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 all-area non-PIAA boys' teams:

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(Ed. Note: This story originally ran with an editorial error which omitted Penn Charter's Kai Shinholster from the all-area third team and only had five members on the fourth team. To correct this error, we have added Shinholster back to the third team but have not made any further changes so as to avoid having to bump anybody down. We apologize for this error, especially to Kai.)

2024-25 CoBL-Area Non-PIAA Player of the Year

Onyx Nnani (Sr. | Phelps School)
A versatile 6-9 combo forward who is now committed to the University of South Florida and new head coach Bryan Hodgson, Nnani capped his senior year averaging 21.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg and 3.5 apg to lead Phelps to the PAISAA title; that included games of 36 points against Hargrave Military (Va.) and 35 points and 10 rebounds against Perkiomen School. A skilled big man who can play with the ball in his hands like a guard and score from all three levels, Nnani can play all five positions on the court. He finished his Phelps career with 1,370 points and 655 rebounds. 

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First Team

Devin Booker (Sr. | Cristo Rey)
A George Mason commit, Booker ushered in the greatest three-year run in Cristo Rey history, leading the program to three consecutive Penn-Jersey Athletic Association championships. The hyper-athletic 6-4 wing guard averaged 24.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.4 apg and 2.7 spg adn scored 687 points in his final season as Cristo Rey finished 18-9 overall and leaves as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,962 career points. Booker shot 49% from the field and made 57 three-pointers at a 34% clip. Scored 41 a career-high 41 points against Solebury School and 37 points against John R. Buchtel Community Learning Center (Ohio). 

KJ Cochran (Sr. | Perkiomen School)
A National Prep Third Team All-American and Santa Clara commit, Cochran was a member of Perkiomen School’s PAISAA Tournament titles in 2023 and 2024. He averaged 21.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 2.4 apg while shooting 50% from the field. Made 58 three-pointers on 38% from behind the arc. The 6-4 guard, who started his career at West Chester East, finished his career with 1,868 points after scoring 1,059 points in his two years at Perkiomen.

Matthew Gilhool (Sr. | Penn Charter)
An LSU recruit who won the Inter-Ac League MVP in 2024, Gilhool averaged 16.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 1.2 bpg in leading Penn Charter to a second outright Inter-Ac title. Recorded 353 points, 193 rebounds, 30 assists, 19 steals and 27 blocks and shot 51.5% this season. Finished his career with 1,454 points. A versatile big man who can score at all three levels and converts through contact in the paint. Made 17 three-pointers. Led Penn Charter to a 20-4 record (10-0 Inter-Ac), the outright Inter-Ac League title and the PAISAA Tournament semifinals. 

Matt Gilhool (above) had a fantastic final season at Penn Charter. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Silas Graham (Soph. | Haverford School)
Already a third-year starter for the Fords, Graham was a first team All-Inter-Ac selection for the second year in a row after averaging 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals per game as he led his team in points, rebounding steals and blocks for the season; in a PAISAA tournament win over Cristo Rey, he had 31 points, eight rebounds and nine steals, not the first time he’s flirted with a triple-double. 

Jake West (Sr. | Penn Charter)
A Northwestern commit, West became the fourth Penn Charter since 2000 to win Inter-Ac MVP joining Sean Singletary (2002), Mark Butler (2022) and Matt Gilhool (2024). He averaged 18.2 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.0 apg and 1.7 spg while making 30 3-pointers and shooting 54.4% from the field. Finished his career with 1,254 points. Led Penn Charter to a 20-4 record (10-0 Inter-Ac), the outright Inter-Ac League title and the PAISAA Tournament semifinals. 

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Second Team

Jacob Meachem (Sr. | Hill School)
A Bucknell commit, Meachem averaged 18 ppg, five assists, three rebounds and just shy of two steals in leading Hill to a program record 25 wins (25-8 overall, 7-2 Mid-Atlantic Prep League) and the PAISAA Tournament Championship Game. Meachem hit 45 three-pointers and shot 40% from behind the arc this season. He finished with 1,245 career points in four seasons at Hill School. Hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer and finished with 28 points and nine assists in a win over The Phelps School in the regular season.

Jacob Meachem (above) will be playing his college ball at Bucknell. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Justin Houser (Sr. | Phelps School)
The future Penn State big man put together a standout senior campaign at Phelps, averaging 14.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg while hitting 58% from the field and 39% from 3-point range. A mobile left-hander who can stretch the floor and score around the rim equally well, Houser helped lead Phelps to a PAISAA championship, including a 24-point, 11-rebound, three-block outing in the PAISAA state championship. He shot 10-11 from the field and 10-11 from the line against Western Reserve Academy (Ohio) and finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Houser finished his career with 1,116 points, 644 rebounds, 61 assists, 113 blocks, 27 steals

Ethan Johnston (Jr. | Hill School)
Johnston is one of the most sought-after recruits in the area with offers from Marquette, Fordham, Penn, Seton Hall, Illinois, Villanova, Georgetown, Davidson, Virginia Tech, Maryland and California. The Hill School wing averaged 14.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 3 apg and made 37 three-pointers this season. Two-time unanimous First Team All-MAPL. Scored 852 points in two seasons with the program. Had 28 of his 33 career-high points in the second half against The Pennington School (N.J.) and added 15 rebounds and six assists in the MAPL semifinals. Had 21 points in the Scholar Roundball Classic in Boston vs Newman School (Mass.). Led Hill to a program record 25 wins (25-8 overall, 7-2 Mid-Atlantic Prep League) and the PAISAA Tournament Championship Game.

Peyton Miller (Jr. | George School)
Miller had a huge year for George, the guard from New Jersey averaging 19.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.7 apg and 2.6 spg as the Cougars’ top offensive option. A Division I recruit with offers from more than a dozen low-to-mid-majors (Drexel, Penn, Holy Cross, Albany, Marist, Iona, etc.), Miller is an outstanding ball-handler who can attack the rim and finish equally well with both hands, while he can shoot it well enough from the outside (37 3s) to respect his shot. He had multiple 30-point games this season, including 35 against Perkiomen School and 34 against Friends’ Central

Keni Williams (Sr. | SCH Academy)
East Stroudsburg hoops commit averaged 18 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.0 spg in leading the Blue Devils to a 23-8 record (7-3 Inter-Ac), into PAISAA quarterfinals where they lost to eventual champs. First Team all-Inter Ac selection finished his career with 1,221 points, 5th all-time at SCH. Explosive athlete who can finish at the rim at a high level and has a reliable jumper. Went for season-high 33 points against Haverford School. 

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Third Team
Jordan Dill (Jr. | Germantown Friends)
Already a fourth-year starter for GFS, Dill has put up some serious numbers. The talented scorer already has 2,079 career points averaging 16.7 ppg as a junior, hitting 37 3-pointers and 44% of his shots overall; he’s got 211 career triples to his name. An uncommitted Division I prospect, Dill is a three-time first-time all-Friends League First Team honoree and is already his school’s leading scorer all-time. 

Kasey Fleming (Jr. | George School)
A physical junior wing with Division I interest, Fleming had his best season yet at George, going for 17.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.2 apg while making 57 3-pointers at a 41.3% clip, shooting 49% overall. George School went 20-6 overall, including a 9-1 record in the Friends’ Schools League. His season high of 26 points happened twice, against Westtown and Friends’ Select, two of the Cougars’ biggest rivals for the FSL title. 

Owen Kelly (Jr. | SCH Academy)
Junior wing built on a quality sophomore campaign with a breakout year, averaging 16.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg for the Blue Devils, who went 23-8 (7-3 Inter-Ac) and lost in PAISAA state quarterfinals. First Team All-Inter-Academic League. Already a 1,000-point scorer, Kelly scored 30 points against Phelps in the PAISAA tournament. Quality outside shooter who greatly improved his interior toughness/athleticism/ability to create his own shot. Scholarship-level recruit hearing from a mix of college levels. 

Zamir Parker-Barnes (Sr. | Abington Friends)
A First Team All-Friends Schools League selection, Parker-Barnes averaged 21.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.3 spg and 1bpg while shooting 60% from the field. He had 25 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, seven steals and two blocks against La Salle, 29 points and seven rebounds against Friends Select School, and 27 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks against Perkiomen School in the PAISAA Tournament. Finished his career with 1,652 points. 

Kai Shinholster (Sr. | Penn Charter)
A Minnesota commit, Shinholster led the way with 56 three-pointers made on 40.3% shooting from the three-point line. Shinholster was a four-year member of the rotation and poured in 1,088 career points. The First Team All Inter-Ac selection averaged 12.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2,7 apg and 1.2 spg. Led Penn Charter to a 20-4 record (10-0 Inter-Ac), the outright Inter-Ac League title and the PAISAA Tournament semifinals.

Cameron Smith (Jr. | Academy New Church)
Smith put together his best season since arriving at ANC by averaging 14.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.0 spg on 56% shooting. He was selected First Team All-Friends Schools League after recording 367 points and 188 rebounds. Had 25 points and seven rebounds against Penn Charter and 21 points and 16 rebounds against Westtown School. Scored in double figures in all but five games. Led ANC to a 17-10 record (6-2 FSL), a second consecutive FSL title and into the PAISAA Tournament.

Gabe Tanner (Sr. | Perkiomen School)
A National Prep Honorable Mention All-American, Tanner averaged 13.4 ppg, 5.1 rebounds and 5 apg in leading Perkiomen School back to the PAISAA Tournament (lost to The Phelps School in semis). Thee Florida Gulf Coast commit poured in 363 points, 133 assists, 137 rebounds, 37 steals this season. He made 63 three-pointers while shooting 36% from behind the arc. Finished his career with 966 career points.

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Fourth Team

Dior Carter (Jr. | Academy New Church)
The athletic wing averaged 11.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.7 spg and 2.2 bpg in leading the Lions to their second straight Friends Schools League title. Carter scored in double figures in all but seven games with his best performance being a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) against Westtown in the FSL semifinals. Had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks against George School in the regular season and 17 points, 12 boards and four steals against The Phelps School. First Team All-Friends Schools League selection.

Jalen Chiles (Jr. | Friends’ Select)
A First Team All-Friends Schools League selection, Chiles averaged 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.7 spg while shooting 47% from the field. He made nine three-pointers and finished with 30 points against Academy of the New Church  then had 27 points in matchups with George School and Friends’ Central School. Finished with 1,100 career points. Led Friends Select School to a 16-10 record and a berth in the PAISAA Tournament.

Nick Harken (Soph. | Malvern Prep)
Averaged 16.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg for the Friars, who went 17-10 (5-5 Inter-Ac). Best game was a 30-point, six-rebound outing against the Hun School (N.J.). Shot 52% from the floor and 41% from 3-point range. Athletic wing thrives around the basket and makes plays in transition. 

Matthew McCarthy (above) will be playing at Florida Gulf Coast next season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Matthew McCarthy (Sr. | Episcopal Academy)
FGCU commit led the way for EA, averaging 15.4 ppg while hitting 44 3-pointers, along with 5.9 rpg and 2.4 apg. A First Team All-Inter-Academic League selection, McCarthy is a strong outside shooter and ball-handler who greatly improved his athleticism and play-making abilities over the last two years. Scored a season-high 31 points against the Haverford School and also had numerous other 20-point outings.

Luke Melniczak (Sr. | George School)
Melniczak averaged 13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and more than one assist and steal per game for the Cougars, but what the stats don’t tell is that he was one of the area’s top perimeter defenders. Quick and strong with great size, Melniczak often got the other team’s top player as his assignment and excelled in that role, while also hitting 36.1% of his 3-pointers and 46.5% of his shots from the floor. He’s looking into post-graduate opportunities and a move to the 2026 class.