City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) +
Olivia Valania
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PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH — The Plymouth Whitemarsh spring league continued into its second week of action on Monday night, with 12 of the 14 participating teams playing in the area’s first offseason league of the spring. 

Here’s a notebook from the evening:

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Cheester Charter’s Sabb not focusing on the past

Jah Sabb had a strong junior year at Chester Charter, part of a new-look program under first-year head coach Lonnie Diggs. 

A talented, athletic 6-1 guard, Sabb averaged 16 points per game and was a first-team All-Bicentennial Athletic League selection, scoring a school-record 34 points in a BAL semifinal win over Dock Mennonite. PIAA regulations had him on the sideline for the district and state playoffs after transferring from West Catholic, so he was unable to help as Sankofa Freedom ended CCSA’s season in the state quarterfinals. 

“It was tough, it was really tough, because I just had to watch my team just go to war, I couldn’t do nothing about it,” he said. “The offseason, I’m really not trying to worry about it too much. I’m just trying to focus on what we’ve got now, our pieces now, just getting in the gym, getting better. 

“Next year, that’s what I’m waiting on. I forgot about states. I don’t want to think about that.”

Though senior guard and BAL division MVP Josiah Hutson graduated, a good majority of Diggs’ rotation is coming back, mostly in the form of a deep 2027 group. Nieem Gregory, Jamar Groomes, Maurice Barnes and Dom Miller all got a lot of playing time as sophomores, meaning the Sabres will be somewhat young but generally experienced in 2025-26. 

Another sophomore, TJ Jones, provided great energy in Monday’s 49-43 win over Penn Wood, adding seven points, five rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block. Sabb led the way with 16 points, three rebounds and two steals, showing his ability to knock down jumpers as well as get through defenders and finish at the rim. Gregory (7 points, 7 rebounds), Groomes (5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Barnes (3 points, 8 rebounds) all chipped in.

As one of the team’s few seniors and by far its most experienced one, Sabb knows it’s on him to set the tone for the group, starting now. 

“I’m really just trying to get better at being a leader, learning how to control the offense better, because that’s where we’ve got to work on that, slowing the game down and all of that,” he said. “Basically just making sure everybody’s on the same page, moving everybody and just being hungry.

“Once everybody’s hungry and really wants to win, we’re going to be cool. We’re going to be undefeated next year.”

Sabb comes from a basketball family. His father, Jason Sabb, played at South Philadelphia and then at Cheyney University. His uncle, Shawn Sabb, also played at South Philadelphia; another uncle Ramone Moore had the most notable career, scoring 1,393 points during a four-year career at Temple (2008-12).

Jah Sabb was a little too young to remember many details of watching them all play, but he knows that it’s the games he saw as a toddler and young child that inspired him to get to where he is today.

“I saw them do it, and I just wanted to do it, it runs in the family” he said. “I’ve got a lot of resources around me, so why not just use them?” — Josh Verlin

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Plymouth Whitemarsh building with high hopes for 2025-26

Even though their season ended not even two months ago, Jim Donofrio and his Plymouth Whitemarsh squad are hungry to get back to playoffs, already preparing for the season to come. 

After finishing the year 20-9 and going on a deep run in their district tournament, the Colonials only graduate one starter and return the rest of their rotation players, making them a hot contender in the 2025-2026 District 1 6A. 

That is why Donofrio is so eager to get to work this offseason, hoping to build off the momentum from this past season and bring it into the next. 

“We have to hold ourselves accountable a little more than we normally might in April and May,” Donofrio said. “What I look for in these games is can we pick up where we left off with all that we learned–how to share the ball, how to move the ball, how to defend with discipline–so if they hear me yelling it’s because we cannot regress. We have to establish an idea that last year was exciting to get to St. Joes and the district final but at the same time we have to be a little bit annoyed, we want more.”

Losing the District 1 6A final in a tight 54-50 game to Conestoga then losing to Wilson in the first round of the 6A state playoffs leaves a bad taste in Donofrio’s mouth as he celebrates the exciting run but feels so close yet so far from getting back that championship. This offseason proves to be crucial for the Colonials to give them the extra edge they were missing this year. 

“It’s much more a year-round thing now where you’re thinking at a higher level than you used to,” Donofrio said. “It’s not just let’s throw some guys out there and see how we do. The game is year-round and the focus has to be year-round.”

The goal is to utilize these spring games along with the players' AAU work to look like a threat in this summer’s Philly Live, the premier summer showcase for high school teams to set the stage for the season and showcase talent to college recruits, sending a message for the season ahead.

“With Philly Live coming up I’m actually pulling out things from what we would normally do in November and December, now,” Donofrio said. “We have to look good there.” 

Donofrio is looking for his players Buddy Denard, Terron Davis, and Micah Thompson along with his “main trilogy’ of seniors-to-be Jack Hayes, Michael Pereira, and Mani Sajid to step up, utilizing these spring and summer months to continue to build up that chemistry and develop as better playmakers and decision makers. 

A win over Lower Merion on Monday night, in which the Colonials broke free of the Aces in the second half with Sajid watching from the sidelines, was a step in the right direction.

“I want to hone in on my skills and get better,” said Pererira, the 6-10 current junior who spends his summer playing for Philly Pride. “Of course, develop my game and be the best version of myself. Also, it is good for us to get some time together as a team to just keep that chemistry going because we had a really good season and we want to continue that into next.” — Olivia Valania

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Quick Hits
— Conestoga beat Devon Prep 49-48 thanks to a foul shot by current junior Adhvik Mani with one second left, ending a closely-contested game that saw the two teams go back-and-forth for the entire hour. The ‘Stoga duo of juniors Cory Hogan and Shane O’Brien, two of three returning starters from last year’s District 1 6A champions, each scored 18 points, O’Brien hitting four 3-pointers and also grabbing nine rebounds to lead all players. Freshman Mikey D’Amilio handled most of the point guard duties with junior Rowan Miller sidelined with a leg injury that could have him out most of the spring, dishing out three assists. 

— It’s a whole new Devon Prep, with only junior wing Braeden Fisher returning from a rotation that won the Tide’s third PIAA title in four years, largely behind an impressive senior class. Fisher, son of head coach Jason Fisher, scored 12 points on six shots on an efficient night, but it was sophomore wing Cooper Fairlamb who really shined. The 6-4 wing, who we’ve noted as a player to watch last summer but acknowledged his time was likely a year away due to Devon’s depth at the time, really looks like he’s worked on his athleticism and physicality during the last six months, as he was constantly taking the ball to the rim in a 16-point, four-steal outing. 

— In the loss to Chester Charter, Penn Wood got strong play from its pair of junior forwards, Malik Edwards and Nafi Davis, Davis, a 6-4 wing forward, scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end, plus three steals; he scored in a variety of ways, including a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the top of the wing, a driving floater which resulted in a three-point play, a mid-range pullup, and some tough finishes around the rim. Edwards, a 6-5 post, added 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. They’re a physical duo that should give opponents fits next year in the paint; what the Patriots need is for their young backcourt to continue to develop over the offseason. 

— Taking a loss to Central Bucks West, Haverford School was missing three of their experienced starters, leaving the young guys to show what they got. Franklin Gilbert, a 6-3 wing, gave the Fords 13 points, showing off his shot as he drained three 3s. Gilbert, who played this season at Lasalle, transferred to Haverford to reclass as a junior, hoping to get more playing time and that his shooting and physicality can be an aid in their Inter-Ac campaign. Cole Maguire, a 6-9 2028 forward showed some promise as he makes his transition into more time at the varsity level. He put up 12, displaying his quick and effective jumper from the elbow, rebounding inside, and even his long range abilities as he hit two 3s. 

— Beating Haverford 51-45, Central Bucks West showcased some of their promising young players. Weighed down by some of their inexperience last year, this offseason is the perfect time to let the younger guys gain those minutes under their belt. The 6-6 class of 2028 freshman, Harrison Myers utilized his height to out rebound others and mix it up inside along with classmate Ben Kondyra whose quick feet and good ball handling gave him the upper hand against his opponent despite his small frame as they combined for 20 points. Playing together in the HGSL circuit on Team Iverson 15u, they are bound to play more critical minutes for the Bucks next season.