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 Philadelphia Youth Basketball 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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Nate Brazil (2025 | Imani Christian Academy)
Brazil was a nightmare in the open court against Archbishop Wood; constantly finishing through contact and hitting many nice jumpers, Brazil finished the day with 32 points. The 6 foot combo guard was also a relentless defender, constantly leading to breakaway’s for himself or his teammates. Brazil showed his playmaking ability as well, whether it was sizing up defenders and getting to the cup or using his quick first step to decelerate and stop on a dime for a pull up jumper. The Pittsburgh-area school is the back-to-back state champ in the single-A classification; after recently moving to the 6A class you can expect to hear Brazil and Imani resurface during spring time for another potential state title. 

Elijah Crispin (2025 | Pitman, N.J.)
Crispin put on a shooting clinic and had one of the best shooting performances of the day. He drained eight 3-pointers, some from as far back as a step over half court, racking up a total of 26 points for the contest. His movement off the ball is fluid, but it's his dribbling skills that really set him apart, allowing him to create the shots he wants with ease. Crispin also showcased his ability to function as a lead guard in Pitman's offense, which relies heavily on off-ball movement and cutting action. This style of play allowed him to find open shooters, demonstrating his court vision and decision-making in reading defensive rotations.

Milan Dean (2025 | Archbishop Wood)
Dean brought notable energy and athleticism to the court. He uses his quick hands to disrupt the opposition and create numerous fast-break opportunities for his team. In the second half, Dean showcased his explosive athleticism with a hesitation move that led to a powerful tomahawk dunk in traffic, drawing significant attention. This sparked a Wood run where down the stretch he executed a two-handed dunk in transition, converting it into an and-one play during a critical comeback, helping his team secure a 43-37 lead with under two minutes left in the contest. This play ensured Archbishop Wood maintained their lead for the rest of the game. Dean concluded the game with 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks, highlighting his all-around impact on both ends of the floor.

Luca Foster (2026 | Archbishop Carroll)
The 6-6 wing virtually made every shot. Foster was torching the net against Upper St. Clair; finishing with 31 points against a good squad from Western PA. Foster showcased his ability to get to a pull up jumper, knock down shots off the catch and shoot, and get to the rim for some nice finishes. Transition baskets were his friend in this one, finishing off the fastbreak with a layup or a dunk and you could hear the crowd in awe of Foster’s masterclass. Going forward, he will be a key piece for an uber talented roster from top to bottom. 

Mike Green (2025 | Archbishop Wood)
A flamethrower from behind the arc. Green has asserted himself before in high-level games and he just did it again; this time against Imani Christian Academy. He finished with 23 points and made 6 threes in the contest. A lot of times the 6-2 combo guard would be spotted up and knock it down but there were multiple instances that Green showed he isn’t just a one trick Pony. He could hit a quick one in transition or put it on the deck and create for himself. The lefty’s first 18 points were off the 6 threes, once Imani took note of the sharpshooter they started to run him off the line, but Green showed he can hit other shots. He had timely pull up jumpers and silky floaters that boosted Wood’s lead in the second half and ultimately resulted in them getting the job done down the stretch. 

Zion Green (2027 | Imhotep)
In the intense contest against Richmond Heights (Ohio), Green wowed spectators with his agility off-the-bounce. The 6-9 combo forward drove then finished off of two feet with touch. He also did the yeoman’s work inside by grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds. After temporarily leaving the game with a cut above his eye, he came back in the second half and picked right back up where he left off. His ability to grab-and-go resulted in him exploiting mismatches by pulling up and making threes over his man or continuing all the way to the hoop, for a 19-point double-double. 

Jerry Johnson Jr. (2026 | La Academia)
The lead guard from Lancaster had his way with Delmar. Standing 6-3 and slight-of-frame, Johnson Jr sliced his way into the paint going right and/or left before kissing the ball off the glass to score. He balanced out the buckets with his facilitating. Whether it was feeding his 2026 big man Elijah Perez in the post or driving and kicking to shooters, made sure the ball got where it needed to go. And when he didn't have it, he found success as a cutter. Johnson Jr had the highlight of the game on a baseline out-of-bounds play when he cut from the left slot and caught a body on an alley oop. He tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. 

Beau Lyren (2025 | Delaware County Christian)
Lyron demonstrated his skillset and high basketball IQ in Friday’s game against Neshaminy. He scored 15 points, showcasing his shooting ability with three long distance 3-pointers. Lyren also excelled in driving to the basket, navigating through defenders from the perimeter. His defensive prowess was evident as he secured three steals, which contributed to transition baskets for the Knights. Lyren's performance was a key element in the dynamic guard attack that led to a convincing 59-39 victory.

Deuce Maxey (2025 | Archbishop Wood)
Deuce Maxey, the dynamic 6-1 pace-setting guard from Archbishop Wood, class of 2025. Known for his explosive athleticism and crafty finishing moves, Maxey was a force to be reckoned with on the court, showcasing his ability to penetrate defenses and score from anywhere. Maxey put relentless pressure on Upper St. Clair's guards. His offensive bag was on full display as he nailed smooth one-dribble pull-up jumpers, threes from multiple spots on the perimeter, and showcased his athleticism with a pair of one handed dunks in transition. His defensive prowess was equally impressive, drawing a charge from the opposing big with tenacious post defense. During a crucial comeback stretch for Wood, Maxey stepped up again, sinking a three-pointer off a baseline out-of-bounds play to give his team the lead. 

Khamai Orange (2025 | Delaware County Christian)
Orange showcased his all-around game against Neshaminy, leaving his mark on both ends of the floor. He turned defense into transition opportunities, pressuring the opposition with his speed and court vision and converting defense into offense. His ability to penetrate the paint and finish through contact was on full display. He maneuvered around and over defenders, absorbing hits and scoring with either hand. His length and quickness were problematic for both guards and bigs alike on the defensive end, as Orange tallied three steals and countless deflections, along with 27 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block.

Dustin Pederson (2026 | Delmar, Del.)
The Wildcats fell to La Academia, but not without Pederson giving them a puncher’s chance. The opposing defense made it difficult for him to get the ball in his spots, so he created his own opportunities. The 6-5 wing crashed the boards with a purpose. On offense, he timed his jumps just as the ball was coming off of the rim to tip it back in. Then, on the other end, he took defensive rebounds from one end to the other, swerving past defenders and scoring before they could get set. He cashed in multiple threes as well. Pederson paced his team with 32 points and 15 rebounds, before bouncing back with 26 points in the win over Kennett. 

Mani Sajid (2026 | Plymouth Whitemarsh)
With one of the best individual performances of the day, Sajid handed Central York 32 points, 5 boards, 3 assists, and 2 steals. The rising junior got his usual “Mani buckets,” hitting four threes and a few fadeaway jumpers from the second level. But he also got to the cup. On the verge of blowing up as a college prospect, he attacked the basket and finished above the rim with bad intentions. After putting 20 of PW’s 38 first-half points, Sajid went on a run in the second where he scored 10 straight points to put the game out of reach. 

RJ Smith (2026 | Imhotep Charter)
The first three quarters of Tep’s game versus Richmond Heights was as high octane as it gets. Even when it felt like both teams were sped up, the Panthers were right at home because they had Smith. The 5-8 floor general snatched misses off of the defender glass and pushed the pace. His capacity to run the offense at a high tempo served them well, as he used his tight handle to create advantages and evade defenders. Smith got on the scoreboard with his patented floater and a pull-up trey. He later gashed the opposing defense on his drives. The Tep signal-caller totalled 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Wayne Fletcher II (2025 | Central Dauphin)
Fletcher II put on a display in basketball against a long and athletic Audenried squad. At 6-4 and 185 pounds, Fletcher's explosive ability to create off the dribble and score through contact was on full display. His smooth mid-range game posed a constant threat to Audenried's perimeter defense, making him problematic to guard. His versatility as a three-level scorer was evident throughout the game. In a crucial moment, Fletcher capped off an 11-3 Central Dauphin run with a powerful drive to the basket, finishing over multiple Audenried defenders, igniting his team and the crowd. His performance was not just about scoring; Fletcher filled the stat sheet with an impressive 22 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Remember the name, as he's sure to continue making waves for Central Dauphin.

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Honorable Mention
Bradford Berwick (2026 I Delaware County Christian), Isaac Cole (2025 | Audenried), Israel Cole (2025 | Audenried), Paul Glants (2025 | Abington), Jalyn Hopkins (2026 | West Philadelphia) Xavier Howard (2026 | West Philadelphia), Roman Kulesa (2025 | CB West), Zaahir Muhammad-Gray (2026 | Imhotep), Max Milillo (2026 | CB West), Mikey Mita (2026 | Penncrest), Blake Nassry (2027 | Parkland), Michael Pereira (2026 | Plymouth Whitemarsh), Elijah Perez (2026 | La Academia), Rowan Phillips (2028 | Archbishop Wood), Nasir Ralls (2026 | Archbishop Carroll), Shakur Starling (2027 | Central Dauphin) Peja Strobl (2026 | Upper St. Clair), Demarris Winters Jr. (2025 | Richmond Heights, Ohio)