City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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MANHEIM, Pa. — The Hoop Group circuit came back to Spooky Nook Sports this weekend with the Spring Jam Fest, three days of action in front of the assembled college coaches during the only Division I live recruiting period of the 2025 spring.

CoBL had at least one writer in attendance each day, checking out a mix of local and regional programs. Here’s Part 1 of our coverage notebook from the weekend, including interviews we did with prospects in the 16U and 17U divisions:

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HG Spring Jam Fest Coverage: Event Standouts | Notebook Pt. 1 | Notebook Pt. 2 | Notebook Pt. 3 | 

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CJ Miller (2025 | Full Court Philly HGSL 17U)

Miller played football at Roman last fall, earning a scholarship offer to Division II Lincoln and catching a touchdown pass in the Class 5A state championship game, a brutal 34-31 overtime loss to Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt.

He didn’t give up on basketball, though, and was in uniform the next night, delivering 14 points and six rebounds in Roman’s season-opening defeat of Sanford (Del.).

Roman went to the state final in basketball too, as Miller became a defensive specialist on a team loaded with big-name talent.

“I did a lot of dirty work, and I fouled out of some games,’’ he said. “I was the defensive guy, the energy guy, and sometimes I guarded the best player on the court.’’

Now about to graduate from Roman, he’s still pursuing hoop dreams, which is why he was one of the few members of the class of 2025 at Spooky Nook, with Full Court Philly HGSL.

At 6-6, he’s a versatile player with guard skills, rebounding instincts, and, as he suggested, the ability to guard almost anybody.

It all makes for an interesting recruiting situation. Miller said he’s heard from D-II’s Mansfield, Bloomsburg and Lincoln, and said reclassifying and doing a prep-school year are on the table.

“I’ve got to work on my offensive game,’’ he admitted. “But, really, I’m just looking for a coach to give me a spot. I’m looking for a home.’’ — Mike Gross

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Andrew Corcoran (2026 | PA Hoops Academy Platinum 17U)

Like many of his contemporaries, Corcoran’s spent the last few months in preparation for this weekend. 

With no April live periods for the first time since the COVID pandemic — and for a good long while before that in non-pandemic years — this weekend is the first time where college coaches are out en masse on the recruiting trail. Sure, D-II and D-III coaches have been allowed out all spring, but with the transfer portal era taking up much of their time, this weekend has more buzz by far than any other on the recruiting calendar thus far. 

So Corcoran’s been getting ready, like all the rest. But most didn’t have the opening he did on Friday night. The 6-foot-3 Bishop Shanahan guard caught fire in the second half of a win over the Riverside Hawks, knocking down six straight shots overall — including four 3-pointers — for 25 points to complement nine rebounds and three assists in a strong overall performance with a number of college coaches sitting courtside. 

“When I made my second 3,” he said, “I was like ‘okay, let’s go.’

“[I’ve] just been working, getting my shots up, getting everything right and everything in order so I’m confident in the work that I’ve put in,” he added. “It felt amazing [...] just finally got to pay off, playing the game I love and having so much fun with it.”

As a junior, Corcoran was a starter and quality secondary scoring option for Shanahan, which won the District 1 4A title and advanced to the PIAA state 4A quarterfinals, losing to eventual state champs Devon Prep. He had several strong performances this past season, including 20 points in a win over Archbishop Carroll in the first round of the state playoffs. 

That’s helped him enter this offseason with more confidence than ever before, and the weeks of preparation he’s been putting in haven’t hurt.

“As much as I’ve prepared is as much confidence as I have, and that’s a lot,” he said. “So yeah, a lot of confidence.”

Corcoran said he hadn’t heard from any colleges entering the weekend, but his big performance on Friday earned him a text from Scranton, and he said he noticed more colleges watching his games with PA Hoops Academy’s quality secondary squad the rest of the weekend.

For the rest of the summer, he said he’s focused on getting stronger and adding muscle to his 170-pound frame, saying he wants to put on at least 10 or 15 pounds by the time his senior year begins.

“[I’m eating] healthier and lifting more,” he said. “And also a [bigger] amount of food, just more food intake. Just being more conscious about it, just understanding like, yeah, I have to get food in right now.” — Josh Verlin

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Yaw Ansong (2026 | Marston Elite Showcase HGSL 17U)

The 7-foot senior has already reclassified, and was featured here this time last year. He feels that he needs a little refining, so he will do a prep year at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.). 

For those not familiar with Ansong, he has only been playing basketball for four years. He was playing soccer in Ghana when someone asked why he wasn’t playing basketball—considering he was so much taller than everyone else his age. He’s played the last three years in the United States for Union Catholic in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where he averaged eight points, eight rebounds, and four blocks a game his senior season. He was unstoppable in Marston Elite Showcase’s dominant 83-43 victory over Team Sim HGSL on Saturday, scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking five shots.

He's gained 25 pounds since last summer. He maintained a 4.0 GPA, and is garnering Ivy League attention from Cornell, Columbia, Princeton and Penn, along with Lafayette, Rider, and St. Bonaventure.

“There is a transfer portal situation, and it’s the reason why I wanted to wait a year before I entered college,” he said. “I weighed around 195 last year and thought I needed to gain more weight. I’m around 220 pounds, but as I get older, I want to get up to around 230, 235 and try to maintain my athletic ability and quickness. Plus, I’m still learning the game.

“If I can maintain that weight, I’ll be fine. I know there are areas I still need to improve. I feel a lot more comfortable. I’m learning the game and I feel I have gotten far better. Playing four years has helped my improvement. This move to Hargrave is the best move for me for another year of development. The transfer portal has been a problem, because it’s like you’re getting blocked. I was looking to go to a school, and you find they transferred guys in and that pushes you back. You don’t know if you’re going to play or not, I didn’t want to waste a year behind anyone waiting for playing time.”

Ansong also said his ultimate goal is to go to a high-major college.

“I’m already far away from home, so where I go is not an issue,” he said. “I would not mind going to an Ivy League school, and they are showing me the most interest. If a high major offers, I would have to consider that over the Ivys. I like Creighton, Columbia, I like how Rutgers plays, and I like Penn. I feel my best basketball is still ahead of me. I used to over think about mistakes, and now I just play, because I know what I’m doing.”

His length and wing span creates a ton of problems for anyone trying to drive the lane. He’s also a quick study. He was clearly dominant, though the players he was facing were nowhere near his height. Still, from last year to this year, he has made monumental progress. He has a better understanding, what he is doing and where he nears to be on the court. — Joseph Santoliquito

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Jason Green (2026 | PSB Philly HGAL 17U)

In an event that included battalions of tough, quick, versatile guards, Green stood out for his relentlessness. Pack a lunch if you’re planning to stop this guy from getting in the lane. He also made two key three-pointers in crunch time of PSB Philly’s dramatic 73-71 win over Higher Level Premier.

“I’d say I had a pretty good game,’’ he said. “I try to do it all - put it on the ground when I need to, get my teammates involved, just doing whatever it takes to win.’’

PJP II had a big year in 2024-25, going 19-7 and ending the season in the District 1 4A championship game, where it held a fourth-quarter lead before falling to Bishop Shanahan, which reached the 4A state quarterfinals. The Golden Panthers did win the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship.

In terms of recruiting, Green’s an excellent student, so he’s heard from the University of Chicago. He’s lean and only about 160 pounds, but he’s also 6-2 and athletic, so he’s heard from Millersville, a D-II program that’s been winning of late. Local D-IIIs like Susquehanna are also involved.

“A lot of schools have contacted me,’’ Green said. “I’m doing some camps this summer - just trying to get my name out there.” — Mike Gross

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Yasai Rozier (2027 | Brad Wanamaker Elite HGAL 16U)

The 6-foot-4 rising junior West Catholic forward was a great bright point in Brad Wanamaker Elite HGAL’s 55-50 loss to Next Play Basketball. He was tireless in his pursuit of the basketball on the offensive and defensive boards. When he was fed inside, he was strong with the ball. Next Play had no one stout enough to stay with him. He has a PIAA Class 3A state championship jacket and ring from this past season, and wants to make an impact this season. 

Rozier scored 14 points and had seven rebounds against Next Play. What stood out, however, was his attitude and effort. It was Rozier who was directing his teammates on defense, and it was Rozier demanding the ball inside. In a live recruiting period event, it was Rozier who wanted to win and cared about winning.

There was one sequence in which Rozier tipped the ball four times to keep the ball alive on an offensive rebound between three Next Play players, before finally grabbing it and scoring. When the game looked seemingly out of hand in the last few minutes, it was Rozier that kept on his teammates about playing hard. It was also Rozier who did not come off the court, which was no great revelation considering his determination and attitude.

“We’re trying to build a dynasty at West Catholic with all the guys we have coming back,” Rozier said. “I want to play a bigger role my junior year. That means working on my shooting, and being aggressive on the boards. I like West Catholic. I want to keep working, get better and I got some good minutes. I didn’t play my freshman because I tore my right kneecap, and I went to MCS (now closed). I can’t wait for the season to start. The work I’m doing now will pay off.” — Joseph Santoliquito  

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