City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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The biggest live period event in the Northeast rolls into its second weekend as Philly Live II returns to Jefferson University and the new Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center, operated by Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB), from June 28-30. 

Some of Pa.’s best will make the trip from across the state and programs from N.J., Delaware, Virginia, D.C., Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, and Massachusetts will descend on the City of Brotherly Love to play in front of hundreds of college coaches from various levels.

As three full days of basketball play out, here are some of the featured matchups from an absolutely loaded Day Two; Saturday’s full schedule is at the bottom.

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Philly Live Session II Preview
Day 1 (June 28) | Day 2 (June 29) | Day 3 (June 30)

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Sidwell Friends (D.C) vs. Father Judge
10:10 AM, PYB Ct. 3

The big matchups start early on a day absolutely chock-full of big-time clashes; far too many for us to discuss here. Father Judge has its eyes on a Catholic League title after a runner-up finish a year ago, led by 2025 Kevair Kennedy (6-1), 2026 Derrick Morton-Rivera (6-3) and 2027 Nazir Tyler (6-0), who form one of the best backcourts around, with 6-9 2025 Everett Barnes in the middle; keep an eye on 6-5 2026 Max Moshinski, who’s having a really strong offseason as well. Sidwell, always one of the top teams in the DMV region, has its own tremendous backcourt in 2025s Acaden Lewis and Cameron Gillus, plus 2025 wing Jalen Rougier-Roane and 2026 wing Jalyn Collingwood, who might just be the best of the bunch. 

Notre Dame (Conn.) vs. Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
11:20 AM, PYB Ct. 3

Coming down from Connecticut, Notre Dame boasts a pair of high-level ballplayers in 6-5 2026 wing Abdou Toure and 6-5 2026 wing Landon Krygier. They were both major reasons why the Green Knights went 28-0 this past season, capturing the program’s first CIAC Division I boys’ basketball state championship in its fifth attempt at a title. They get a couple big-time matchups, including this one against one of the proudest programs in the Garden State, which is once again stocked with upperclassman talent. It starts with 6-9 powerhouse center Daniel Marcellinus, but 5-10 2026 point guard Jalen Green is a real talent on the ball, with 2026 wing Ethan Mgbako (6-4) and 2026 guards Tyrease Hunter and Trevon Lewis also sure to draw college coaches.

Sidwell Friends (D.C.) vs. Hudson Catholic (N.J.)
12:30 PM, PYB Ct. 4

I know, two mentions of Sidwell in the first three games, but this tempting matchup was just too good not to include here. Hudson Catholic is loaded under head coach Nick Marianello, especially in its 2027 class, led by guards Rashad ‘Red’ Robinson and Eli Colon, plus size in 6-7 posts Andrew Iduh and Jeffrey Brooks. But right now, 2025s Keith McKnight (6-5) and Omari Moore (6-1) are their leaders, a pair of Division I level wings. Hudson Catholic’s game with Archbishop Wood at 4:00 PM is also a must-see, but there’s about 60 of those games on Saturday and we can’t mention all of them.

St. John’s (D.C.) vs. Father Judge
1:40 PM, Jefferson Ct. 2

Another big-time opponent for the Crusaders coming up from the nation’s capital. St. John’s College, which captured the 2023 WCAC title, is one of the proudest programs from D.C., whose Catholic League rivals the PCL for best true high school league on the East Coast. There’s talent in all classes, starting with a pair of 6-4 2024s in Jon Barton and Omari Witherspoon; 2026s Finley Billy (6-7) and Zyion Chase (6-6) provide size, with Billy a quality shooter and Chase an athletic post threat. And keep an eye on productive 2027 wing Oladeji Olorungbohunmi. 

James Hubert Blake (Md.) vs. St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.)
2:50 PM, Jefferson Ct. 2

Another pair of teams who weren’t in last week’s Philly Live first session but are sure to be a draw are Blake and St. Peter’s, both of whom have some high-major talent. Blake’s big draw is 6-8 2027 Babatunde Oladotun, one of the country’s top rising sophomores, a prototype scoring wing with a mature game, whose father Ibraheem Oladotun played at Virginia Tech. St. Peter’s Prep might not have anybody of quite that ceiling, but 2025 guard Austin Spencer leads a group that also features a trio of talented 2026s in Derek Gomez (6-5), Richie Rosa (5-10) and Mason Santiago (6-1). 

Roman Catholic vs. Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)
4:00 PM, Jefferson Ct. 3

New-look Roman Catholic makes its debut after sitting out Philly Live I, with 2027 guard Tyler Sutton joining the Cahillites’ core featuring 2025 PF Shareef Jackson and 2026 wing Sammy Jackson, the brothers now the veteran leaders for head coach Chris McNesby. Another talented 2025, Sebastian Edwards, has a chance to finally play big minutes after sitting behind some great guards the last few years. Don Bosco has its own talented post in bruising 7-f0 2026 center Keiner Asprilla, who made his debut with his squad at this event last summer and recently picked up a Villanova offer; 2025s Brady Loughlin (6-4) and Jordan Ghee (6-3) are both scholarship-level scorers, and 2028 incomer Jaylen Lewis has a ton of talent.

Bergen Catholic (N.J.) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep
5:10 PM, Jefferson Ct. 3

Bergen Catholic played some great games in the first weekend of Philly Live, taking Archbishop Wood to overtime in one of the featured games last Saturday. The Crusaders are loaded up front and on the wings with 2025 Declan Wucherpfenning (6-6) and 2026s Julius Avent (6-6) and AJ Williams (6-7), a versatile group that can score inside and out, quite a contrast for a guard-heavy St. Joe’s Prep. Hawks coach Jason Harrigan will lean heavily on the 2025 trio of Jaron McKie (6-3), Jordan Ellerbee (6-2) and Olin Chamberlain (5-11), with 2026 Will Lesovitz and 2027 Myles Peterson, both 6-3, filling out the lineup. 

St. Rose (N.J.) vs. Friendship Tech (D.C.)
6:20 PM, Jefferson Ct. 3

St. Rose doesn’t have a true big man but the Purple Roses are strong and athletic on the wings, led by stud 2026 Jayden Hodge (6-6), though 2027 Avery Lynch (6-4) and 2025s Brian Ebeling (6-2) and Evan Romano (6-3) all have good length and provide great two-way versatility for head coach Brian Lynch, Avery’s uncle. Friendship Tech isn’t built too dissimilarly, with 6-7 2025 Aidan Haskins, 6-6 2026 Nazaire Hinton and 2025 twins David and Daniel Bumpass standing 6-5 and 6-4, respectively. 

Imhotep Charter vs. James Hubert Blake (Md.)
6:20 PM, PYB Ct. 4

The co-hosts, Imhotep Charter gets its pick of games, so when the Panthers take on Olatunde and Blake, it’ll be a show. The Panthers play a singular style of basketball, a relentless-yet-controlled in-your-face 32 minutes that wears teams down from inside and out. The floor general for the next two years in 2026 R.J. Smith (5-9), who just picked up his first two Division I offers this week after a stellar first live weekend; 2026 wings Zaahir Muhammad-Gray (6-6) and Latief Lorenzano-White (6-5) bring length and scoring to the ‘3’ and ‘4’ spots, while 2025 Carnell Henderson (6-2) can light it up as well; 6-10 2027 Zion Green has as high a ceiling as anybody around.

Archbishop Wood vs. Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)
7:30 PM, PYB Ct. 4

Speaking of co-hosts, Archbishop Wood follows up Imhotep with its own big nighttime matchup. Perhaps the biggest eye-opener for the Vikings last weekend was 2028 Rowan Phillips, a silky-smooth 6-3 guard who impressed at the Jr. All-City Classic in May and certainly seems varsity-ready, even in the Catholic League. Wood’s veterans are 2025s Milan Dean Jr. (6-3) and Deuce Maxey (6-2), with 2026 Brady MacAdams (6-3) and 2027 Jadyn Jenkins (6-9) ready for their turns in the top part of the Wood rotation. 

St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Rutgers Prep (N.J.)
8:40 PM, PYB Ct. 3

Even in the last set Saturday night, there’s still plenty of good games to see. Rutgers Prep, under the direction of former La Salle coach Matt Bloom, features some really exciting youth in 2027s Andrew Kretkowski (6-6) and Jacob Canton (6-2), with 2026 Logan Franz (6-11) and 2025 Myles Parker (6-6) bringing length and experience to the frontcourt and on the wings. St. Joe’s Prep has some talented youth of its own, including 2028s Julian and Justin McKie, Jaron’s younger brothers.

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Saturday, June 29
9:00 AM
Jefferson 1: Haddonfield Memorial (N.J.) vs. Overbrook
Jefferson 2: Penncrest vs. St. Elizabeth (Del.)
Jefferson 3: Marple Newtown vs. Mendham (N.J.)
Jefferson Aux.: Chester Charter vs. Timber Creek (N.J.)

PYB 1: Conrad Science (Del.) vs. Riverside (N.J.)
PYB 2: Hackensack (N.J.) vs. Bensalem
PYB 3: Bound Brook (N.J.) vs. Paul VI (N.J.)
PYB 4: Gloucester (N.J.) vs. SLA-Beeber
PYB 5: Cheltenham vs. Pennsauken (N.J.)
PYB 6: Chantilly (Va.) vs. Overbrook (N.J.)

10:10 AM
Jefferson 1: Christian Academy vs. Mendham (N.J.)
Jefferson 2: Council Rock North vs. Ridgewood (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: Mastery North vs. Manasquan (N.J.)
Jefferson Aux.: Lansdale Catholic vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond

PYB 1: Chichester vs. William Penn
PYB 2: Chester vs. Mastery South
PYB 3: Sidwell Friends (D.C.) vs. Father Judge
PYB 4: Gill St. Bernard (N.J.) vs. Spring-Ford
PYB 5: Holy Ghost Prep vs. Wayne Hills (N.J.)
PYB 6: Delbarton (N.J.) vs. Conestoga

11:20 AM
Jefferson 1: La Salle College vs. Manasquan (N.J.)
Jefferson 2: Potomac (Va.) vs. Archbishop Ryan
Jefferson 3: Imani Christian vs. St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.)
Jefferson Aux.: Chantilly (Va.) vs. Riverside (N.J.)

PYB 1: Abraham Lincoln vs. William Tennent
PYB 2: East Catholic (Conn.) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.J.)
PYB 3: Notre Dame (Conn.) vs. Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 4: Bonner-Prendergast vs. South County (Va.)
PYB 5: Constitution vs. Pennsauken (N.J.)
PYB 6: Overbrook (N.J.) vs. Shamokin Area

12:30 PM
Jefferson 1: Cedar Creek (N.J.) vs. Princeton Day (N.J.)
Jefferson 2: WT Woodson (Va.) vs. Arts (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: Lower Moreland vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond
Jefferson Aux.: Penncrest vs. Hackensack (N.J.)

PYB 1: Chambersburg vs. St. Elizabeth (Del.)
PYB 2: Bethlehem Catholic vs. William Penn
PYB 3: Salesianum (Del.) vs. St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)
PYB 4: Sidwell Friends (D.C.) vs. Hudson Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 5: Maret School (D.C.) vs. Morris Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 6: Bound Brook (N.J.) vs. Delbarton (N.J.)

1:40 PM
Jefferson 1: Elizabeth (N.J.) vs. Potomac (Va.)
Jefferson 2: St. John’s (D.C.) vs. Father Judge
Jefferson 3: East Catholic (Conn.) vs. Immaculate Conception (N.J.)
Jefferson Aux.: Ridgewood (N.J.) vs. Phil-Mont Christian

PYB 1: Abraham Lincoln vs. Egg Harbor (N.J.)
PYB 2: St. Thomas Aquinas (N.J.) vs. Devon Prep
PYB 3: Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) vs. Muhlenberg
PYB 4: Hayfield (Va.) vs. Bonner-Prendergast

2:50 PM
Jefferson 1: Chester vs. Princeton Day (N.J.)
Jefferson 2: James Hubert Blake (Md.) vs. St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: Archbishop Ryan vs. Salesianum (Del.)
Jefferson Aux.: Cedar Creek (N.J.) vs. Paul Robeson

PYB 1: Bethlehem Catholic vs. William Tennent
PYB 2: Friendship Tech (D.C.) vs. Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 3: South County (Va.) vs. Union Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 4: St. Rose (N.J.) vs. Gonzaga College (D.C.)
PYB 5: South Lakes (Va.) vs. George Washington (W.Va.)
PYB 6: Shamokin Area vs. Wayne Hills (N.J.)

4:00 PM
Jefferson 1: Baltimore City (Md.) vs. Immaculate Conception (N.J.)
Jefferson 2: Neumann-Goretti vs. Arts (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: Roman Catholic vs. Don Bosco (N.J.)
Jefferson Aux.: Lansdale Catholic vs. Norristown Area

PYB 1: Maret School (D.C.) vs. La Salle College
PYB 2: Chambersburg vs. Payne Tech (N.J.)
PYB 3: Devon Prep vs. Hayfield (Va.)
PYB 4: Archbishop Wood vs. Hudson Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 5: Archbishop Carroll vs. Jackson-Reed (D.C.)
PYB 6: Egg Harbor (N.J.) vs. Strath Haven

5:10 PM
Jefferson 1: Elizabeth (N.J.) vs. George Washington (W.Va.)
Jefferson 2: Largo (Md.) vs. Notre Dame (Conn.)
Jefferson 3: Bergen Catholic (N.J.) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep
Jefferson Aux.: Dock Mennonite vs. William Allen

PYB 1:  Jefferson vs. Morris Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 2: College Achieve (N.J.) vs. Sanford School (Del.)
PYB 3: Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) vs. Union Catholic (N.J.)
PYB 4: South Lakes (Va.) vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh
PYB 5: Eng. & Sciences vs. Timothy Christian (N.J.)
PYB 6: Loch Raven (Md.) vs. Upper Moreland

6:20 PM
Jefferson 1: Exeter Twp. vs. Saint Mark’s (Del.)
Jefferson 2: Jackson-Reed (D.C.) vs. Camden (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: St. Rose (N.J.) vs. Friendship Tech (D.C.)
Jefferson Aux.: Constitution vs. Dickinson (Del.)

PYB 1: Lancaster Mennonite vs. Conwell-Egan
PYB 2: Pope John Paul II vs. Southern Regional (N.J.)
PYB 3: Immaculate Conception (N.J.) vs. Gwynn Park (Md.)
PYB 4: Imhotep Charter vs. James Hubert Blake (Md.)
PYB 5: Trenton Catholic (N.J.) vs. Wilson
PYB 6: Payne Tech (N.J.) vs. Executive Education

7:30 PM
Jefferson 1: Baltimore City (Md.) vs. Neumann-Goretti
Jefferson 2: Collegium Charter vs. Moorestown High (N.J.)
Jefferson 3: Bergen Catholic (N.J.) vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh
Jefferson Aux.: Eng. & Sciences vs. William Allen

PYB 1: Cinnaminson (N.J.) vs. Downingtown West
PYB 2: Pope Francis (Mass.) vs. Loch Raven (Md.)
PYB 3: College Achieve (N.J.) vs. Muhlenberg
PYB 4: Archbishop Wood vs. Don Bosco Prep
PYB 5: Andrews Osborne (Ohio) vs. Gonzaga College (D.C.)
PYB 6: Jefferson vs. Timothy Christian (N.J.)

8:40 PM
Jefferson 1: Exeter Twp. vs. Dickinson (Del.)
Jefferson 2: West Philadelphia vs. Wilson
Jefferson Aux.: Dock Mennonite vs. Sankofa Freedom 

PYB 1: Timber Creek (N.J.) vs. Lancaster Mennonite
PYB 3: St. Joseph’s Prep vs. Rutgers Prep (N.J.)
PYB 4: West Catholic vs. Sanford School (Del.)
PYB 5: Executive Education vs. Saint Mark’s (Del.)
PYB 6: Southern Regional (N.J.) vs. Springfield (Delco.)