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
Shayla Smith (Sr. | Audenried Charter)
Smith averaged 27.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.9 spg in her senior campaign, capping one of the best careers in Philadelphia Public League history. Smith set the PPL record (boys and girls) for most career points (2,690), while also compiling 1,203 rebounds in her career. Smith, a 5-10 guard committed to Penn State, helped the Rockets to a third straight PPL title, second straight District 12-4A title and second-straight state semifinal appearance. 

First Team
Quinn Boettinger (Sr. | Perkiomen Valley)
A dominant presence on the interior, Boettinger’s impact was well-noted as PV finally reached the top and won its first state title. The Navy recruit, a 6-foot-3 center, posted 15.6 ppg, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for a Vikings squad that also won its third straight PAC and District 1 titles. Boettinger, who finished her career with 1,751 points and 790 rebounds, earned second team all-state honors and was a first team All-PAC selection.

Ryan Carter (Soph. | Archbishop Wood) - AR
After two standout seasons at Penn Charter, Carter arrived in Warminster this season and helped the Vikings reach the PIAA Class 5A title game. Carter, who was named the PA Sportswriters’ Player of the Year in Class 5A, averaged 17.4 ppg along with 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game while also reaching her 1,000th career point. The 5-foot-11 guard is rated as a top-10 prospect in the Class of 2027 by ESPN’s national rankings.

Carryn Easley (Sr. | Neumann-Goretti)
Easley, who has carried the nickname “Clutch” even before high school, put that name to good use in a championship season to end her time with the Saints. The Fordham recruit catapulted her team to PCL and PIAA championships, earning the PCL’s MVP honors and all-state Class 4A first team honors along the way. Easley posted 14.4 ppg, 3.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals to go with a long list of big moments in critical games.

Alexis Eberz (Jr. | Archbishop Carroll)
Eberz added another outstanding season to her name as a junior with Carroll, playing her way to first team All-PCL and first team Class 6A all-state honors as a result. The three-year starter surpassed her 1,000th point late in the season, helping the Patriots reach the PCL title game and PIAA 6A semifinals, showing her explosive scoring ability at 19.8 ppg while adding 4.8 rebounds. Eberz, a Division I prospect, will likely announce her college decision before her senior year.

Grace Galbavy (above) and Perkiomen Valley capped off their season with a 6A state title. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Grace Galbavy (Sr. | Perkiomen Valley)
Galbavy added a multitude of team and individual accomplishments to her resume to cap a standout high school career. The Wake Forest recruit was named the Class 6A all-state player of the year and she became the PAC’s all-time leading scorer during the season before finishing with 1,869 career points. A 6-foot-1 wing with a complete offensive game, Galbavy put up 15.6 ppg, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while helping Perk Valley win its long-coveted first state title and extend its PAC and District 1 championship streaks to three straight each.

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Second Team
Haylie Adamski (Sr. | Garnet Valley)
Adamski capped a storied career with the Jaguars behind another all-around excellent season. The 6-foot wing repeated as a second team all-state selection and finished her time at GV as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,858 points helping the Jaguars to a Central League title, the District 1 6A title game and PIAA semifinals. A Lafayette recruit, she posted 17.7 ppg, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game in her senior season.

Emilia Coleman (Jr. | Upper Dublin)
Coleman stepped into a new team this season but just continued to contribute all across the board. While she wasn’t district or state postseason eligible, the 5-foot-11 wing did help UD win its first-ever SOL tournament title while posting 14.8 ppg, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals and making 75 threes. The La Salle recruit was the SOL Liberty division MVP and the Cardinals were 21-4 when she played.

Rian Dotsey (Sr. | Haverford High)
Dotsey helped the Fords reach the state quarterfinals for the first time ever, the St. Joe's recruit also earning second team all-state honors. She posted 16.7 ppg, adding 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks as a two-way force for District 1's fifth-place finisher. The 6-foot-2 senior capped her career with 1,322 points and a 96-32 record in her four years.

Sanyiah Littlejohn (Sr. | Lansdale Catholic)
A four-year starter in arguably the most successful era of LC girls’ basketball, Littlejohn left a mark helping the Crusaders to their third state title game appearance in the last four years. The George Mason recruit, a first team All-PCL selection, was a two-way contributor who tallied 12.6 ppg, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. She scored 21 points in the PIAA title game, which included her 1,000th career marker.

Molly Rullo (above, left) capped off one of the best careers in Cardinal O'Hara girls' history. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Molly Rullo (Sr. | Cardinal O’Hara)
Rullo stepped into the Lions’ lineup as an impact player as a freshman and departs as one of the program’s most decorated players. The 5-foot-11 wing will graduate as O’Hara’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer with 1,818 career points and averaged 18.0 ppg and 7.0 rebounds per contest as a senior. Rullo repeated as a first team all-state selection in Class 6A and a first team All-PCL selection.

Amya Scott (Sr. | Neumann-Goretti)
The other half of the Saints’ senior backcourt, Scott put together a fabulous final act that included a PCL and PIAA title. The Delaware State signee was a first team All-PCL selection, a big-game player who averaged 12.8 ppg. Her ability to slash to the rim or drain a jumper made her a tough cover and she is a defensive menace on the perimeter, accumulating eight steals in the PIAA Class 4A title game.

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Third Team

Tamia Clark (Soph. | Upper Dublin)
Clark continued her upward trajectory, putting together another strong season for the SOL champion and District 1 semifinalist Cardinals. The 5-foot-9 wing contributed 14.9 ppg, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game as a first team All-SOL Liberty division selection.

Anise Geiger (Sr. | Imhotep Charter)
The Panthers’ 6-foot forward averaged 8.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg, adding a two-way impact with 1.9 bpg. Geiger, a Delaware State commit, was the centerpiece for a balanced Imhotep squad that won 23 games, finishing as the Public League runner-up, District 12-3A champions and PIAA semifinalist.

Ryann Jennings (Jr. | Conestoga)
Jennings continued to grow her game on both sides of the ball, surpassing 1,000 career points during the season and picking up third team all-state honors. The Lehigh recruit posted 15 ppg, 7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game to help Conestoga make a third straight PIAA playoff appearance.

Grace McDonough (Sr. | Lansdale Catholic)
The anchor of LC’s rugged defense, the 6-foot-2 McDonough repeated as a team all-state selection and was named first team All-PCL. A James Madison recruit, McDonough put up 10.2 ppg, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for a defense that allowed just 34.7 ppg.

Megan Ngo (above) returned from an ACL injury in time to play the entire 2024-25 season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Megan Ngo (Jr. | Upper Dublin)
Ngo returned from an ACL injury late last season and didn’t miss a game of her junior year to help UD win its first SOL tournament title. The FDU recruit contributed 8.6 ppg, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a first team All-SOL Liberty selection.

Lena Stein (Sr. | Perkiomen Valley)
PV’s energizer and defensive spark, Stein proved to be plenty valuable on both ends for the PAC, District 1 and PIAA champion Vikings. The West Chester recruit tallied 6.6 ppg, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game while routinely guarding the opposition’s top option.

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Fourth Team

Reginna Baker (Soph. | Neumann-Goretti)
A first team All-PCL selection, Baker was a key player on the Saints’ Catholic League and PIAA 4A championship team. The guard tallied 14.6 ppg and 4.0 rebounds per game while showing an expanded offensive game and elevated her play in big games.

Bailey Balkir (Jr. | Gwynedd Mercy)
Balkir took on a leading role for the Monarchs and was named the AACA’s MVP as a result. The point guard paced GMA with 12.9 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game helping her team reach the AACA and District 1 Class 5A title games.

Emily Knouse (Sr. | Archbishop Wood)
Knouse, a repeat first team All-PCL and all-state Class 5A selection, helped Wood reach a fifth-straight PIAA title game. The St. Joe's commit averaged 11.4 ppg, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, concluding her career with 1,133 points while setting Wood’s program record for made three-pointers.

Kylie Mulholland (Sr. | Garnet Valley)
Mulholland put together a stellar senior season with averages of 12.5 ppg, 5.4 rebounds. 2.7 assists and 3.5 steals per game as a two-way stalwart for the Central League champions. The Jefferson recruit also played an integral role in the Jaguars reaching the District 1 title game and PIAA semifinals in Class 6A.

Maya Simmons (above) and Cheltenham had a breakthrough 2024-25 season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Maya Simmons (Jr. | Cheltenham)
A key piece in the Panthers’ breakout season, Simmons was a first team All-SOL National selection and earned a third team all-state selection in Class 6A. The 5-foot-9 guard is an electric offensive threat, averaging 18 points per game.

Nyah Yao (Jr. | Radnor)
Yao was one of the catalysts for a Radnor team that captured the program’s first District 1 5A championship since 2014 and reached the PIAA second round. A first team All-Central League selection, Yao averaged 14.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 spg and 2.8 apg for the Raptors. 

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Fifth Team

Kayla Eberz (Fr. | Archbishop Carroll)
One of the top freshmen not only in the PCL but the area overall, Eberz did not need long to make a mark in her debut season at the high school level. The 5-foot-10 guard was a first team All-PCL selection putting up 12.9 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Catholic League runner-up and state semifinalist Patriots.

Haley Moran (Soph. | Central Bucks East)
Moran put herself firmly on the map with a breakout sophomore campaign for the Patriots, playing her way to first team All-SOL Colonial honors. The 5-foot-4 point guard assumed a starting role and posted 14.9 ppg, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game helping CB East to the SOL title game, District 1 6A semifinals and PIAA tournament.

Fiona Reckner (Sr. | Council Rock South)
There wasn’t a role Reckner couldn’t fill for the SOL Patriot division champion Golden Hawks. The 5-foot-10 Franklin & Marshall recruit guarded the opposing team’s best player and also filled up the stat sheet as a scorer, rebounder and passer while her constant energy, hustle and grit showed up in plenty of ways.

Fiona Reckner (above) played all five positions for Council Rock South. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Nasiaah Russell (Soph. | Audenried Charter)
After an ACL injury cut her debut campaign short, Russell emerged as one of the area’s top post players this season, averaging 8.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2.1 rpg for the Rockets. The 6-foot-3 forward was a two-way force for an Audenried squad that won Public League and District 12 titles and advanced to the PIAA Class 4A semifinals.

Ella Stinger (Fr. | Delco Christian)
Stinger, a 5-foot-7 guard, earned The Bicentennial Athletic League regular season and postseason MVP during her first year on campus. She averaged 16.5 ppg as she helped her team to a BAL and District 1 1A title as well as the PIAA quarterfinals. 

Sophia Tray (Jr. | Villa Maria)
After a breakout sophomore campaign, Tray shouldered even more of the load for the Hurricanes this past season, averaging 13.0 ppg, 6.7 prg and 3.2 apg. The All-AACA selection helped led her team to a Catholic Academies championship and spearheaded runs to the District 1 5A semifinals and PIAA 5A second round.

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Sixth Team

Ella Brown (Sr. | Pennridge)
Brown simply filled it up all season for the Rams, who returned to the District 1 playoffs after missing out last season. The Holy Family-bound guard poured in 21.7 ppg, repeating as a SOL Colonial first team selection and ending her career as the Rams’ all-time leading scorer with 1,233 career points.

Alena Cofield (Sr. | Neshaminy)
Cofield had an incredible rise from her first time picking up a basketball as a freshman to an eventual Division I recruit with Rider. The 5-foot-3 point guard was the SOL Patriot player of the year and averaged nearly a double-double with 10.4 ppg, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 3.1 steals.

Neshaminy senior Alena Cofield (above) averaged nearly a double-double despite being only 5-3. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jenna Kraft (Jr. | West Chester Rustin)
A softball standout who’ll be playing on the diamond at the next level, Kraft was the driving force for Rustin on the hardcourt, too. A 5-3 point guard who was indispensable for the Golden Knights  on both ends of the floor, Kraft averaged 14 points along with 3.7 steals, 3.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, 

Sabria Mann (Sr. | Imhotep Charter)
Mann avered 8.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg and 3.2 spg for Imhotep, stuffing the statsheet on a nightly basis. The 5-foot-9 wing and Chestnut Hill commit helped the Panthers finish as the runner-up in the Public League, win a District 12-3A championship and reach the state semifinals.

Lily Milewski (Sr. | Conwell-Egan)
The Eagles’ 1,000-point scorer averaged a double-double in her senior campaign, scoring 16.7 ppg and 11.9 rpg. Milewski, a 6-foot forward committed to Bloomsburg, was a first team All-PCL selection for Conwell-Egan, totaling 16 double-doubles during the season, including eight times in PCL play,

Janie Preston (Sr. | Conestoga)
The anchor to Conestoga’s stout defense, Preston was also a consistent contributor on the offensive end as the Pioneers made it three straight state playoff appearances. Preston tallied 12 ppg, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and the Army West Point recruit was a first team All-Central League selection.