseason injury which cost her the first half of the season, also putting her deeper in the rotation of the most talent-packed squad in the area. But she’s been able to show what she can do this summer with BBA Elite’s 17s, picking up an offer from Temple University while hearing from a number of other Division I programs; Langley’s a battler on the block who’s starting to stretch her game out to the 3-point arc.

Addison Levensten (2026 | Harriton)
Levensten was good enough as a freshman to crack the rotation of a deep, veteran Germantown Academy squad, but only just enough to flash her potential on the court. With her Lady Runnin’ Rebels 15U squad this summer, the 5-10 guard showed her talent with quite a few big performances in front of CoBL writers — scoring from all three levels, racking up steals and transition points and dominating games in stretches. Now at Harriton for her sophomore year, she’ll be one of the best youngsters in the Central League.

Grace McDonough (2025 | Souderton)
A 6-1 forward, McDonough started as a sophomore at Soudy but didn’t always standout, Northwestern-bound Casey Harter and a key senior class drawing most of the headlines. McDonough’s had a strong summer with the Lady Runnin’ Rebels 16s, earning her first Division I offer (from Lafayette) this week, 

Emily Olsen (2024 | Garnet Valley)
Olsen only got the chance to play five games during her junior campaign after re-injuring her knee that kept her out as a freshman. She was good to go this summer on a Delco Goats squad that was one of the top teams in the HGSL and impressed every time out. Olsen has a polished post game and a jump shot that can do damage as well, which caught coaches eyes this summer. The Jaguars went to the state playoffs without her last year. With leading scorers, Haylie Adamski and Kylie Mulholland back next year joined by Olsen, Garnet Valley should be a Central League contender and have District 1 squads wary.

Josh Reed (2024 | Archbishop Wood)
Reed’s always been an intriguing physical talent and certainly had a case as a D1 player but it’s definitely clear that’s the level he will play at now after impressing with Archbishop Wood and Philly Revolution. The 6-foot-3 combo guard’s feel for the game with the ball in his hands has grown quite a bit over the last calendar year and he’s shooting at better now as well. He’s been really, really good on the defensive end at times in front of the CoBL staff and had quite a few dominant offensive performances as well.

Nyle Ralph-Beyer (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
It was early in his junior year that Ralph-Beyer began to get some buzz as a potential Division I scholarship recipient, but it wasn’t until this summer that he really solidified himself in that regard. The 6-4 wing guard continues to shoot it at a high clip but he’s found his assertiveness on the court, turning his intensity meter up a notch or two, and coaches have noticed: he’s picked up six offers from low-to-mid-major types in the last few months, and he continues to produce at a high level. Henderson should benefit greatly this winter, and if he keeps up it the Warriors look like they'll be in the mix for a District 1 title. 

Will Riley (2025 | Phelps School)
Undoubtedly the state's biggest breakout player of the summer, Riley burst onto the national scene at Nike's EYBL sessions with UPlay Canada 16U. Defenses struggled to keep him from getting the basket off the bounce at 6-9. Riley scored so well that his name was occasionally mentioned alongside guys like Boozer and Flagg. That product carried over to the games he played with Phelps in June. Then, when he played 17U at Peach Jam, his ability to scale his game down to be a floor spacer/ closeout attacker was just as impressive as his high usage earlier in the summer. Riley's offer sheet now features some of the best college programs from coast to coast.

Megan Rullo (2026 | Cardinal O’Hara)
Rullo was more of a role player at O’Hara during her freshman campaign with La Salle commit Joanie Quinn and older sister Molly Rullo, who has a slew of D1 offers herself, leading the way for the Lions. Megan, a 5-foot-9 guard/wing, officially entered the D1 radar this offseason with an offer from Drexel. She has a smart style of play that allows her to make an impact both on or off the ball on the offensive end, making great cuts to free herself and making good decisions with the ball in her hands. 

Kai Shinholster (2025 | Penn Charter)
The wiry 6-5 combo guard really seemed to catch coaches’ attention during the scholastic live period, as highlighted by seven new scholarship offers in June, including Big 5 schools Temple, St. Joe’s Drexel and Penn. After playing off-ball with point guard Mark Butler (Lafayette) running the show at Penn Charter last season, Shinholster got to display his on-ball and shot creation skills quite a bit, adding to a profile that already included a rangy shooter. He looks like one of the front runners for Inter-Ac MVP.

Shayla Smith (2025 | Audenried Charter)
The CoBL staff first got a good look at Smith, a 5-foot-9 guard who can fill it up from anywhere, last fall with Audenried when she combined for 50 in a pair of games at the CoBL Fall Classic. She took over the Public League during the winter, winning the league MVP and leading her team to the title. It was obvious Smith was supremely talented but how would she fare on the court with peers of equal talent level? Turns out pretty darn well. Playing for a Philly Rise 16U squad that won the Nike EYBL championship, Smith asserted herself as a high-major prospect this summer who can do much more than just fill it up and succeed in multiple roles/settings.

Caleigh Sperling (2024 | North Penn)
The Lady Runnin’ Rebels 17s won the Hoop Group Showcase League championship this summer, and while it was a deep group effort that got it done, Sperling more often than not was leading the way, earning the HGSL MVP award. The 5-9 wing guard shot it well from the perimeter but really had her mid-range game working all summer, and she’s been piling up rebound, assist and steal numbers as well. 

Ma'kye Taylor (2024 | Imhotep)
Playing beside Justin Edwards in the frontcourt at Tep his junior season and then with Team Final EYBL, Taylor was relatively unknown outside of the Philly area. Yet, with incremental improvements and by stepping up as a leader for the Panthers in June, he became someone hoops fans and college coaches had to pay attention to. He's the backbone of their defense with his rim protection and a glue guy offensively with his opportunistic buckets and connective passing. Taylor might not put up eye-popping numbers, but he'll be pivotal to their success going forward.

Cam Wallace (2025 | Westtown School)
After a quiet sophomore year, Wallace had a resurgent spring and summer with Philly Pride UAA. His ability to drive offense by creating for himself or playing off of others was impressive. No matter how defenses played him, he showed the willpower to put the ball in the hoop however he needed to to help his team win. And with all the versatility he showed as a scorer, Wallace showed glimpses of what he can be as a defender 

Jake West (2025 | George School)
George School was one of the few local PAISAA programs that didn’t play at Hun during the first scholastic live periods in June and West’s Team Final Red EYBL squad didn’t play much locally until July but he wow-d in multiple showings in front of CoBL’s staff. West, who played his first two seasons at Carroll, plays the part of pass-first point guard extremely well. That’s nothing new but he’s gotten a little taller, which has improved his ability to take the ball to the basket as a scorer and hold his own on the defensive end.

Nasir Williams (2025 | Sankofa)
The 6-foot guard was a third team All-Philadelphia Public League selection last season playing alongside Zaki Alston (Chestnut Hill). As the go-to guy for Sankofa this offseason, Williams really impressed with his finishing ability. He had a good summer with Philly Pride Select (and even a few runs with the national team) taking down defenders with his creativity attacking off the bounce.