Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
––
If you’re a long-time reader of City of Basketball Love, then you know that June 2 is always a special day on our calendar. It marks the day where Andy Edwards and I first launched CoBL back in 2012, a date which we mark each year with our annual update on where CoBL is at and where we’re going.
I’m happy to report that as CoBL enters its 14th year of operation, the organization is in as good shape as ever. Our 2024-25 year of coverage was no doubt our best yet from top-to-bottom, and we also fulfilled our duties as a non-profit while ensuring that every dollar we raised was spent on our mission. Personally, I’m also feeling refreshed, after taking a five-year wedding anniversary road trip around the Ohio River Valley, at the end of May, getting to see a part of the country I’d never seen before, and recharging the batteries for the summer and season ahead!
A quick report of how the last 12 months went:
The CoBL staff produced more than 900 stories, or just about 2.5 pieces per day. More than 600 of those came during the season itself (Nov. 1 - March 30), almost four stories per day. Those stories included recruiting notebooks, game coverage, feature stories and analysis; we did our best to balance our coverage 50/50 between the boys and girls, with about 46% of our coverage coming on the girls’ side.
For the first time, CoBL will surpass $200,000 in gross revenue this fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) including all of our events, donations, merchandise sales, advertisements, and other revenue streams. While we still have one month to go in our fiscal calendar, we’re on the verge of breaking even for the year, meaning every dollar we brought in went right back to our mission of covering local hoops and supporting our area’s amateur youth basketball scene. Half of our gross revenue was spent on coverage and executive salaries; that includes just shy of $50,000 on our stellar group of freelance writers, who really give CoBL the breadth and depth that makes us the go-to source for coverage of the Philadelphia-area high school and college hoops scene.
Additional expenses include our events director, Steph Garafolo, who’s really taken control of running CoBL’s camps and team events over the last year, as well as all of our operating expenses — including facility rentals, camp jerseys, camp workers, insurance, travel, marketing materials, and other related costs.
We will release a financial report following the conclusion of the 2024-25 fiscal year for anybody who wants to see how CoBL operates.
I want to give special thanks to our core group of writers who pour so much into the organization all throughout the year: Owen McCue, Andrew Robinson and Joseph Santoliquito, whose bylines have been all over the website for the last few years, and we hope for years to come. That trio combined to write hundreds of stories this past year, including many of the top pieces on the website, from features to game stories, offseason coverage and more.
Several newcomers this year deserve mention: David Comer has been a fantastic addition for his work in Bucks County and on the small-college landscape, and Matthew Allibone (and more recently Mike Gross) are experienced veterans whose work has been a welcome addition. That’s before we get to the terrific work put in by Dan Arkans, Sean McBryan, Rich Flanagan, Jeff Griffith, Chad Graham and more CoBL veterans who contribute when they can — as well as, of course, our longtime photographer Mark Jordan, who’s logged more games for the site than anybody besides myself.
That combination of a successful 2024-25 as well as a great group of writers on board all leaves me with as positive an outlook for the next 12 months as I can remember for CoBL. We already have plans to continue growing our camps and events into the 2025-26 campaign and beyond, and we’ll be working to grow our fundraising and corporate partnerships with the goal of once again having a second full-time employee.
Of course, none of that happens without your support. Last year, we raised nearly $50,000 from the basketball community to fund our coverage. We need to equal that number this year, and we’re not yet halfway there. To help us push towards our goal and continue our mission, please visit our support page and consider a one-time or monthly donation to City of Basketball Love.
Please keep visiting the site regularly to stay on top of all of our coverage, and we look forward to seeing you all out on the courts this summer and beyond!
Sincerely,
Josh Verlin
Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief
City of Basketball Love
Tag(s): Home Old HS Recruiting Contributors Events Catholic League Public League Recruiting HQ Donofrio Classic Jeff Neiburg Jeff McDevitt Garrett Miley Teddy Bailey Josh Verlin Archives Jack Goodwillie Jeff Griffith Andrew Koob Aron Minkoff Anna Pitingolo Tom Reifsnyder Ari Rosenfeld Suburban One Inter-Ac Friends' League Mitchell Northam Matt Trabold 2015 District 3 Stephen Pianovich Michael Bullock Rich Flanagan Anthony Dabbundo Eugene Rapay PIAA Rankings Exposure Camps Team Events Will Slover Season Preview Write for CoBL Austin Petolillo Tyler Sandora 2016-17 Preview Owen McCue Zach Drapkin Pioneer Athletic Central League 2017-18 Preview Kevin Callahan Support Christy Selagy Ryan Coyle Kayla Yoegel Jerome Taylor Division I Big 5 Villanova Temple Penn Saint Joseph's La Salle CoBL 5 Delaware Drexel Penn State D-Ii D-3 College Division I Division II Division III Matthew Ryan Kevin Cooney Zak Wolf Sean McBryan High School Women's Joseph Santoliquito Jason Guarente Andrew Robinson Ty Daubert Missy Dougherty Joey Piatt Temple Drexel La Salle Penn St. Joe's Villanova Sam Istvan Rob Rose Meghann Morhardt 2021-22 Preview Chad Graham Jared Leveson 2024 Donofrio Classic 2025 Profiles Jacob Nguyen 2026 Profiles 2027 Profiles Jordyn Palmer Molly Rullo Emily Knouse KJ Cochran Shareef Jackson Stephon Ashley-Wright Quinn Boettinger Grace Galbavy Jessie Moses Ryan Carter Kaylinn Bethea Jaron McKie Kai Shinholster Luke Bevilacqua Dior Carter Cameron Smith Manny Butts Kasey Fleming Donovan Fromhartz Kevair Kennedy Devin Booker Gabe Tanner Alexis Eberz Megan Rullo Ryann Jennings James Brenner Oben Mokonchu Silas Graham Jake West Ian Williams Derrick Morton-Rivera Nasir Ralls Milan Dean Jr. Grace McDonough Janie Preston Shayla Smith Logyn Greer Haylie Adamski Will Riley Atlee Vanesko Justin Houser Jordan Dill Larry Brown Jake Sniras Rian Dotsey Olin Chamberlain Jr. Jordan Ellerbee Colleen Besachio Megan Ngo Nal'la Bennett Mikey Mita Onyx Nnani Luca Foster Drew Corrao Brandon Russell Mani Sajid Keni Williams Cameron Wallace Jayden Forsythe Munir Greig Zane Conlon Tommy Kelly Rocco Westfield Owen Kelly Britt Mariani Max Moshinski Torrey Brooks Zaahir Muhammad-Gray Kody Colson Nick Parisi RJ Smith Ryan Mulroy Olivia Jones Tyler Sutton Zion Green Jayden Kelsey Jacob Meachem Kaiya Rain Tucker Aidan Langley Matt Gilhool Patrese Feamster Brendan Horan Sanyiah Littlejohn 2022-23 Preview Former Contributors Bella Bacani Riley Davis Reynah Rattliff Addison Levensten Hayley Kolk Taylor Lasky Charlotte Aldridge Mike Livingston 2023 Donofrio Classic Carryn Easley Amya Scott Reginna Baker Ethan Johnston Abigail McFillin Emilia Coleman Boys HS Bicentennial League (B) Bristol Calvary Christian Church Farm Collegium Charter Delco Christian Dock Mennonite Faith Christian Jenkintown MaST Charter Morrisville Phil-Mont Christian Plumstead Christian Renaissance Charter The Christian Academy Valley Forge Catholic League (B) Archbishop Carroll Archbishop Ryan Archbishop Wood Bonner-Prendergast Cardinal O'Hara Conwell-Egan Devon Prep Father Judge La Salle College HS Lansdale Catholic Neumann-Goretti Roman Catholic St. Joe's Prep West Catholic Central League (B) Conestoga Garnet Valley Harriton Haverford High Lower Merion Marple Newtown Penncrest Radnor Ridley Springfield (Delco.) Strath Haven Upper Darby Ches-Mont (B) Ches-Mont American (B) Great Valley Kennett Oxford Sun Valley Unionville West Chester Rustin Ches-Mont National (B) Avon Grove Bishop Shanahan Coatesville Downingtown East Downingtown West West Chester East West Chester Henderson Delaware Valley (B) Academy Park Chester Chichester Interboro Penn Wood Friends' Schools (B) Abington Friends Academy New Church Barrack Hebrew Friends' Central Friends' Select George School Germantown Friends Shipley School Westtown School Inter-Ac (B) Episcopal Ac. Germantown Ac. Haverford School Malvern Prep Penn Charter SCH Academy Pac-10 (B) PAC-10 Frontier (B) Phoenixville Pope John Paul II Pottsgrove Pottstown Upper Merion Upper Perk PAC-10 Liberty (B) Boyertown Methacton Norristown Owen J. Roberts Perkiomen Valley Spring-Ford Girls HS Public League (B) Public League A (B) Audenried Bartram Constitution Dobbins Imhotep Lincoln Mastery North Math, Civics & Sci. Overbrook Sankofa West Philadelphia Public League B (B) Boys' Latin Central Eng. & Sciences Frankford George Washington Maritime Northeast Olney Palumbo Robeson Simon Gratz SLA Beeber String Theory Public League C (B) Ben Franklin Fels First Philadelphia (B) Future Martin Luther King MaST Charter II Parkway CC Philly Electric (B) Roxborough Sayre Southern Strawberry Mansion Tacony Academy Vaux Public League D (B) Belmont Charter Bodine Edison Esperanza Franklin LC Franklin Towne Freire Charter Hardy-Williams Hill Freedman Kensington Mastery South Masterman Penn Treaty Prep Charter Public League E (B) Bracetti Philadelphia Military GAMP KIPP DuBois Mastbaum Tech Motivation Phila. Academy Parkway Northwest Parkway West Randolph Rush Science Leadership Swenson Tech Friere Suburban One (B) SOL Colonial (B) Central Bucks East Central Bucks South Central Bucks West North Penn Pennridge Souderton SOL Freedom (B) Cheltenham Lower Moreland New Hope-Solebury Springfield (Mont.) Upper Moreland William Tennent SOL Liberty (B) Abington Hatboro-Horsham Plymouth Whitemarsh Upper Dublin Wissahickon Quakertown SOL Patriot (B) Bensalem Council Rock N. Council Rock S. Harry Truman Neshaminy Pennsbury Other Girard Phelps School Chester Charter Cristo Rey New Foundations Octorara Camden Perkiomen School Bishop McDevitt Holy Ghost Prep AACA Gwynedd Mercy Merion Mercy Mt. St. Joseph Villa Maria Villa Joseph Marie Bicentennial League (G) Bristol Calvary Christian Collegium Charter Dock Mennonite Delco Christian Faith Christian Jenkintown MaST Charter Morrisville Phil-Mont Christian Plumstead Christian Renaissance Charter The Christian Academy Catholic League (G) Archbishop Carroll Archbishop Ryan Archbishop Wood Bonner-Prendergast Cardinal O'Hara Conwell-Egan Lansdale Catholic Little Flower Nazareth Academy Neumann-Goretti St. Hubert's West Catholic Central League (G) Conestoga Garnet Valley Harriton Haverford High Lower Merion Marple Newtown Penncrest Radnor Ridley Springfield (Delco.) Strath Haven Upper Darby Ches-Mont (G) Ches-Mont American (G) Great Valley Kennett Oxford Sun Valley Unionville West Chester Rustin Ches-Mont National (G) Avon Grove Bishop Shanahan Coatesville Downingtown East Downingtown West West Chester East West Chester Henderson Del-Val (G) Academy Park Chester Chichester Interboro Penn Wood Friends' Schools (G) Abington Friends Academy New Church Barrack Hebrew (G) Friends' Central Friends' Select George School Germantown Friends Shipley School Westtown Inter-Ac (G) Agnes Irwin Baldwin Episcopal Academy Germantown Academy Notre Dame Penn Charter SCH Academy PAC (G) PAC Frontier (G) Phoenixville Pope John Paul II Pottsgrove Pottstown Upper Merion Upper Perkiomen PAC Liberty (G) Boyertown Methacton Norristown Owen J Roberts Perkiomen Valley Spring-Ford Public League (G) Public League A Audenried Central Eng. & Sciences Freire Charter Imhotep Mastery North Northeast Parkway Northwest Simon Gratz Public League B Constitution Franklin Towne George Washington Girls High Hardy-Williams Lincoln Mastery South Palumbo Parkway CC Penn Treaty Philadelphia Academy Sankofa Freedom Public League C Bartram Belmont Charter Bodine Frankford Kensington Masterman Motivation Olney Overbrook Prep Charter Science Leadership Tacony Academy Public League D Dobbins Edison Fels Future GAMP Martin Luther King PET Charter Robeson Roxborough Rush West Philadelphia Public League E North Bracetti Esperanza Hill Freedman MaST II Mastbaum Tech Parkway West Randolph Swenson Public League E South First Philadelphia Franklin LC KIPP DuBois Philadelphia MIlitary Sayre String Theory Strawberry Mansion Southern Suburban One (G) SOL Colonial (G) Central Bucks East Central Bucks South Central Bucks West North Penn Pennridge Souderton SOL Freedom (G) Cheltenham Lower Moreland New Hope-Solebury Springfield (Montco.) Upper Moreland William Tennent SOL Liberty (G) Abington Hatboro-Horsham Plymouth Whitemarsh Quakertown Upper Dublin Wissahickon SOL Patriot (G) Bensalem Council Rock North Council Rock South Harry S. Truman Neshaminy Pennsbury Other (G) Sacred Heart 2023-24 Preview Dan Arkans SLA Beeber Maritime Vaux Matt Allibone David Comer 2025 Donofrio Classic