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2025 Philly Live I: Friday Standouts (Pt. 2)

06/21/2025, 1:30pm EDT

By CoBL Staff

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The annual two-weekend hoopfest that is Philly Live 2025 got underway on Friday, with 10 courts of action going between the gyms at Jefferson University and the Alan Horwitz ‘Sixth Man’ Center from tip-off at noon to the wrapup of the last games after 9 PM.

CoBL had writers and scouts scattered throughout both gyms, checking out as much of the competition as we could. Here’s Pt. 2 of who stood out to our staff Friday (CLICK HERE for Pt. 1):

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Archbishop Ryan 2026 Malik Hughes. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Malik Hughes (2026 | Archbishop Ryan)
Hughes finished with 19 points, six rebounds and rejection in a 72-52 victory over Upper St. Clair. He’s up to 6-foot-7 with a skillset that can play both inside and outside. Hughes had his hands full with Upper St. Clair big man Ryan Robbins, a D1 football and basketball recruit, but held his own down low. On the offensive end he was effective from deep and the midrange, while also using his advantage — whether it was his speed against smaller defenders or size and athleticism against bigger defenders — to get to the rim.

Kam Jackson (2027 | Bonner-Prendie)
In the wire-to-wire thriller versus St. Ignatius, Jackson was sledding downhill off the dribble. That was especially the case when the Friars were down a couple scores late in the second half. He was feeling it from the left wing, darting into the lane and laying the ball up with either hand. As the clock wound down, Jackson got into paint, pivoted, and extended past a tough contest to tie and send the game into overtime. On the open possession, Korey Francis pitched the ball to him and Jackson got right back to the rim for two. On a subsequent drive he dropped the ball off for Peyton McClendon to put the Friars back up. But St. Ignatius quickly responded and tied backup. Finally, with no time to spare, Jackson got the inbound, raced up the floor, and hit a reverse lay to call game.

Rakim Johnson (2028 | Simon Gratz)
With his ferocious off-the-bounce game and intangibles beyond his years, Johnson showed why he had the Public League buzzing when the Bulldogs faced Sussex Central. It didn't matter who was on him, blowing by his man and the help defender before getting off inside-hand finishes at the rim. He mixed ball-screens into his repertoire too, snacking pick-and-rolls and hitting euros as he got wherever he wanted in the paint. And just when it seemed the game was getting away from his team, Johnson turned up even more. He forced turnovers and knocked down a trio of triples on his way to 21 points in the second half and a total of 32 points, seven boards, and three steals.

Will Lesovitz (2026 | St. Joseph’s Prep)
Lesovitz didn’t disappoint in Friday’s 57-52 win over Christian Brothers, N.J., backing up the preseason buzz with a composed, vocal showing. The 6-4 guard scored 12 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, staying active on the glass in a physical battle. Calm and in control, he dictated the offense with poise, keeping teammates organized and engaged throughout.

Latief Lorenzano-White (2026 | Imhotep Charter)
The 6-foot-5 wing was a two-way force in a win over Notre Dame West Haven. Lorenzano-White finished with 14 points and added four blocks, also taking a big charge late. The Panthers’ wing has gotten better and better from the perimeter throughout his career and the stroke looked pretty Friday as he knocked down four triples. On defense, his motor and length helped him battle against Notre Dame’s talented wing/guard Abdou Toure, winning that battle more than once.

Julian McKie (2028 | St. Joseph’s Prep)
McKie backed up the early buzz with a game-high 19 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks in a 57-52 win over Christian Brothers, N.J. The 6-5 rising sophomore filled up the stat sheet with his blend of length, quickness, and feel. He went coast to coast, drew contact at the rim, and played with active hands on defense. McKie’s awareness and physical tools were far beyond his years — and it showed in the way he took over stretches on both ends.

Father Judge 2026 Derrick Morton-Rivera. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Derrick Morton-Rivera (2026 | Father Judge)
One of the area’s most prolific shooters didn’t have his best day from deep after an early three but he found other ways to contribute, finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds and a pair of assists in a 56-45 win over St. Joe’s-Metuchen. Morton-Rivera got downhill with the ball in his hands and used his strength and athleticism to attack the glass on both ends — almost sending the gym into a frenzy with a putback he couldn’t quite finish.

Derek Pena-Sanchez (2027 | Lincoln)
The 5-11 guard saw limited action for the Rail Splitters but showed signs of a breakout junior campaign Friday afternoon, scoring 14 points and collecting six rebounds in a win over Springfield-Ford. He’s an explosive athlete, which helps him play bigger than he is. He was really effective pulling up in the midrange as he rose over defenders but also exploded toward the hoop when he went toward the rim.

Ryan Robbins (2027 | Upper St. Clair)
Robbins, the younger brother of Miami (Ohio) basketball commit Tyler Robbins is a standout on the football field, which is no surprise given his 6-foot-7 stature and broad shoulders. He has plenty of potential on the hardwood too as he showed off in a 16-point, 11-rebound performance against Archbishop Ryan. He has terrific footwork maneuvering his way into position for easy buckets on both sides of the basket. He can pass the ball out of the post as well, displaying some strong court vision. And of course he can push opponents around on the boards.

JoJo Smuda (2027 | Downingtown East)
Downingtown East opened up Philly Live with a one-point win over Holy Spirit (N.J.) thanks to a game-winning FT with 0.2 seconds left — oh, and Smuda’s big game. The mobile, muscular 6-4 wing put in work in the paint and around the rim as he racked up 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as well as two assists, but he did it in all sorts of ways. Smuda scored off a back down and left-handed kiss off the glass, on a right-handed hook in one smooth motion off an offensive rebound, knocked down a contested runner, had a catch-and-one in traffic, and more. And both of his blocks were with authority.

MJ Thompson (2027 | Council Rock South)
The more prominent of the two Thompsons today in the CR South-Holy Cross matchup, Thompson made his presence known from the jump. He chased down offensive rebounds, turned loose balls into transition points, and beat defenders down the floor with energy and pace. After a tight first half, it was Thompson’s assertiveness with teammate Ray Hauglund (2026) that helped CR South pull away behind a team-high 18 points. The 6-3 rising junior led vocally and physically, crashing the glass and making smart reads as a combo guard. With his physical tools, leadership, and production, he’s a name Division I coaches should be paying attention to.

Abdou Toure (2026 | Notre Dame-West Haven, Conn.)
Toure was one of the most highly touted prospects in action on Friday, and he delivered with a 23-point outing in a loss against Imhotep. Toure has an array of ways to score on the offensive end, showing off his stroke from deep and putting the ball on the deck to get to the hole. He’s incredibly strong and athletic, allowing him to carve out space, even when seemingly covered. His toolset makes him equally difficult to score against. The touch too stood out Friday as everything he tossed up off the backboard went in.

Ya’Majesty Washington (2027 | Warwick)
Washington’s certainly got one of the best names in the tournament, and he played like a future D-I wing in a losing effort against CR South at Jefferson. Standing 6-4 with a wingspan easily a few inches longer, Washington has a smooth athleticism to his game that helps him make a big impact at both ends. Washington locked down his man, snuffing out any attempt to shoot around him (four blocks) and grabbing 10 rebounds while also scoring 14 points, all by getting to the rim or scoring in the mid-range, where he had gravity-defying hangtime as he squared up to get a look off.

Jamieson Young (2028 | Cherry Hill East, N.J.)
The 6-1 rising sophomore finished with 17 points and made his mark as a strong rebounder who wasn’t afraid to absorb contact and convert through it. He had a knack for finding soft spots inside and was consistently in the right place for dump-offs. Vocal on both ends, he brought energy on defense and wasn’t shy about challenging shots at the rim.

Nick Young (2026 | Constitution)
Even in a loss, Young was one of the most impactful players on the floor. The 6-3 rising senior forward posted 16 points to go along with a strong rebounding effort and a block. He operated well around the rim, finishing through contact and drawing and-ones. Young made good reads on when to attack and stayed vocal, directing teammates on both ends. His physicality and timing helped him get to the line frequently and stay involved throughout.