City of Basketball Love

Joseph Santoliquito (@JSantoliquito) +
Olivia Valania
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CONSHOHOCKEN — The first pair of quarterfinal games saw one blowout and one shocker on Monday night at the 2025 Donofrio Classic at the Fellowship House in Conshohocken. 

CoBL will be in attendance for as many games as possible throughout the tournament. Read ahead for the game recaps and notebook featuring a handful of players from Monday night’s games:

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Game One: M-Sport 119, Success Society 78

M-Sport’s Mike Green (2025 | Archbishop Wood) could not miss if he tried, splashing threes all over the place in a start-to-finish victory for M-Sport, which will now face the winner of K-Low Elite and Positive Image White in the semifinals Wednesday night. Green finished with a game-high 25, followed by 21 from Christian Matos (2025 | Archbishop Carroll). Northwestern-bound Jake West (2025 | Penn Charter) finished with 14 and Ty Jackson (2025 | Bonner-Prendie) ended with 13—all scored in the second half. Success Society was led by a team-high 21 from Samuel Fels’ junior Izaaz Kornegay and 17 from Jerry Johnson Jr. (2026 | La Academia Charter).

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Game Two: Flocco’s 96, Raw Sports 87

Flocco’s continues its Cinderella run in this year’s Donofrio with a mild upset over a very talented Rumph team. Rumph was playing without Roman Catholic junior star guard Sammy Jackson, but Rumph did have Imhotep’s RJ Smith, who dropped in a game-high 36, scoring 19 in the first half and 17 in the second. This is the deepest Flocco’s has ever gone in the Donofrio, led with 27 by Jefferson-bound Jacob Nguyen (2025 | Spring-Ford), 24 from Malvern sophomore Nick Harken, with Berks Catholic junior Kingston McKoy’s 18. Flocco’s will play the winner of Hunting Park I and Team Awesome in Wednesday’s semifinals.

This game provided some excitement. Rumph led by 66-55 with 17 minutes to play, when Flocco chopped that to 66-62 with 11:50 remaining. With 2:53 to play, a McKoy layup tied the score at 82-82, and Nguyen, who played a solid all-around game, proceeded to score the next eight points surging Flocco ahead to stay. Rumph got within 90-85 on a three-pointer from Jurrell Little (2025 | Dobbins Tech), but that was it.

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Christian Matos is looking for bigger things next season

He started slow, but once he got going, each shot looked automatic once it left Christian Matos’ fingertips Monday night, scoring 15 of his 21 in the second half of M-Sport’s victory. The 6-foot-3, 160-pound junior guard is coming off a season in which he averaged 16.9 points, three assists and three rebounds a game. Matos said his focus this offseason on getting larger and stronger as it will on improving his skills.

He scored 18 points and had four rebounds in Carroll’s 83-79 victory over eventual Catholic League and PIAA Class 6A state champion Father Judge on February 3 of this past season.

He currently has an offer from Sacred Heart, and is getting attention from Brown, Bryant and Hofstra.

“I think I could have played better last year, coming in from Methacton,” Matos said. “There was definitely a big adjustment going from Methacton to Carroll. I think I adjusted well. I felt I played better defensively, and I have gained about 10, 15 in a year. I played last year in the Donofrio and were bounced in the first round, so this is good getting this far. Playing against these guys benefits my game a lot, playing 40 minutes on a small court—and I will be coming back to Carroll in the fall.

Carroll was without 6-foot junior point guard Ian Williams from a major injury, and he should return, along with 6-9 junior big Drew Corrao, 6-6 junior wing Luca Foster, 6-7 sophomore wing Munir Greig, and Matos. 

“I’m putting the work in this summer, because I would love to come in at 180 pounds. That will improve my game that much more,” Matos said. “The priority this summer is putting on muscle. The skills can always improve, but if I can match my skills with being bigger and stronger, that will help me that much more.”

Matos has started on a health food diet and he will begin a weight training program three days a week.

Colleges, Matos said, are projecting him as a point guard. He carries a 3.1 GPA and a strong academic record, good enough to get attention from Brown.

“My main goal is Atlantic 10, Big East schools, but we’ll see what happens, and I may weigh my options this summer,” he said. “As a team, we have a lot to prove. We have the talent to do things. We can really do some damage and we proved how good we can be, beating Judge last season. If we play together and talk, we can make a deep run in the Catholic League and state playoffs.” -- Joseph Santoliquito

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Penn Charter’s West wrapping up impressive Philly run

The Donofrio Classic is more than just a basketball tournament to Northwestern’s Jake West.

As his high school basketball career comes to a close he reflects not on the points scored or wins within this tournament, but what it means to him - creating bonds with good people and getting to represent friends that have passed on.

“It’s a blessing,” said West. “I’ve been going to this tournament ever since I was young. Playing with my friends and especially playing for special people like Z, who has been coaching me all my life. Dedicating this game to my friend who passed away, Q, who used to play for this team. It’s so special to play in this tournament.”

West dedicates a lot of his games to Q, sporting the hashtag “#doitforQ” on his widely followed Instagram page, along with making it a motto of inspiration for his Penn Charter team and wherever he plays. You can see the passion in the way he plays, recognizing he represents more than just himself through his game.

He was no doubt Penn Charter's this past season. Named Inter-Academic League MVP along with making the All-Inter-Ac First Team, he was a key component to the Quakers' 10-0 Inter-Ac campaign, along with Matt Gilhool (LSU) and Kai Shinholster (Minnesota). However, he endured obstacles this season as he suffered a couple of sprained ankles along the way, causing him to miss some games. Overall, the Quakers finished 24-5, losing a tight game to the Hill School in the PAISAA semifinals.

But, West likes to focus on the positive: being Inter-AC champions and getting to do it with some of the people he cherishes most in life.

“It was honestly just a blessing going 10-0,” West said. “Being able to compete everyday with the guys I love. It was great.”

While he has been having a blast playing in the Donofrio Classic, after an impressive season facing tough national competition and holding their own in the Inter-Ac he has been working hard, preparing himself for the next level. He knows he needs to work on areas of his game in order to be able to compete at Northwestern.

“Being more physical, taking on more contact, reading the game a little bit slower,” said West. “That’s what I need to work on.”

Leaving Philadelphia for Evanston June 17, he is ready for the next chapter.

“[The] Big Ten [is] one of the best conferences in the country,” West said. “Battling every single game. Going to places like Purdue, Michigan State. It’s all just stuff I have dreamed of since I was a kid.”

That kid who was once a small freshman at Archbishop Carroll starting off his TikTok career, has grown and proved himself to be more than just a social media sensation. He is the real deal, as he made his mark on Philadelphia and is ready for the challenge of the high-major game. -- Olivia Valania

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Berks Catholic’s McKoy building on big season

Berks Catholic junior Kingston Mckoy felt what it was like to be on the losing side of making it to the state championship.

The PIAA 4A state title, denied by Devon Prep as the Tide won their third state championship in four years, was just out of reach for McKoy.

“We fought,” McKoy said. “We fought until the fourth quarter.”

A close game, that was 38-36 Devon Prep at the start of the fourth quarter, quickly turned into the Saints nightmare as they were outscored 17-3 to finish the game leading to a 55-39 victory for the Tide.

However he is going to use this loss as motivation to work harder in the offseason and come back stronger for his final season.

“It was a tough loss but it is going to stick with me,” McKoy said.

This summer he will play in the EYBL circuit for Philadelphia's Team Final. A crucial junior offseason, he hopes to pick up recognition other than his current interests from Ivy League and Patriot League teams.

“I’m trying to make it to the highest level,” McKoy said.

As he is learning the ropes of the Donofrio Classic, being his first year within the tournament, he wants to win it all and utilize these games as extra work towards his goals. He is ready to put in the work to make his senior year count and possibly get back to that state final.

“For next season, coming out and just playing hard,” McKoy said. “I really want to go out there and give it my all. Show what I’ve been doing in the offseason and see how far my game has come.” -- Olivia Valania

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Harrison, Flocco’s making impressive run

From losing in the first round last year to now making it to the semifinals Benjamin Harrison and the Flocco’s team have taken the Donofrio Classic by storm.

“We got bounced first game so I never imagined we would get this far,” said Harrison. “Some of the teams, they bring together some of the best players in the city, just hand picking them. We don’t really know each other so I feel like it is really sick that we are getting this far especially because of the tournament that it is.” 

An unlikely mix of players from Philly suburban teams like Spring-Ford, Perk Valley, Malvern Prep, and others, many expected another early exit for Flocco’s when putting them up against teams curated around PCL and Public League stars. However they overcame, beating a talented Danny Rumph team, and in the words of Harrison “were resilient.”

Harrison, who just finished his senior season at Central Bucks South, was happy with how his final season went.

“The last few years we weren’t very good and this year we had a good combination of juniors and seniors,” Harrison said. “So, we ended up going further in districts than past teams have in a while. We had a 15 game win streak, the longest in school history.”

While it was a memorable season in terms of stats for the Titans, Harrison also commented on its memorability in a more important way. 

“It was a fun season,” said Harrison. “The most fun high school season I had in my four years.”

Harrison, figuring out his plans for next year, has some D-III interest where he is mainly talking to Messiah and Arcadia. He really wants to play at that next level.

“The next level everyone is good at,” said Harrison. “Being at the next level and seeing how people are professionals there and the high level of basketball that takes place, I’m really excited to see what that is like next year.”

While he makes a decision on where he will spend his next four years there is a new task at hand - winning the Donofrio Classic.

“There are going to be a lot more people coming in,” Harrison said. “I definitely want to come home with that trophy.” 

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Bonner-Prendie’s Ty Jackson looks headed to Perkiomen School

It looked like Bonner-Prendie’s Ty Jackson was headed to Arcadia to continue his basketball collegiately, but something happened along the way recently.

Jackson, the Friars’ lithe 6-foot-6, 190-pound forward enforcer inside, has been getting rumblings from Division II schools and has decided to go the prep school route and is looking to attend Perkiomen School next season.

Jackson looked imposing in M-Sports’ victory on Monday night, scoring 13, including hitting a three-pointer. Known and relied on for his rebounding and inside defensive prowess, Jackson showed an offensive side of his game that should attract college coaches.

“I started getting offers from Holy Family, Chestnut Hill, Millersville, and then, Perkiomen School, came calling a few weeks ago,” said Jackson, who averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds a game this past season. “It is late in the process. I spoke to my mom about it and we feel this is the best decision for me. Yeah, you can say I’m taking a step backward, to take two steps going forward. I’m willing to make the sacrifice. I’m looking at the longevity of it.

“I’m 17. A prep school would not be bad. I’m lifting more, because I want to get bigger and stronger. I will play another AAU season this summer with Team Iverson, which used to be Philly Revolution, with Rocco Westfield, DeShawn Yates and Alassan N’Diaye. If the Perkiomen School doesn’t work out, I have a lot of options set. The goal is and always has been Division I. I know the work I have to put in to be a three or a four.”

Jackson has dribbling and shooting skills, which was not his role at Bonner-Prendie.

“I had to do whatever we needed for us to win,” Jackson said. “I can dribble and I can shoot. I’ve developed my offensive game more and I can shoot. A lot of people didn’t know I can do what I’m doing now.”  

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Quick Hits
-- On Sunday, Jurrell Little committed to Salem (N.J.) County Community College with the hope of landing a Division I scholarship. The 6-3, 175-pound senior guard from Dobbins Tech averaged a Philadelphia Public League-high 21 points a game this past season and just missed scoring 1,000 points for his career with 960.

“I always had an idea where I was going to go,” Little said. “I’m looking to go Division I and I never lifted consistently before. I needed to get stronger and work on a better handle. I want to improve my shot, and I would like to add some weight. Maybe add 10, 15 pounds. I’m not going to play AAU this summer. I’m going to put that time in in the gym.”  

-- Upper Dublin’s Idris Rines was a factor inside for Rumph in its loss. He scored 16, nine in the first half. He is still up in the air as to his college destination. He has spoken recently to Bloomsburg, Gwynedd Mercy, Arcadia, Del-Val, and a few community colleges, like Salem County and Montco.

Rines, at 6-5, 210 pounds, is coming off a season in which he averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists a game. He was a major force in Upper Dublin finishing with a single-season school record 28-2 mark and winning its first PIAA District 1 Class 5A, winning its first district title since 1985. The Cardinals eventually lost to Bonner-Prendie, 59-37, in the second round of the PIAA Class 5A state playoffs.

“It’s not the way we wanted to go out, and we lost to a good Bonner team, but people better put our season into perspective,” Rines said, proudly. “All of these kids grew up in Upper Dublin, we all came up in the Upper Dublin school district and we finished with the best record in school history, and won a district championship for the first time in 40 years.

“This was a highly successful season. It’s something I’ll never forget. I won’t forget it. I was hoping to just win in the Donofrio. I want to work on getting in better shape. I lost 40 pounds last summer. I want to improve my endurance and I have been going on visits to these schools. I have options.

“I want to see if there are any D-IIs out there, but it’s nice to know I have options.”  

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Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who began writing for CoBL in 2021 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on BlueSky here.

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