City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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It’s time to finally put a bow on the 2024-25 Philadelphia-area basketball season. 

Now that we’ve had time to digest the four-month stretch that comprised our 13th season of local hoops coverage, the CoBL staff has come together to release its annual CoBL All-Area High School Awards. 

It’s not an easy process — there are so many players in the area deserving mention for terrific high school years, but only a couple dozen make this list each spring from all the various districts, leagues, and levels that we cover. CoBL determines its All-Area teams through several factors: individual performance is important, but so is team success; this is not a ranking of purely the best or most talented players in the Philadelphia area, but instead is focused on who had the biggest impact on their team’s triumphs this season, whose season is most worthy of distinction. That’s a subjective bar, as all awards are, but that’s the standard we try to aim for.

For the last few years, we’ve split our awards up by PIAA and non-PIAA, due to the differences between the two with regards to shot clocks, fifth-year players, post-graduate players, and more. This year, we have six all-area PIAA teams and two for the non-PIAA. Without further ado, our PIAA teams; we’ll have our non-PIAA teams up later in the week:

2024-25 CoBL PIAA All-Area Player of the Year
Kevair Kennedy (Sr. | Father Judge)
A Merrimack College commit who will go down as arguably the best player in Father Judge history, Kennedy averaged 16.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 7.3 apg and 2.0 spg in leading the Crusaders to their first Philadelphia Catholic League title since 1998, followed by the first state championship in program history. A hyper-athletic point guard, Kennedy continually stuffed the stat sheet — scoring at will yet somehow approaching double-digit assists with regularity, while also nearly leading his team in rebounds despite having one a quality big man in the frontcourt.

Kennedy finished his career with 1,178 points, only the fourth Father Judge player to reach that milestone and second under head coach Chris Roantree. He posted a triple-double (17 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists) in the Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals against St. Joe’s at the Palestra, and scored 29 points with 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in the state championship win over Roman Catholic.

First Team
Zane Conlon (Sr. | Devon Prep)
The centerpiece of Devon Prep’s PIAA Class 4A state championship squad, which also made it to the PCL semifinals at the Palestra for the first time in program history, Conlon averaged 16.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.3 spg while shooting 52.1% from the floor. A versatile 6-5 wing/forward with an excellent post and mid-range game, Conlon compiled 12 double-doubles and scored 20 points nine times, finishing his career with 1,066 points to become the first Tide player in the school’s PCL era (2017-18 to current) and the first since 2010 to hit four digits. Conlon will do a post-graduate year at the Hill School. 

Jordan Ellerbee (Sr. | St. Joseph’s Prep)
A Florida Gulf Coast commit, Ellerbee was named Philadelphia Catholic League MVP, the first St. Joe’s Prep player to win the award since Chris Clover in 2015. He averaged 16.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.4 apg and 1.7 spg while shooting 42.7% from the field, hitting 35 3-pointers. The 6-3 guard helped lead the Hawks to a 59-31 record the last three seasons, including an 18-6 overall record (12-1 PCL) and the No.1 seed in the league playoffs this year, but unfortunately due to Roman and Judge’s advancing to the PCL championship game, that meant the Hawks were shut out of the state playoffs. But that doesn’t discount the fantastic year Ellerbee had.

Marple Newtown senior Matt Gardler ended his career as the Tigers' all-time leading scorer. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Matt Gardler (Sr. | Marple Newtown)
Gardler was named MVP of the Central League for the second year in a row after putting up fantastic numbers for Marple: he averaged 20.7 points, 6.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while leading the Tigers to a 20-9 record and an appearance in the PIAA Class 5A playoffs. Despite being the clear focal point for opposing defenses in every game, he scored 34 points against Neumann-Goretti and put up a triple-double (16 points, 10 boards, 12 assists) against Episcopal Academy, then averaged 24 points per game in the playoffs. Gardler, who’s yet to announce a college decision, finishes his career as the leading scorer in Marple Newtown history (1,630 points) and joins Kobe Bryant and BJ Johnson as the only two-time Central League MVPs. 

Shareef Jackson (Sr. | Roman Catholic)
The city’s best big man over the last four years, Jackson capped off his Roman career averaging 14.1 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.6 spg, earning First Team All-PIAA Class 6A honors as Roman went 25-6, finishing as the runner-up in both the PIAA 6A and Catholic League tournaments. Jackson hit 52.3% from the floor and had some monster performances in big situations, like a 14-point, 17-rebound double-double in the PCL quarterfinals, a 19-point, 13-rebound, six-assist effort in the PCL semifinals and a 12-point, 17-rebound, eight-assist game against Central York in the state tournament. He’ll continue his career at Lafayette.

RJ Smith (Jr. | Imhotep Charter)
The 2024-25 Philadelphia Public League MVP was sensational this season, highlighted by his 31-point, five-rebound, four-assist, three-steal game against Father Judge in the state semifinals where he shot 12-19 from the floor and hit five 3-pointers. Smith averaged 16 points, four assists and three steals per game while making 72 3-pointers at a 42% from behind the arc. A talented, high-motor, high-IQ 5-9 guard with multiple Division I offers, Smith, scored 23 points in the Public League Championship Game, driving the train for a Panthers squad that finished with a 26-6 record, won the Public League title and a District 12-6A title, and advanced to the PIAA 6A semifinals. 

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Second Team
Stephon Ashley-Wright (Jr. | Neumann-Goretti)
The PIAA Class 5A Player of the Year, Ashley-Wright averaged 17.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.4 apg and 1.8 spg, including a 25-point, five-rebound outing in the state championship game against Hershey. His biggest scoring outings came with 34 points against Father Judge in the regular season, and he also scored 32 points against Upper Moreland in the state semifinals, as he shot 48.1% overall from the floor and 32.3% from 3-point range. A second team All-PCL selection, Ashley-Wright helped teh Saints to an 18-11 record, the PCL quarterfinals and a state title.

Reece Craft (Sr. | Devon Prep)
The other half of the Tide’s state-championship-winning frontcourt, Craft had his best season as a high schooler, averaging 16.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg while shooting 59.3% from the floor. A versatile defender at 6-7, Craft used his length effectively on the perimeter and in the post; Craft’s eight-point, eight-rebound, four-assist outing in the state title game was a testament to his versatility. The Gettysburg commit scored 20-plus points seven times, with six double-doubles, and was named a First Team All-PIAA Class 4A selection along with Second Team All-Catholic.

Derrick Morton-Rivera (Jr. | Father Judge)
A 6-4 guard and Division I recruit with a growing list of offers, Morton-Rivera averaged 17.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg while hitting 40.1% of his 3-pointers for the PIAA 6A and Catholic League champions, earning him first team All-PCL and All-PIAA Class 6A honors. A pure scorer, Morton-Rivera hit 79 triples, putting him at 1,085 points through three seasons; he had 34 points against Neumann-Goretti during the regular season and 19 in the PIAA state championship game. 

Dayton commit Jaron McKie (above) was one of the best shooters in the area during his four-year career. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jaron McKie (Sr. | St. Joseph’s Prep)
The Dayton commit led the Hawks with 67 3-pointers made on 46.2% shooting from beyond the arc. He averaged 14.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.4 spg this season as Prep went 18-6 overall losing in the Catholic League semifinals. Helped the Hawks to a 59-31 record the last three seasons with three straight Philadelphia Catholic League playoff appearances including the first trip to the Palestra since 2018. McKie closed out his career with 1,381 points (4th all-time in St. Joe’s Prep history) and 235 3-points on 44% 3-point field goal shooting.

Ryan Mulroy (Sr. | Upper Dublin)
Mulroy will go down as one of the best players to ever don the Upper Dublin uniform after leading the Cardinals to its first district title since 1985, averaging 15.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.4 spg. The SOL Liberty DIvision MVP, Mulroy helped Upper Dublin to a 28-2 record, the SOL Liberty Division title, the SOL Tournament title, the District 1-5A title and a berth in the PIAA 5A Tournament. Notable performances included 22 points and 12 rebounds against Coatesville in the Diane Mosco Shootout, career-high 33 points against Upper Moreland in the SOL Tournament title game where he scored the game-winning basket in the final seconds, 23 points against Holy Ghost Prep in the district title game, and 23 points and 11 rebounds against Abington.

Khamai Orange (Sr. | Delco Christian)
The area’s best small-school player this year, Orange had a dominant season to lead the Knights to their best year ever: 26 wins, their first Bicentennial Athletic League title, their first District 1 Class 2A title and into the second round of the state tournament. A 6-3 guard and Rowan commit, Orange averaged 24.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.8 apg and 3.2 spg while setting the boys’ DCCS scoring record with 1,550 career points; an impressive scorer from all three levels with athleticism, range, and finishing ability, he scored 30+ points multiple times, including a season-high 39 against The Christian Academy, and did it while hitting 47% of his shots and 38.2% of his 3-pointers

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Third Team
Sean Griffin (Sr. | Bishop Shanahan)
An All Ches-Mont National Division First Team and All-PIAA 4A Second Team selection, Griffin averaged 14.5 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles, who won 20 games and finished as the Ches-Mont runners-up, District 1 4A champions and in the PIAA 4A quarterfinals with a loss to eventual champs Devon Prep. A 6-8 combo forward, Griffin scored a career-best 38 points against Susquehanna Twp. in the state second round; he’s doing a post-grad year at Peddie School (N.J.). 

Colton Hiller (above) established himself as the area's top freshman this season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Colton Hiller (Fr. | Coatesville)
The top freshman in the area this year, Hiller averaged 15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 bpg and 1.4 spg, making 60 3-pointers to lead Coatesville to a 24-6 record and the Ches-Mont title, along with spots in the District 1 semifinals and state quarterfinals. Won Ches-Mont League MVP as a freshman. Scored 22 points against Bishop Shanahan to lead Coatesville to its second straight Ches-Mont League championship. 

Mikey Mita (Jr. | Penncrest)
A third-team all-PIAA 5A selection, the 6-6 Mita led Penncrest to a 24-5 record, a first-place regular season finish in the Central League and the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals. He averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field and 39% from 3-point range; averaged nearly 19 points and 11 rebounds over eight playoff games as the Lions reached the 5A quarterfinals.

Mani Sajid (Jr. | Plymouth Whitemarsh)
Sajid surpassed the 1,000-point mark this season, sitting at 1,188 as he enters his senior year after averaging 22 points per contest along with 3.3 rpg, 2.8 apg and 2.0 spg. A 6-5 guard with numerous mid-to-high-major Division I offers, Sajid was a major reason the Colonials went 20-9 and made it to the District 1 6A championship game.

Tyler Sutton (Soph. | Roman Catholic)
One of the city’s top underclassmen with all sorts of high-major offers, Sutton averaged 14.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.9 apg and 2.7 spg while making 44 3-pointers as Roman Catholic finished with 25-6 record (11-2 PCL), making it to the Philadelphia Catholic League title game and PIAA 6A Tournament championship game. Sutton scored 20 points in the PCL championship game 

DeShawn Yates (Jr. | Neumann-Goretti)
A 5-10 guard, Yates was a major piece of this year’s Neumann-Goretti PIAA 5A championship, averaging 14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.9 apg and 2.8 spg while shooting 54.8% from the field; he also made 38 three-pointers while shooting 44.2% from the 3-point line. Poured in 34 points against Penncrest in the state quarterfinals, the most ever by a Neumann-Goretti player in a state tournament game. 

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Fourth Team
Deacon Baratta (Sr. | Phoenixville)
A Tufts University commit, Baratta became the first Phoenixville player in nine years to hit the 1,000-point barrier, averaging more than 16 ppg and 11 rpg, including averaging 22 ppg during Phoenixville’s eight postseason contests. The sharpshooting wing, a three-year starter, made over 60 3-pointers on the season as the Phantoms won 20 games and advanced to the PIAA 6A tournament.

Audenried Charter senior Isaac Cole (above) was a second team all-state selection. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Isaac Cole (Sr. | Audenried Charter)
A 6-7 wing guard, Cole averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals per game, including a career-high 33 points against Archbishop Ryan, on his way to First Team All-Public League and second-team all-PIAA 3A honors.. Had 13 points against Mahanoy Area in the PIAA Class 3A first round in leading Audenried to its first state tournament win since 2017. 

Korey Francis (Soph. | Bonner-Prendergast)
A 6-3 guard and D-I recruit, Francis averaged 16.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg and 2.0 spg in leading the Friars to an 18-9 record (7-6 PCL), the first round of the PCL playoffs and the PIAA 5A Tournament quarterfinals. Francis was named First Team All-Catholic, the first Friars sophomore to be named to the first team all-PCL since Jeff Jones in 2005.

Sammy Jackson (Jr. | Roman Catholic)
The middle Jackson brother came into his own as a junior, averaged 13.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.2 spg, including a team-leading 51 3-pointers. The 6-7 wing with a versatile scoring ability dropped 30 points in a win over Central York in the PIAA 6A second round and 17 points in the PCL semifinals against Devon Prep.

Carson Kasmer (Sr. | Lower Merion)
A Gettysburg College commit, the Aces’ floor general averaged a team-leading 17.7 ppg in leading Lower Merion to a 22-7 record (13-3 Central League), the 2024-25 Central League title, District 1 6A semifinals and the PIAA Class 6A Tournament. Kashmir hit 55 3-pointers while shooting 37.2% from behind the arc this season, earning first team All-Central League honors.

Jacob Nguyen (Sr. | Spring-Ford)
A Jefferson University commit and all-PIAA 6A third-team selection, Nguyen finished as Spring-Ford’s all-time leading scorer with 1,496 career points and 250 made 3-pointers. As a senior, the 6-4 guard averaged 16.4 ppg while shooting 49.6% from the field, 36.6% from the 3-point arc and 83.6% from the foul line as Spring-Ford won 22 games and advanced to the PIAA 6A second round.

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Fifth Team
Nafis Dubose (Sr. | Sankofa Freedom)
A 6-3 wing forward, Dubose led the Warriors in scoring at 16.0 ppg and helped them advance to their second state championship game in program history. The First Team All-Public League selection also averaged 5.3 rpg and 1.0 spg; scored 29 points against West Philadelphia, 25 points against Samuel Fels and 18 with five rebounds in the state championship game. 

Donovan Fromhartz (Sr. | Downingtown West)
A West Chester University commit, Fromhartz finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in Downingtown school district history (East or West) with 1,688 points; he averaged 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists while hitting 60% from the floor and 33% of his 3-pointers. A four-time all-Ches-Mont selection, Fromhartz had three 30-point outings this year.

Luca Foster (Jr. | Archbishop Carroll)
Carroll had a tough season (10-14 overall, 4-9 PCL), with multiple starters missing long stretches with injury, but Foster had a strong individual season. The 6-6 wing with all sorts of high-major offers averaged 20.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while hitting 44 3-pointers, earning All-PCL Second Team honors.

TCA senior Cameron Harrop-Wilson helped lead the Crusaders to their best season in program history. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Cameron Harrop-Wilson (Sr. | The Christian Academy)
Harrop-Wilson led TCA to its second-ever PIAA appearance and first tournament win(s), the Crusaders making it to the state quarterfinals for the best program in season history in large part due to Harrop-Wilson’s play. The athletic 6-3 wing averaged 21.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.1 apg and 1.5 spg, making 52 3-pointers at a 37% clip, earning All-PIAA 1A Third Team honors.

Carnell Henderson (Sr. | Imhotep Charter)
Henderson made First Team All-Public League in his first year starting, averaging 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals per game in helping the Panthers finish with a 26-6 record, win the Public League and District 12 6A titles and advance to the PIAA 6A semifinals. The Millersville commit made 61 3-pointers and shot 44% from behind the arc this season. 

Adrian Varella (Sr. | Holy Ghost Prep)
A 6-3 wing, Varella averaged 18.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.0 spg and 1.2 bpg while shooting 51.7% from the field as Holy Ghost made it to the District 1 5A championship game and the PIAA 5A second round. Finished his career with 1,244 career points, second all-time at Holy Ghost; had 35 points and 13 rebounds against Dobbins Tech, 32 points and seven rebounds against La Salle.

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Sixth Team
Colson Campbell (Sr. | Upper Moreland)
The centerpiece of Upper Moreland’s run to the PIAA Class 5A state semifinals, the best postseason in school history, Campbell averaged 13 points, six rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 54% overall to earn SOL Freedom Player of the Year honors. Best game was a 29-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, four-steal outing against CB East; finished his career with 1,082 points.

Daymein Doctor (Jr. | Pottsgrove)
First team all-PAC Frontier selection was a monster at the top of the Falcons’ 1-3-1 zone, leading them to a 23-5 record and spot in the PIAA 5A second round. A 6-5 wing, Doctor averaged 14 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.6 steals per game, playing all five positions at various points for Pottsgrove. 

Devon Prep senior guard Shane Doyle was an integral part of the Tide's state championship run. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Shane Doyle (Sr. | Devon Prep)
Doyle was Devon Prep’s five-leading scorer this year (9.2 ppg) but his true value to the Tide was his versatility: he averaged a team-high 5.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game along with 4.3 rebounds, with a 2.29:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. The 6-3 wing recently committed to D-III Catholic (D.C.).

Rowan Miller (Jr. | Conestoga)
Conestoga won the District 1 6A championship for the first time in 38 years with a balanced starting five. Miller, a 5-11 point guard, averaged 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals per game for the Pioneers, hitting 42% overall and 38% from the 3-point arc; he’s already a two-time First Team All-Central League selection. 

Alassan N’Diaye (Jr. | Neumann-Goretti)
An arrival last offseason from St. Mark’s (Del.), N’Diaye immediately adjusted to the Catholic League, averaging 15.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg while shooting 53% from the floor for the PIAA 5A champions while also chipping in between 1-2 assists, steals and blocks per game. Had 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against Upper Moreland in the state semifinals after 26 against Marple Newtown in the 5A first round.

Kaiden Robinson (Sr. | Sun Valley)
The Elizabethtown recruit averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the 18-6 Sun Valley squad, which won the Ches-Mont American. The 6-3 senior guard, a two-time team captain, was a first-team All-Ches-Mont League performer, scoring 29 points against Great Valley as his high-water mark this year.

Jake Sniras (Sr. | Garnet Valley)
A four-year starter, Sniras finished his GV career with a school-record 1,779 points after averaging 18.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg as a senior. The 6-4 guard, a Wilkes University commit, scored 20-or-more points 12 times as a senior, topping off with a 29-point outing against St. George’s Tech (Del.).

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