City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The dust has settled on Week 2 of the annual two-weekend hoopfest that is Philly Live 2025 with 10 courts of action wrapping up play Sunday night.

CoBL had writers and scouts at Jefferson University and the Alan Horwitz 'Sixth Man' Center throughout the weekend. Here's Pt. 4 of notebooks focusing on individual players and their recruitments:

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2025 Philly Live Week 2 Coverage
Standouts: Friday (Pt. 1) | Friday (Pt. 2) | Saturday (Pt. 1) | Saturday (Pt. 2) | Saturday (Pt. 3) | Sunday (Pt. 1) | Sunday (Pt. 2)
Notebooks: Recruiting (Pt. 1) | Recruiting (Pt. 2 ) | Recruiting (Pt. 3) | Recruiting (Pt. 4) | Team Coverage (Pt. 1) | Team Coverage (Pt. 2) |

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Jalyn Collingwood (2026 | Sidwell Friends, D.C.)

On a talented Sidwell Friends squad, Collingwood stands alone. 

The only senior on the Foxes’ roster, he’s their no-doubt leader this year, a host of 2027s and a few 2028s under his wing, and he’s ready for the challenge. That’s not a surprise — he was the only junior last year after transferring over from Bishop McNamara (Md.) — but it’s still a situation he admitted was “kind of odd” after playing under big senior classes both of his underclassman years in high school. 

“[Last year] my role was to be a go-to guy when we needed it, but this year it turned into more of a leader job, [being a] more vocal leader,” he told CoBL on Saturday. “It’s a lot on me to coach the younger guys up and taking the coaching as well, I have to be coached the hardest.”

Collingwood played very well in a pair of games Saturday at the Sixth Man Center. First, he scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a loss to Neumann-Goretti; he followed that up with 22 points and four rebounds in a win over Archbishop Wood. 

A 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard, Collingwood is an impressive athlete with terrific leaping ability and a ton of talent in his frame. He knocked down four 3-pointers against Wood and a number of contested pull-up jumpers; his size, length, and quick-twitch abilities make him a tough defender as well, able to stick point guards and handle bigs effectively. 

“My mom, she played a lot of sports — she played basketball, she danced, she played softball and volleyball,” he said, “and my dad played soccer, and my mom’s dad was very athletic, so it comes from that.”

Collingwood said he’s got a dozen Division I offers, with Mississippi State, Hampton, UTSA and Iona his most recent ones, with La Salle offering on Monday; George Washington, which offered last year, also remains heavily involved. He’s also been hearing from further high-majors including Pitt, Vanderbilt, and Michigan State. 

“Most of them say they like my versatility, especially on the defensive end, where I can switch onto a point guard and switch onto a ‘5’ especially on the high school level,” he said. “Being able to guard all five positions can go a long way at the college level.”

Collingwood said he hadn’t set up any official visits yet, but “for sure” wanted to see Mississippi State, Iona and Hampton, with those visits likely coming in the fall. In July, he’ll be finishing up his time with his grassroots program, New World, on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, with the 3SSB championships coming July 9-13 in Rock Hill, South Carolina before the “Earn Your Stripes” Invitational in Laredo Ranch, Cali. from July 17-20. — Josh Verlin

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Will Brunson (2028 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.)

Brunson was born to play basketball at a high level. 

The son of Stan Brunson, who played basketball at Duke, Will Brunson has all the physical and mental tools to be a great player. But he says his dad never pushed him to be a top collegiate prospect, just to love the game. 

“He never put too much on me,” Will Brunson told CoBL. “Like, ‘if you want to do this, this is what we’re going to do, but if you don’t, that’s fine, too.’”

Brunson wants to do it, and it’s leading to big things. A 6-foot-8 wing forward with an advanced game for only going into his sophomore year of high school, Brunson seems on the verge of a breakout.

As a freshman at Rutgers Prep, Brunson got a solid amount of playing time but was deep on a talented team’s list of offensive priorities, finishing the season averaging 6.8 ppg, with a season high of 19 points. But with the team’s top three scorers all moving on — one by graduation and two by transfer — Brunson’s role is going to take a major leap forward. 

One year after sitting on the bench at Philly Live just a week after joining the team, Brunson was its no-doubt star this weekend. He went for 23 points Sunday afternoon in a hard-fought game against Archbishop Carroll, hitting three 3-pointers and a number of impressive pull-up jumpers and finishes at the rim, mostly with his (dominant) left hand.

Strong and mobile, he can play with or without the ball in his hands, physical enough to bang in the post and with the finesse to play on the perimeter. Brunson said he gets his impressive footwork from working out with his older sister Nile, who’s going to Notre Dame for fencing. 

“I practice footwork with her, her footwork’s fast,” he said. “Competing, yeah. I never beat her though, she’s fast.”

Playing with the NY Renaissance’s 15s on the Nike EYBL circuit, Brunson’s picked up eight Division I offers this spring, with big names already on the list: Rutgers, Syracuse, Auburn, Mississippi State, Seton Hall, Fairfield, La Salle and Rider. He’s yet to take any visits, expecting to start making the rounds later this summer and into the fall, getting his first glimpses of the next level. 

For now, Brunson said, he’s continuing to work on his overall skills and also hitting the weight room, which he said is already paying off. 

“I like lifting, it definitely has helped my game elevate a lot,” he said, “not being bumped off my drives and being able to control the offense because I’m strong with the ball now.” — Josh Verlin

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Xavier Mitchell (2026 | Dock Mennonite)

The 6-7 rising senior forward is getting attention from Division III Grove City and Juniata, and most recently, Arcadia. He said he would like to make a college choice in-season, because he feels he will be getting his most attention during the season.

“I want to go to a college that gives me the best opportunity outside of basketball,” he said. “Whatever school gives me the best option for my future. I wanted to work on my shooting and gain weight this summer. I weigh 175 and I would like to get up to around 185. I do think I definitely will get heavier. 

“I am lifting more now, probably the most consistent I’ve been. At the start of last season, I was around 160. I have been doing a lot more ballhandling in games this summer. I broke a trap in one game; the first time I ever handled the ball that much. There were games last season where I did not dribble the ball at all. I’m trying to break out of the five position, working on facing the basket more. We had three seniors last year, and I wasn’t very vocal. 

“On the court, I was talkative. This year, I will be more vocal on and off the court. Last year, we had some chemistry problems. We’re fixing that this year and making sure we won’t have that problem again.”

Mitchell was one of the few bright spots in Dock Mennonite’s 64-41 loss to Elkton (Md). He finished with 14 points, showing a variety of moves, including an up-and-under move on the baseline that resulted in a three-point play. He is a very good athlete who proved he has a handle for someone so used to playing with his back to the basket most of his high school career. 

He showed good hands, but needs to finish better around the basket. He averaged five points and 10 rebounds a game. He wants to place more focus on his offense. “Ideally, I want to be an (offensive) threat a lot more,” he said. “I’m definitely going to be a lot more aggressive offensively than I was last year.” — Joseph Santoliquito             

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Kam Jackson (2027 | Bonner-Prendie)

The Friars’ 5-foot-10 rising junior guard has received interest from Cornell, Merrimack College, and Drexel. He carries a 4.0 GPA in a 5.0 system. 

“I want to produce more this year,” Jackson said. “I felt I had a good sophomore year, and I want to make people know my name this year. I’ve grown a few inches. I need to focus on my guys and keep us together. We need to fight better through adversity and not get in our own heads.”

As a sophomore, he averaged 13 points and five assists a game. He also made one of the best plays of last season, when he came zipping in from the right wing for a layup after grabbing a pass from teammate Tysicere Jackson in mid-sprint for the winning bucket in the Friars’ dramatic 66-64 victory over eventual Catholic League and PIAA Class 6A state champion Father Judge. 

Bonner-Prendie had rebounded from two third-quarter 12-point deficits and were trailing 62-56 with 3:09 left in the game, when Kam scored a three-point play with 3:00 left. He showed an uncanny ability to fit his tiny frame in almost impossible, tight positions under the basket to somehow score. He continues to do that this summer.

“I know some teams are looking at my ability and not my size, and it’s why I play with an attitude that I need to stand out,” Kam said. “I am getting stronger. I know the team is going to rely on me more. I think I have a chance to grow a little more. I have relatives on both sides who are 6-foot. 

“On the court, I have to hit my pull-ups and my floater better. On defense, I want to improve on my help defense. I have a year of experience. The Catholic League is always tough, it’s crazy. My coaches are telling me our team will go as far as I go. I want my teammates to push with me.”

“Kam is good enough to play in college,” Bonner-Prendie coach Billy Cassidy said. “Kam is smart in the classroom and plays with a high IQ. Kam had an outstanding year as a sophomore, and there is more he will have to do this year. We will look for him to set the floor and create for his teammates. Kam is usually the fastest kid on the court, and he can create for himself, and defensively, he has those instincts to deflections. He’s not afraid to rebound, either, despite his size. The college interest will only grow.” — Joseph Santoliquito

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Nate Best (2026 | Upper Moreland)
Nate Best knew where to look the past few seasons.

Whether it was his older brother Alex two years ago or Colson Campbell last season, Best knew there was always going to be a go-to player on the floor with him. Now, as a senior for an Upper Moreland team making itself over after a historic season, that’s a role he’ll have to fill.

Best will be a little more at the forefront this year and ideally, it will help him keep playing beyond high school.

“It starts with taking control and being that guy,” Best said after a 24-point effort in an OT win against Chambersburg on Saturday. “Last year with Colson, I looked up to him and looked to him as a mentor and in situations like that, he’d be the one to control it. Now, I have to be that guy.”

Best came off the bench as a sophomore playing behind his older brother, then moved into the starting lineup last season as the Golden Bears won 24 games and reached the PIAA Class 5A semifinals. The 5-foot-9 Best was a key part as a tenacious defender, a steady ball-handler and picked his spots to attack the rim.

This summer, Best has been working on his outside shooting and the guard specifically noted outside shooting. Best, who is playing with PA Royals again this summer alongside Upper Moreland classmate Larry Hughes among a few other SOL risers, said he’s tried to hone his catch-and-shoot skills mostly.

It would seem natural that he’d assume most of the on-ball work as a senior but Best noted UM has some good underclassmen guards and his classmate Will Hansberry also looks ready to step into a bigger role.

“It will let me play off the ball a little bit more and I can attack off the wing a little bit more,” Best said. “That’s a look I could have more of this year.”

Best and Hughes will be Upper Moreland’s top returning players while sophomore Cannon Campbell – Colson’s younger brother – was a key player off the bench last year and is poised to take on a bigger role. If Saturday’s game against Chambersburg was an indicator, Bears coach Dan Heiland also has a confident group of younger players in the mix and a senior in Best who will be ready when it’s his turn to take control.

So far, Best has heard from one Division III program – Marymount (Va.) – and is hoping a strong finish to his club season with the Royals coupled with a strong senior year at Upper Moreland will open some other options for him.

“It shows my coaches getting on me and my putting in the hard work is paying off,” Best said. “I’m seeing how far I can take it and how far I can push myself.” — Andrew Robinson

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Jaden Brown (2026 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.)

Basketball is just what Jaden Brown’s family does.

Whether it was tutelage from his dad or no-holds-barred games against his older brother Julian, Jaden was inducted into the family sport early on. Much like his brother, who went from a standout at Bergen Catholic to Division I, the younger Brown is on his way to forging his own name at the next level.

“They all played basketball at a high level,” Brown said. “My older brother played in March Madness, so I’ve always gone to him. My main goal is to go to college for free.”

Rider offered Brown on June 28, giving the 6-foot-4 guard a quartet of offers to go with earlier opportunities from Fairfield, Albany and NJIT, the latter offering after Philly Live I. He also mentioned Northeastern, Tulane, Saint Peter’s and Towson among programs that have been in contact this month.

“It’s a good thing to experience, to get the calls and get the texts,” Brown said. “My brother plays D-I and with him doing what he did, I was able to see what he did wrong and what he did right and learn from that.”

Brown had a strong day Saturday as Bergen Catholic defeated Archbishop Carroll and Bonner-Prendergast. The guard sank shots from the perimeter, attacked the rim and finished, rebounded, passed and defended while showing the all-around smooth game that has drawn college coaches in.

Even playing next to a high-major recruit like Julius Avent and on an overall strong roster, Brown is more than capable of having a huge game. He’s also just as easily able to slip into a more complimentary role whether it’s working a pick-and-roll or playing off a dribble handoff.

“My IQ, I feel like that’s something that has to go up every year,” Brown said. “Beyond that, just getting bigger, faster and stronger every year. The bigger guys, especially when I go up to college and they’re already 20, 22, 25, you gotta get ready every year.”

Julian Brown, who played two years at Wagner and last season at Samford, is four years Jaden’s elder. He doesn’t take it easy on his younger brother and Jaden said it’s been beneficial in helping the mental side of his game while using his brother’s experience as a measuring stick of where he aims to be.

“I always say I’m just trying to get one percent better every day,” Brown said. “We work out together, sometimes we go one-on-one just to get a feel of where I’m at because I know where he’s at.” — Andrew Robinson

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