City of Basketball Love

By Dylan Lutey (@dylan_lutey), Jared Leveson (@jared_leveson)
& Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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The Rare Footage Classic made its debut this weekend as the area's busiest videographer hosted his first event. There were plenty of fun matchups — boys and girls — throughout both Saturday and Sunday with games at St. Raphael (N.J.), Trenton Catholic (N.J.) and Charger Nation.

CoBL had staff at Charger Nation and St. Raphael throughout the weekend. Here is the list of our standouts from the action we saw:

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Makhai Anderson (2025 | Solebury)
Anderson, who transferred from Platt (Conn.), attacked the basket with reckless abandon all weekend. The 6-5 wing showed off some serious bounce and wasn’t scared to jump with anybody around the rim finishing with multiple dunks in a game against Tri-State Prep. The same could not be said for the defense, after his first thunderous slam, it was clear defenders wanted no part in trying to stop Anderson from throwing it down. He also showed he isn’t just a dunker. In a buzzer beater loss to Tri-State Prep, Anderson finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and added a 3-pointer. Then, despite another heartbreaking 50-49 loss against Perkiomen Valley, the 6-5 wing finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and another long ball. On the offensive end, he threw down another big-time dunk on a defender’s head and his baseline drives could not be stopped. Defensively, he used his leaping ability to block a shot and alter a handful more. He did a good job of not being overzealous and timed his jumps well. On the glass, he soared over everybody on the court to come down with offensive rebounds. 

Jezelle Banks (2027 | Ursuline, Del.)
Banks filled it up for her team in losses against Spring-Ford and Morris Catholic, taking over the game at times. Banks scored 18 points and added three assists and three steals against Morris Catholic. She dazzled early on, matching Mia Pauldo bucket for bucket at one point. Banks made some absolutely ridiculous finishes, both avoiding defenders and finishing through contact with some acrobatics in the lane. She also showed off her tight handle and inbetween game, displaying both with a nasty crossover into a floater for a bucket. She’s an impactful defender as well, picking multiple pockets and piling up several deflections throughout the day as she jumped into passing lanes. While Banks and fellow star freshman Taylor Brown can both get their own, they do a really good job driving and dishing to teammates as well.

Kobe Bazemore (2026 | Upper Dublin)
The final box score line for Bazemore does not tell the whole story of the impact the 5-10 guard had in a 51-38 win against Abington Friends. While he only finished with 9 points and 2 assists, his defense and energy were game-changing. He invited any matchup that came his way and ended up guarding the opposing team’s best player, who had quite a number of inches on him, the whole game. On the perimeter he displayed lateral quickness and got right in the grill of opposing players, making it very hard for them to beat him 1-on-1 off the dribble. The most impressive part of his defensive performance was his ability to guard the post and alter shots in the paint. Despite being at a clear disadvantage because of his height, Bazemore never needed help, and oftentimes poked the ball away or made his opponent pass the ball up. When opposing players drove to the basket, he didn’t back down at all and used his long arms to make shots in the paint very difficult.

Devin Booker (2025 | Cristo Rey)
Booker tries to dunk on somebody every game. His first move to the hoop against Bonner-Prendie was a baseline drive where he, unfortunately, fell short of the rim. It's scary to think about when the 6-foot-5 wing will consistently flush those down. Booker's quick release and fearless offensive mindset make him a threat from the outside, too. The junior finished with 12 points, nine coming from beyond the arc. After a slow start on Saturday against SJP, he caught fire late, scoring most of his 16 points (three 3s) in the second half.  Booker constantly hustles on both ends of the floor, grinding on the defensive end and chasing his shots off a miss on offense. He pulled down three rebounds (one offensive). 

Ron Brown III (2024 | Springside Chestnut Hill Academy)
The 6-1 guard turned in an all-around performance on Sunday against Pennsbury, finishing with 10 points, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. His big-time athleticism was on full display when the opposing team’s center looked like he had an easy fast break layup and Brown III came in at the very last second to come up with a chasedown block that got a lot of the audience out of their seats. His overall defensive impact went beyond the box score. His strength, physicality, and quickness made it nearly impossible for opponents to drive past him. On numerous occasions an opponent would make multiple attempts at getting around him and the 6-1 guard just wouldn’t allow it. On the offensive end he was comfortable from the midrange and made some excellent passes which led to easy opportunities for teammates. 

Daquan Burgess (2024 | Reading)
Burgess served as a 3-and-D specialist for Reading at the Rare Footage Classic. In games against West Catholic and Bonner-Prendergrast, Burgess went 3-for-8 from three and recorded two steals and two charges. The 5-foot-10 guard put himself in good shooting positions where he could shoot uncontested. The senior's on-ball defense was suffocating, too. His quick feet kept him in front of his opponent, and he rarely got tested off the bounce. Burgess stayed alert on the defensive end throughout both games. He was never late to a rotation and constantly hustled back in transition. 

Zachary Campbell (2024 | Dobbins)
Campbell’s aggressive drives to the basket on Saturday put a lot of pressure on opponents’ defense. In a 38-42 loss against Upper Moreland, the 6-4 combo guard got to the free-throw line 6 times, going 8-12. In addition to his strong drives, he hit a few tough fadeaways along the baseline. He finished with 17 points and 4 rebounds against the Golden Bears. Later in the afternoon despite another loss, Campbell scored 14 points, adding 4 rebounds and 2 assists against Abington. He continued to show his physicality in this one, oftentimes knifing his way through multiple defenders on his way to the rim for a couple of and-1 opportunities. The 6-4 combo guard is comfortable with playing on the perimeter and in the post.

Kevin Carter (2024 | Math, Civic, Sciences)
Carter let it fly against Father Judge and willed his squad to a victory on Sunday at the Rare Footage Classic. The point guard scored 11 points, went 3-for-4 from three, and registered an offensive board, three assists, and one steal. Each of his threes came from a foot behind the line and rainbowed into the cup. He created offense for his teammates with excellent vision and passing. Carter assisted MCS' go-ahead basket with 12.6 remaining in the game. The senior is a floor general, constantly directing traffic on the offensive end and keeping his teammates motivated and focused. With his leadership, sound fundamentals, and relentless effort, Carter makes up for his lack of height.

Nick Chapman (2024 | Reading)
Chapman asserted himself in every facet of the game against West Catholic and Bonner-Prendie on Sunday. The 5-foot-9 senior had 12 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal against West Catholic and then went off against Bonner-Prendie. Chapman totaled 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and added two rebounds, three assists, and three steals against the Friars. He's stout and hard to rattle with heavy on-ball pressure. Chapman's a crafty finisher around the basket, doing all his damage by attacking the paint or getting to the free-throw line. 

Jay Chiles (2025 | Friends Select)
In a 45-44 overtime win against Rocktop Academy on Sunday, Chiles looked very comfortable as the team’s primary ball handler. The 6-1 point guard started the game by knocking down a 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper from the midrange right out of the gate. He ended with 14 points, 2 assists, and 2 triples. Chiles did a good job of initiating the offense and always looked in control. He did a good job of breaking down the defense with his dribble drives and created a lot of open looks from behind the arc for his teammates. In transition he was very hard to stop, beating everyone down the court for an easy layup on one occasion and making the right passes on several other occasions. He brought the intensity on the defensive end and took pride in making his opponent feel uncomfortable on the perimeter.

Naeem Colston (2024 | Samuel Fels)
Colston was a grown man amongst boys on Sunday in a 60-33 win against North Penn. The 6-5 wing did most of his damage inside, finishing with 20 points and 7 rebounds. He seemingly came up with every loose ball and rebound that came anywhere near his vicinity. In the paint, he invited contact and often went up against 2 or 3 defenders when he attacked the rim. He also showed his willingness to pass and ability to make the right reads, adding 2 assists. 

Jayden Driver (2026 | Penn Charter)
Driver stole the show for the Quakers off the bench on Saturday, pouring in a team-high 19 points as PC cruised past Rocktop. Driver has a high-arching shot and he buried five triples in the win — making sure he was ready to fire when he got the ball open beyond the 3-point line. The 6-foot guard added a transition bucket and one more hoop inside the arc. Even without extended minutes, he left his impact in other ways, tallying two assists and adding a pair of steals. Having a confident young player ready to step up could go a long way for PC as it chases an Inter-Ac title this season.

Jax Edelman (2027 | Morris Catholic, N.J.)
On a Morris Catholic squad with plenty of firepower, Edelman didn’t steal the show, but she did so many productive things on the court throughout both of her team’s victories — finishing with 10 points in both contests. THe 6-foot wing/forward spotted up for a pair of big threes in a win over Ursuline. In the win over Friends’ Central, she cut through the lane or found cutters herself. She has good size and a really strong understanding of the game and how to impact it in multiple ways, piling up rebounds, assists, blocks and steals throughout the day as well.

Korey Francis (2027 | Bonner-Prendergast)
Francis comes off the bench for the Friars, but his playmaking ability keeps him on the floor. He can break down defenders one-on-one and knockdown from long range. Francis finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and collected three assists and a steal against Cristo Rey. Then, against Reading, the freshman finished with seven points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals. His defensive prowess was most impressive in both games. Francis effortlessly anticipated his opponents' passes, plucking them from the air and creating easy offense for the Friars. For being one of the youngest players on the floor, Francis doesn't back down to the physicality and intensity of older opponents. He is a vocal presence on the floor for Bonner-Prendie, too. 

Jahaan Green (2024 | Woodrow Wilson, N.J.)
Despite a 70-38 loss to Haverford, Green continued to show his steady progression. The 6-5 combo guard seemingly gets better and better every time City of Basketball Love gets to see him. His jumper looks to be getting better by the day and that was on full display on Sunday. He knocked down one long ball and a few mid range pull-ups. He was also able to get downhill a couple of times and got a couple of easy opportunities around the rim. Green already has a college level body with his frame and as he continues to develop his outside shot he is going to be a very dangerous player who will be hard to game plan against.

Jalen Harper (2024 | St. Joe’s Prep)
Harper’s slashing ability was on display as he let the charge in a win over Cristo Rey on Saturday. The 6-foot-3 guard used his length and athleticism on the way to a 21-point, seven-rebound performance. Harper got the basket with frequency, including a nasty crossover, then exploded toward the rim for a finish or the trip to the line (7-for-8). The Hawks don’t have much size, so they need Harper to play big this year and that’s exactly what he did as helped lock down the glass and take advantage of Cristo Rey’s guard-oriented lineup with his size.

Cici Hernandez (2024 | Bethlehem Catholic)
The 5-foot-6 Hernandez has a really smooth game running point for the Hawks. Her team cam up 0-2 on the day but played well in losses to Spring-Ford and FCS. She played distributor in the first game, scoring five points and grabbing seven assists before adding 10 points and a pair of assists against FCS. She has a pretty pull-up she can get to when she wants. The floor vision is tremendous and pair that with her passing skills and that’s a recipe for a lot of easy shots for her teammates.

Joell Idrovo (2024 | Solebury)
Idrovo’s long range shooting ability was on display all weekend. On Saturday in a loss against Tri-State Prep he made 3 three-pointers, finishing with 12 points. On Sunday despite another loss to Perkiomen Valley, he made 4 triples and finished with 17 points. He was a constant threat from deep and was able to shoot it off the catch and dribble. After making 63 three-pointers on 40% last season, Idrovo will go into his senior season as one of the better shooters in the area.

Kevair Kennedy (2025 | Father Judge)
Kennedy stood out as one of the most dynamic guards at St. Raphael's on Sunday. He's bouncy with the ball in his hands and fearless on the offensive and defensive end. In the opener against Camden, Kennedy relentlessly attacked the paint and pestered the Panthers on the defense. Then the 6-foot guard scored 13 points and collected three assists in the second half in a loss against Math, Civic, and Sciences. The defense had no answer for Kennedy, his slashing drives, and nifty finishes around the rim. He utilized crossovers and a lethal stutter step to blow by his defenders. The junior is a tremendous athlete with loads of potential. 

Deuce Ketner (2024 | Bonner-Prendie)
Ketner had a quiet game against Cristo Rey but flipped a switch against defending PIAA 6A champions Reading. Ketner finished with 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three and flashed an ability to finish in the post. The 6-foot-6 wing also pulled down three rebounds (one offensive). His last rebound came off a missed front end of a one-and-one. The ball returned Ketner's way moments later, and the senior drained the go-ahead three with 4.6 seconds remaining. 

Isaiah Marshall (2025 | Friends Select)
Marshall stood out as one of the most energetic and aggressive guards during the weekend. The 6-1 guard plays a lot bigger than his listed size. In a 45-44 overtime win against Rocktop Academy he took any opportunity he could to attack the basket and came up clutch down the stretch. Opponents had a difficult time trying to stop him when he got downhill and oftentimes had to foul him. He played with his hair on fire all game on both sides of the ball, injecting energy into his team with every good play he made. He will be asked to be one of the go-to-guys this season for the Falcons and proved he is more than capable of doing that by making the game-tying layup at the buzzer and the game-winning three in overtime.

Jaidyn Moffitt (2025 | Bensalem)
Moffitt was a matchup problem on Sunday in a wire to wire 54-27 victory against Friends Select. The junior forward standing at 6-2, 270 pounds showed off his unique skill set on the offensive end. On a few possessions he played bully ball down low in the post where he was simply too big for opponents. He really drew the attention of everybody when he took defenders off the dribble from the perimeter on a couple of possessions and also stepped behind the arc and knocked down a three-pointer. Moffitt also stood out with his finishing ability, showing off finesse and athleticism around the rim. While he lacks some size height wise, he more than makes up for it with his burly frame and athleticism.

Teron Murray (2024 | Camden, N.J.)
Murray initiated Camden's offense against Father Judge. The 6-foot-5 dual-sport athlete plays with his head up, allowing him to pick apart opposing defenses and find open teammates. He's a disciplined defender with sound fundamentals, executing a perfect closeout on a three-ball late in the game where a shooting foul would've set the High back. His effort on the glass complements Murray's patience on offense and stout defense. The senior sealed the win with a defensive rebound in the game's final seconds. 

Zamir Parker-Barnes (2025 | Abington Friends)
Parker-Barnes continued to look comfortable with his new team on Saturday. Despite a 38-51 loss against Upper Dublin, he ended with 17 points. He was the Kangaroos’ go-to scorer and put the ball in the hoop on all 3 levels. He started the game with two 3-pointers and then worked his way inside. He used his long arms and high release point to get shots up over defenders’ out-stretched arms. On multiple occasions he was able to slice his way through the defense and get to the cup. 

Mia Pauldo (2025 | Morris Catholic, N.J.)
The 2025 five-star guard poured in 28 points in the marquee matchup of the day on Saturday as her Morris Catholic squad took down Ursuline. The whole offensive arsenal was on display as there were pull-ups, pretty floaters and acrobatic and-one finishes in the scoring outburst. She also took turns with her twin sister Mya in playing the role of distributor as well. Pauldo really knows how to break down her person and has a good feel for where/when to attack the weak spots in a defense, whether that’s as a scorer or passer. She created some havoc on the defensive end as well, sprinkling in a few blocks and steals.

Mac Pettinelli (2024 | Spring-Ford)
The St. Bonaventure commit helped the Rams to a 2-0 showing Saturday with wins over Ursuline and Bethlehem Catholic. She has 10 points and piled up six assists against BeCa. Pettinelli did some scoring early, canning triples from the top of the key and wing and bullying her way to the hoop on a drive. Pettinelli involved her teammates whether that was finding cutters or open shooters on the wing. The abscess of her presence is felt when she’s not on the floor.

Julian Sadler (2024 | Perkiomen Valley)
On Sunday, Sadler put on a scoring clinic in a narrow 50-49 win against Solebury. He willed his team to a victory and was unstoppable down the stretch. The 6-2 point guard showed off an array of moves on his way to 29 points. He did most of his damage off the dribble and scored on all 3 levels. In the mid-range he knocked down a handful of highly contested, off-balance shots. He was also able to get to the rim and ended up shooting 5 free-throws - making all 5 - at the end of the game to help his team pull out the victory. He also knocked down two pull-up 3’s during the course of the game.

Aaliyah Solliday (2024 | Spring-Ford)
The Rams missed Solliday’s instant offense last season. She’s still not 100 percent after coming back from a torn ACL but her microwave abilities were on display Saturday against BeCa. Solliday scored 14 points, knocking down a pair of big threes to help her team out of an offensive rut. She also drilled two clutch free throws late to seal the win. Solliday also helped keep the offensive flowing when she wasn’t taking shots , making good reads when she played at the free throw line and cutting to free herself up.

Kaiya Rain Tucker (2025 | Friends’ Central)
Rain Tucker played consistent ball throughout her team’s games on Saturday — a win over Bethlehem Catholic and a loss to Morris Catholic, flirting with a double-double in both contests. Tucker gets good position and isn’t afraid to push people around on the offensive and defensive glass. She can play with her back to the basket on offense or step out and knock down a midrange jumper or 3-point shot (which she did). The 6-foot forward also pushed the ball up the floor in transition at times for her team.

Kevin Rucker Jr.'s (2024 | Bonner-Prendie)
Rucker's combination of size, athleticism, and skill make him crucial to Bonner-Prendie's success—the 6-foot-5 senior plays at a fast and dynamic pace. Opposing defenses struggle to stop Rucker Jr. once he gets downhill and usually finishes the lay-up or gets sent to the foul line. Guards normally swarm him, but the senior is talented enough to find open teammates on the perimeter for open shots. Against Cristo Rey, Rucker Jr. finished with 16 points and went 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. His physicality also carries over to the glass as Rucker pulled down seven rebounds. 

Dom Vacchiano (2024 | Wissahickon)
Vacchiano came out of the gates on fire in a 51-41 win against Paul Robeson on Saturday. The 6-3 combo guard started the game with three catch and shoot 3’s. In addition to his outside shooting he was able to punish defenders in the paint with his size and strength. He constantly pursued offensive rebounds and took advantage of some second chance opportunities. On the defensive end he was always in the grill of opponents, oftentimes speeding them up which led to a lot of turnovers. He looked to be in full control and will be the Trojans’ clear number one option going into the season.

Nasir Washington (2024 | Tri-State Prep, N.J.)
Washington made shooting the long ball look effortless on Saturday in a close win against Solebury on Saturday. He finished with 17 points and 4 three-pointers. He looked very comfortable shooting the deep ball off the catch and dribble. On one possession he sized up his defender and stepped back for a deep three. His shots came at crucial moments down the stretch and the big moments didn’t seem to faze him at all.

Kam Waters (2025 | Springside Chestnut Hill Academy)
Waters’ athleticism was on full display in a 47-41 win against Pennsbury. He looked for any opportunity to show off his vertical leaping ability on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he had two blocks and on the offensive end he ended with a couple of thunderous dunks. The 6-2 guard also showed off his ability to take defenders off the dribble on a couple of occasions and was able to get himself to the rim for high percentage looks. He knocked down a midrange pull-up and although he wasn’t able to get a long ball to fall, he looked confident shooting it and had a couple rattle out. The 6-2 guard has an incredibly high ceiling as a 2-way player with big-time leaping ability and will be one of the featured players on a very balanced Blue Devils team.

Honorable Mentions

Sair Alsbrooks (2024 | Math, Civics, Sciences), Jamir Anderson (2024 | Rocktop Academy), Anna Azzara (2024 | Spring-Ford), Jacob Becker (2025 | Haverford), Leo Becker (2025 | Haverford), Pierce Blackwell (2026 | Friends Select), Aliyah Brame (2026 | Bethlehem Catholic), Taylor Brown (2027 | Ursuline, Del.), Emmanuel Butts (2026 | Haverford), Javyon Byrd (2027 | West Catholic), Laquan Byrd (2024 | Father Judge), Terrence Cobb (2024 | Rocktop Academy), Kevin Cotton (2024 | Penn Charter), Amari Dow (2024 | Cristo Rey),  Rakeem Dunston (2024 | Paul Robeson), Jordan Ellerbee (2025 | St. Joe’s Prep), Kaydin Ford (2024 | Abington Friends), Matt Gilhool (2025 | Penn Charter), Logyn Greer (2025 | Friends’ Central), Jamal Hicks (2025 | Penn Charter), Saleem Hudson (2024 | Dobbins),  Tariq Jennings (2024 | West Catholic), Jeremiah Lee (2024 | Abington), Anthony Lilly (2024 | Father Judge), Corey Meade (2024 | North Penn), Antonio Morris (2024 | Bensalem), Noah Morris (2024 | Bensalem), Derrick Morton-Rivera (2026 | Father Judge), Ryan Mulroy (2025 | Upper Dublin), Azeem Murphy (Math, Civics, Sciences | 2024), Steven Pantaleon (2026 | Reading), Josh Patterson (2024 | Cristo Rey), Mya Pauldo (2025 | Morris Catholic, N.J.),  Zion Robinson (2026 | Mathematics, Civics, & Sciences), Akasha Santos (2024 | Bethlehem Catholic), Tyler Simpson (2025 | Solebury), Nico Sosa (2024 | Reading), Dwayne Snead Jr. (2025 | Pennington, N.J.), Connor Taddei (2024 | Pennsbury), Naz Tyler (2027 | Father Judge), Keni Wiliams (2025 | Springside Chestnut Hill Academy), Saniyah Washington (2025 | Friends’ Central), Malachi Wright (2024 | Tri-State Prep, N.J.)