City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The first day of the first session of Philly Live 2024 saw dozens of teams from around the Northeast (and beyond) kick off the June Scholastic Live Period in front of equally as many college coaches.

Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff in games we watched at Jefferson University on Friday:

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2024 Philly Live Session I Standouts

Jefferson Day 1 | PYB Day 1 | Jefferson Day 2 | PYB Day 2 | Jefferson Day 3 | PBY Day 3 |

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Larry Brown (2026 | Coatesville)
Brown immediately stands out when watching the Red Raiders play at 6-7 but once the ball hits his hands either at the top of the key or in the post, the audience is immediately focused on him. From there, his game does the talking. He tallied 18 points and it seemed like more as Coatesville rolled to a 68-35 victory over Paul VI (N.J.). He hit a pair of 3-pointers as defenders backed off to prevent the strong drive but even when they chose to play up on him, the rangy forward took one dribble and made them pay. He’s terrific with face-up opportunities on the baseline and if he doesn’t score from there, he will be kicking to a teammate sprinting down the lane or spotting up in the corner. 

Demetrice Coates (2025 | Akron Bechtel)
Coates’ shooting was lights-out for the squad from Northeast Ohio on Saturday night, though Buchtel ran out of gas late in an eight-point loss to St. Joe’s Prep. A strong, athletic 6-3 guard, Coates went nuts from downtown, hitting 6-of-7 attempts to pace him to a 20-point outing. And he wasn’t just hitting catch-and-shoot triples from the corner, either; he was hitting pull-ups with a hand in his face, a deep step-back from the right-wing, another deep one from the left wing. He also showed a solid handle and able to get shots within the offense, and also gathered four rebounds, two assists and a steal. 

Jordan Ellerbee (2025 | St. Joseph’ Prep)
Ellerbee’s ability to explode downhill in the halfcourt setting is something to watch. With one long stride, he’s able to catch and create serious momentum almost immediately, a trait he put to work throughout Prep’s win on Saturday. The 6-2 guard went off for 23 points to lead all scorers in a winning effort,  hitting one 3-pointer (on five attempts) but otherwise attacking the rim, including one attempted tomahawk dunk that, while partially blocked, still fell through the hoop as part of a three-point play. Ellerbee was 8-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the line, with two rebounds/assists/steals and a block.

Keyshawn Franklin (2027 | Archbishop Ryan)
The Eastern (N.J.) transfer will get plenty of opportunities to score in the Raiders offense as it transitions back to more of a five-out scheme with the departure of 6-9 big man Thomas Sorber, now at Georgetown. The 6-4 combo guard poured in 10 points against Taylor Allderdice and it was mostly done at the rim. He is at his best in transition, getting to the rim and drawing fouls. He led the break on several occasions and loves to turn steals into layups or easy assists to his new teammates. 

Matt Gardler (2025 | Marple Newtown)
Gardler’s been The Guy for the Tigers the last few years, but now as a rising senior, he’s the no-doubt leader, especially on a day where fellow senior Ryan Keating wasn’t in attendance. Gardler’s 12-point, five-assist, four-rebound day wasn’t his most eye-pumping night statistically, but the 6-foot guard got his teammates so many good shots, able to be a one-man defensive breakdown in transition or (mostly) in the half court, where he’s got a great ability to go to his off-hand and change paces to get into the lane, and he makes bullet passes with either hand, on the move, on target. 

Rashawn Hamilton (2026 | Akron Buchtel, Ohio)
Hamilton played a poised floor game for Buchtel, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals against St. Joe’s Prep. The 6-4 wing has a good level of physicality for his age and uses that to his advantage, but he’s not a pure bruiser or anything like that; he showed great natural athleticism with some in-air adjustments as he attacked the rim, has a strong pull-up jumper, and generally kept things simple and kept the ball moving if he didn’t have an obvious move off the point of attack. 

Colton Hiller (2028 | Coatesville)
With Dior Kennedy and Zuri Harris having moved on, Brown and Amon Fowlkes will need some help at both ends of the floor and the newest addition to the Red Raiders program may be the answer. Hiller stands at 6-4 already and if performances like his 10-point game to open the weekend are any indication, Coatesville should be in store for another strong year. He has a natural feel for the speed of the game, as evidenced by two nice cuts to the rim and he’s not afraid to mix it up inside by getting to the glass. He drilled two shots from deep and his well-rounded game should only grow from here.

Bryce Hillman (2026 | Camden Eastside, N.J.)
The 6-2 combo guard was a member of Roman’s 2023 PCL championship-winning team as a freshman, then made the jump to Camden Catholic (N.J.) where he was used primarily at the ‘4’ spot. He is back playing his natural position at shooting guard and hitting four 3-pointers against Greater Johnstown will certainly build his confidence heading into a crucial junior season. His shooting form is as pure as there was at Jefferson University on Friday night and it’s truly effortless. He showed the ability to attack off the dribble as those perimeter shots started to drop and he closed out the night with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

Jayden Hodge (2026 | St. Rose, N.J.)
Out from under the shadow of his older brother, Villanova incoming freshman Matthew Hodge, Jayden is coming into his own. The 6-6 wing has added some real muscle to his frame and game over the last 12 months, and that was apparent in a 18-point, nine-rebound, two-assist showing against a defensively demanding West Catholic squad. Hodge finished tough around the bucket, showcased a silky-smooth 3-point shot on the catch, and can play point guard at the high school level with his handles and court vision. 

Saaid Lee (2025 | West Catholic)
Lee was really strong with the ball in his hands for West Catholic in a close loss to a strong St. Rose (N.J.) squad on Friday afternoon. The 5-10 point guard, the only Burrs’ senior in the starting lineup, was relentlessly attacking the bucket off the bounce, and doing so successfully; he was great at getting into the lane and playing off two feet, able to go left or right to slice around defenders, even if he had to finish at an odd angle or get it done at the line. He finished with 17 points (4-7 FG, 9-10 FT), and also dished out six assists and grabbed three rebounds.

Caleb Lundy (2027 | Lenape, N.J.)
With Tye Dorsey (Merrimack) graduated from a line of great lead guards that also includes Derek Simpson (St. Joe’s), next up seems to be Lundy. The 6-3 wing guard was Lenape’s leading scorer with 16 points in a 15-point win over Marple Newtown, completing a double-double with 10 rebounds. Though he’s lanky, Lundy is wiry strong and really smooth with the ball in his hands, able to go left with ease, and he’s got the ability to create space in the mid-range with a natural feel for scoring spots. As he continues to grow into his game and refine his scoring ability, Lundy could be a special one in South Jersey.

Rowan Miller (2026 | Conestoga)
Miller controlled the offense while leading the Pioneers to an 83-38 blowout over Big Spring High School this afternoon. He finished the game with a double-double in points and assists. The 6-1 rising junior got to the paint with ease and found shooters around him. Miller racked up 10 points and 10 assists while controlling the offense for Conestoga. Miller excelled in slashing to the basket and creating the right play. Expect Miller to play a pivotal role in leading Sean Forcine’s offense this upcoming season. 

Shane O’Brien (2026 | Conestoga)
O’Brien shot the lights out this afternoon during a 83-38 win over Big Spring High School. He connected six of eight 3-point attempts. The 6-1 guard finished with 31 points in a blowout with over Big Spring. He went 5-5 from the charity stripe, also grabbing seven rebounds (five offensive) for the Pioneers. O’Brien showed high IQ as he set himself and his teammates up by setting off-ball screens and back cutting. O’Brien shot very efficiently going 12-17 from the field. O’Brien should play a big piece to the Pioneers as they aim to rise higher in the tough Central League. 

Amier Robinson (2026 | Greater Johnstown)
The Trojans have a vaunted offensive attack and Robinson provides versatility to an offense robust with options. The 6-3 wing acts as the four or five in the Johnstown system but he does much more than simply finish in the post. He’s great off the catch at converting around the rim and he found the bottom of the net from behind the arc on two occasions. He’s crafty when getting into the paint, using an array of pump fakes and up-and-under moves to score. He finished with 21 points and looks to be an integral part of the Trojans offense moving forward.

Brandon Russell (2025 | Archbishop Ryan)
Over the last three seasons, Sorber was regularly the biggest player on the court and now that he has graduated, Russell is not the biggest guy on the Raiders starting lineup at 6-5. Russell played in 30 games with seven starts and is primed for a breakthrough with Sorber and Darren Williams (Florida Gulf Coast), and he led a balanced night with four 3-pointers on his way to 12 points in a 75-59 win over Taylor Allderdice. Russell hit three of his jumpers from the corners as the Raiders feasted on dribble-drive action, forcing the defense to collapse. If he starts turning those jumpers into drives to the rim, he’ll blossom as a go-to option for head coach Joe Zeglinski.

Asher Schwartz (2025 | Taylor Allderdice)
Schwartz hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points as the best perimeter option for the Dragons on a night where few shots were falling. The 6-2 wing has long arms and was able to see and shoot over the smaller Archbishop Ryan guards then found a few seams to penetrate and get to the line. Schwartz excelled off catch-and-shoot opportunities, especially when the Raiders tried to keep his teammate, Lukas Stead out of the paint. With high-scoring guard Logan Golle having moved on, Schwartz has a real chance to find his role in the offense and his length should also help at the other end both in passing lanes and contesting shots. 

JoJo Smuda (2027 | Downingtown East)
One of three rising sophomores who will form East’s core for the foreseeable future — all of whom are mentioned in this piece, contributing 45 of East’s 63 points in a win over Lansdale Catholic. The 6-3 wing, whose older sisters Bella (Liberty) and Ariana (Southeastern) have already starred at Downingtown East and gone on to play college hoops, led the way with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, doing a great job of crashing the offensive glass, with half of his boards on that end, a most of which were deposited right back and into the rim. Smuda got almost all of his production at the bucket, showing good patience in the post to get a clean look at the rim, and he’s a good athlete with body control as he slashes to the hoop.

Lukas Stead (2026 | Taylor Allderdice)
Stead continually attacked the weakstop of the Raiders by turning quick catches in the post into one or two-dribble moves for easy baskets. The 6-4 forward posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds and controlled the paint at both ends. When the Dragons were able to run their offense with Stead in the half court, it ended with a basket almost every time. He turned over his left shoulder and scored, converted a hook shot off the glass, and even finished with his left hand on multiple possessions. He’s a fundamentally sound big man and he gives the Dragons a legitimate presence down low.

Semaj Stone (2027 | Archbishop Ryan)
The younger brother of former Raiders standout Ja'Quill Stone, Semaj has a huge career in store if he puts together nights like this: 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals. The 6-3 guard didn’t see much action as a freshman with one of the most accomplished classes in program history ahead of him but now he will have the opportunity to showcase what he can do. He’s already taller than his brother and possesses a great feel at the offensive end. Furthermore, his best asset may be his defensive awareness as he excels at poking the ball away and getting into passing lanes.

Donte Tisinger (2025 | Greater Johnstown)
Tisinger averaged 23.4 ppg this season and has accrued over 1,300 career points, so it’s no wonder he was one of the stars of the Trojans 68-62 victory over Camden East Side (N.J.). The 6-3 lefty poured in 22 points and nine rebounds and helped stave off a ferocious comeback by confidently stepping into his jump shot and attacking the rim. Tisinger excels in the half court, finding openings off the pick-and-roll and converting a patented floater with ease. He’s an electric scorer who can hit from anywhere on the court and finish at the free throw line where he was 9-for-9.

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Honorable Mention
Melo Alymer (2028 | Lansdale Catholic), Nolan Barnes (2026 | Lenape, N.J.), Raheem Braswell (2026 | Greater Johnstown), Olin Chamberlain (2025 | St. Joseph’s Prep), Jack Dean (2026 | Marple Newtown), Amon Fowlkes (2025 | Coatesville) Sergio Hunt (2027 | Downingtown East), Matt Johnson (2026 | Archbishop Ryan), Avery Lynch (2027 | St. Rose, N.J.), Brett Mariani (2026 | Archbishop Ryan), Jaron McKie (2025 | St. Joseph’s Prep), Holland Neff (2027 | Downingtown East), Evan Romano (2025 | St. Rose, N.J.), Ya’Sai Rozier (2027 | West Catholic), Chase Stevens (2028 | Lansdale Catholic), Keith Taylor (2027 | Taylor Allderdice), Tyrone Washam (2025 | Camden Eastside, N.J.)