City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The 2025 edition of the Philly Girls’ High School live event was a major step forward over last year’s inaugural edition, with more than 40 high school teams — including several dozen featuring at least one Division I prospect — making their way to Jefferson University from Thursday through Saturday for three days of high-level hoops in front of college coaches of all levels.

CoBL had numerous reporters checking in over the course of the event, watching as many of the games as we could. Here’s the first of a number of notebooks from the event focused on individual players and their recruitments: 

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Philly HS Girls Live Coverage
Standouts (A-L) | Standouts (M-Z)
Recruiting Notebook Pt. 1 | Pt 2. | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4
Team Coverage Pt. 1 | Pt. 2

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Kayla Eberz (2028 | Archbishop Carroll)

The area’s most impressive freshman during the 2024-25 season, Eberz got a chance last month to show her stuff against the best young players in the country. 

A 5-11 wing, Eberz was one of 52 invitees to fly out to Colorado Springs to try out for the 2025 USA Basketball U16 squad last month, making it to the final round of cuts. Even though she didn’t make the 12-girl roster which will participate in this months’ 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup in Irapuato, Mexico, it was nevertheless a terrific opportunity for the Patriots’ budding star, who’s going to find herself a name to know not just locally but well beyond if she continues on her current trajectory. 

“It was awesome, it was such a great experience,” she told CoBL, adding what took her by surprise was “how good people all around the country are [...] seeing how (many) good people are actually out there, it’s actually insane.”

Otherwise, Eberz said, she learned from her Colorado experience that she needs to work on her defense, while she benefited from being able to play all five positions on the court during her trials. 

A starter her entire freshman season at Carroll, Eberz was a second team all-PCL selection, older sister Alexis Eberz getting the first-team nod. She had a number of impressive outings as a high school rookie, and has continued that into this offseason, including on Thursday night in the Philly Girls’ Live opener, when she scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a win over Paul VI (N.J.). 

Eberz is already a Division I recruit, with offers from Marquette and Fairfield in her pocket. Both of her parents, Eric Eberz and Michelle (Thornton) Eberz played at Villanova, which has also been recruiting her older sister; the way Kayla is playing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Wildcats join the pursuit at some point in the not-too-distant future, along with plenty of other candidates sure to be impressed with her game. 

“It’s starting to (grow),” Eberz said of her recruitment. “So it’s actually really cool and exciting, to see how far, hopefully, I’ll go.” — Josh Verlin

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Brooke Stagliano (2027 | Paul VI, N.J.)

Count Stagliano as one player who’s very much enjoying her recruiting journey. 

The sharpshooting 5-7 guard from South Jersey is up to five D-I offers now that Dayton and UMass have joined a group that already included Drexel, Delaware and Mount St. Mary’s. Now that June 1 has come and gone, Division I coaches are able to freely communicate with rising junior prospects, meaning Stagliano’s able to finally talk to the various schools recruiting her — a list that includes more A-10s as well as some Ivy Leaguers — without needing to go through a coach or parent first.

“It’s new, but it’s really cool and it’s fun,” she said. “It’s showing that they’re seeing my game and seeing how hard I work and I appreciate it on all levels.”

Upcoming, she said, are visits to Davidson and Loyola, with ones to her most recent offers planned for later in the summer. 

While she’s still very much learning about all the schools recruiting her, Stagliano’s ultimately looking for “just a good place where I feel comfortable and I love it.” she said. “Good academics, good environment, good basketball. A good team, good coaches. Stuff like that.”

Stagliano knocked down four 3-pointers in a Thursday night game against Archbishop Carroll, including a half-court buzzer-beater just ahead of the halftime buzzer, as she scored 20 points in a close loss. A flamethrower from beyond the arc, Stagliano hit more than 80 3-pointers during her sophomore year at PVI, which went 27-1, its only loss coming to Morris Catholic in the Non-Public ‘A’ state championship.

This summer, Stagliano said, she’s working on her dribbling and her defense, while keeping her shot as sharp as possible. When it comes to her shooting regimen, Stagliano said she has “chill days” and “real days,” getting shots up in both, with varying degrees of intensity. 

“On a chiller day, I shoot like 100 3s and I’ll do like 50 mid-range,” she said. “On a real day I’ll do 300 makes, or maybe more.” — Josh Verlin

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Megan Rullo (2026 | Cardinal O’Hara)

Thirteen months after her last competitive basketball game, Rullo finally got back on the court. 

The O’Hara rising senior and Drexel commit hurt her knee in a game at Spooky Nook while playing with the Comets last May, MRIs later revealing it was the dreaded ACL tear. The ensuing surgery cost her her entire junior year at O’Hara, her medical clearance on March 28 coming two weeks after the Lions’ season ended in the PIAA 6A quarterfinals. 

Opting not to play grassroots basketball this offseason in order to focus on rehab and training for her senior year of high school, Rullo’s first game with Cardinal O’Hara on Friday afternoon was her first time playing meaningful basketball in over a year. 

“Definitely good to be back with my team,” the 5-8 guard said after playing most of O’Hara’s 52-47 win over Upper Dublin, contributing three rebounds, seven points and an assist. “I just missed it a lot, and I was really happy to be back.

“It’s something that is part of your normal routine — going out every weekend, playing basketball,” she added, “and once that’s taken away, it really shows you that you should be grateful for everything you have. It could be taken in a second.”

Rullo said it helped that she’d been cleared for a few months, that she wasn’t returning to the court for competition just days after being given the final go-ahead from her doctors. It also helped that she had a number of teammates both with O’Hara and her former Comets squad that have dealt with ACL injuries over the last year or two, including Upper Dublin point guard Megan Ngo, who returned in Nov. 2024 from one of her own. 

“Not everyone’s injury is the same, so it’s definitely interesting to hear everyone’s stories and their comeback stories,” she said. “To have a good support system and family and friends and teammates, it’s really important for a recovery like that.”

The O’Hara program has changed quite a bit since Rullo last suited up at the end of her sophomore year, as is usually the case with any high school team in the span of a couple offseasons.

Gone is older sister and O’Hara standout Molly Rullo, who’s starting her time at Drexel later this month, a year before her sister joins her in University City. Megan’s gone from being an underclassman and the youngster sister to being one of just two seniors in the rotation along with Natalie DiBlasi, one of the main leaders on a group that’s heavy with rising juniors but also includes some underclassmen in the mix. 

Brigidanne Donohue and Leah Hudak, who were freshmen the last time Rullo shared the court with them, are now two of the Lions’ standout players, experienced varsity vets who will be major pieces of a chase for a Catholic League and state title. 

“Everyone definitely has a lot more confidence,” Rullo said. “Happy to see them step up.” — Josh Verlin

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Julia Sedora (2026 | Red Lion)

From a new AAU team to a new live period experience to new offers, Philadelphia has brought multiple new opportunities to Sedora.

A 5-10 guard from out in Central PA, Sedora this season made the switch from Sideline Cancer to Philly’s own Comets U17 team. This move to the Under Armour circuit she credits to providing a different pace and tougher competition along with more exposure to D-I recruitment.

“It’s definitely a much faster pace,” Sedora said. “There are way bigger girls, it’s kind of crazy. There’s definitely a lot more eyes watching.”

In joining the Comets, Sedora now calls some of the area’s best players, such as Alexis Eberz and Megan Ngo, her teammates. With Eberz’s vision and Ngo’s ball handling abilities they are able to set Sedora up for success and vice versa, showing the strength and capability of this Comets team on this competitive circuit. 

“They’re excellent passers, they know basketball very well,” Sedora said. “They’ve been around for a very long time and I’ve been around for a long time so I think our chemistry, even though it’s only been a couple of months, works well together. We kind of just feed off each other.”

It is not only Sedora who has taken on this new journey in Philadelphia she has brought her Red Lion team along with her. Red Lion is a newbie to Philly Live, previously playing in small live period summer tournaments, but quickly caught on to the high level play and D-I coaches seen throughout the courts. Defeating Sanford (Del.) 42-32 on Saturday morning, Sedora showcased her talent and the chemistry she has built with her younger sister Bekah Sedora, who plays on the Comets’ 2028 team, mixed with getting more D1 eyes on her.

However, it appears that Sedora already has the D-I offers she’s been looking for, thanks to the Comets. 

Her first offer came from Holy Cross after the April live period. From there, two more followed: Rider then Colgate. Already having gone on unofficial visits to all three, she likes the idea of small campus life but hopes to get more of a feel of the connection she has to each team. She must come to a decision fast because she has set a tough deadline for herself–within the next two weeks–in order to “get it over with” and “alleviate the stress.”

From strictly talking with D-III schools for her first three high school basketball seasons then playing with the Comets for three months and getting three D-I offers, Sedora’s basketball career has shifted very quickly in a new direction.

“It was really eye opening how good the Comets program is,” Sedora said. “Kudos to them for helping me get here.” — Olivia Valania

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Morgan Stewart (2026 | St. John’s College, D.C.)

One of the top juniors in the country is about to embark on a major step in the recruitment process. 

Stewart, whose father played somewhat locally at Shippensburg, is the No. 57 ranked player in the class of 2026 according to ESPN and has about 35 offers on the table from schools all over the country. She will be making her first official collegiate visit on June 16 at Georgia Tech, a huge stepping stone in making her decision. Stewart also has official visits on the schedule for Wake Forest, Florida State, Marquette, and Virginia. 

“I’m super excited,” Stewart said in reference to her visit to Georgia Tech. “I can’t wait. I love the staff there and I’ve heard great things.”

Stewart has been in recruitment conversations since the summer succeeding her freshman season with powerhouse St. John’s College, where Delaware offered her. In Stewart’s future visits, she highlighted a good campus life, teammates, and coaching staff as her most wanted university qualities.

“The coaching staff is a big thing for me,” she said. “I think that’s like, one of the biggest things I’m looking for in a school.” 

In Friday night’s game against Archbishop Wood, Stewart put up 24 points, shooting a staggering 11-of-12 from the field. Her ability to score at will sets her apart from the competition and makes her impossible to defend. Her strength and aggression downhill are features of her game that will transfer well to the next level.

In the meantime, Stewart will be spending her offseason improving on skills that she believes she can be better in, such as her mid-range, defense, and rebounding. She also emphasized her one-dribble pull up jumper and maintaining aggression as things she wants to work on. Stewart already knows has a strength in moving downhill, so if she can become an even more all-around player, the school that she ends up choosing will undoubtedly be pleased. — Evan Hartenstein