City of Basketball Love

By Olivia Valania
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2025-26 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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The Philadelphia Catholic League is unforgiving every season. Prided for possessing the area’s most elite competition, every game is a battle as teams fight for one of the coveted top four spots to earn their ticket to the historic Palestra. 

Billy Cassidy and his Bonner-Prendergast team have been working their way up the league table during his past three seasons as head coach. In 2025-26, they’re hoping to continue to make the climb and mark themselves as a formidable force within the PCL this season.

In both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the Friars finished 4-9 in league play sitting 10th on the table. Last season they took a jump up to 7th where they were 7-6 in the Catholic League and 18-11 overall as they were led by seniors Ty’sciere Jackson and Devon Nelson and the core sophomore offensive trio of Korey Francis, Kam Jackson, and Jakeem Carroll.

With Nelson now at Lock Haven and Jackson at Arcadia, this Bonner squad has a new identity but the same goal: continuing to make strides and be a factor within the PCL

“Each year, we have taken a step forward.” Cassidy said. “We just want to be better than we were last year. It’s a new team, new identity, so just trying to figure out what’s going to work, where we can improve, and how to attack that each day.”

This new squad will be based around the now-junior backcourt of Francis, Jackson, and Carroll, as a lot is expected from them this season. 

Jackson, a 5-foot-10 point guard, had a big sophomore season (11.0 ppg, 4.4 apg) where he showed off his speedy guard skills along with his ability to score at all levels, whether it be beating his man off the dribble for a quick layup or hitting a step back three. 

He was able to step up in big games, especially in the Friars’ matchup in January against PCL and 6A champions, Father Judge, where he finished the game-winning contested layup to pull off the upset. 

“Kam is special,” Cassidy said. “He had an unbelievable sophomore year and I’m really happy with his progress over the summer and even into the fall right now. He is going to be the engine to our team no doubt about it.”

Going into his third year as a starter, the under 6-foot shooting guard, Carroll (6.4 ppg), will be an asset as Bonner utilizes his effective outside shot and shifty handle. 

Cassidy will rely most heavily on Francis to lead this team. Named First Team All-Catholic last season (16.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg), the 6-3 guard boasts eight D-I offers and has marked himself as a top player within the area. From his natural feel for the game to his smooth handle he is the strong force that will give Bonner some edge on the floor. 

“He has to take the jump of every floor he steps on wanting to be the best player and really imposing his will all over the game on both sides,” said Cassidy, commenting on his expectations for Francis. “One of his best things is his leadership.”

Francis recognizes the role he must step into if he wants to help his team continue to make pushes forward in the PCL. The strong guard has not only learned leadership on the court but off the court as he has gained leadership skills from being his class’ president at Bonner for the past three years.

“I think it is just making sure everyone is one, together,” said Francis, discussing what he has learned in his position as president and how he then brings it to his team. “The more that everyone can be together the better things will be.”

As Bonner adds three new transfers to the squad, they create a new identity for the team, one focused on honing in on their scrappy guards. The three additions to the roster all hail from Delaware, with Masen Price and Dashaun Holden coming from St. Elizabeth’s and Tyriq Warner from St. Mark’s. 

Price, a 6-5 junior guard, will be able to use his length to contribute in rebounding as well as get to the basket and his nice outside shot to put up threes for the Friars. A former teammate of Jackson and Carroll as they grew up playing ball together, Holden, the 5-9 guard, rejoins them now on this squad where he will use his quick athleticism and tough on-ball defending to provide good minutes. A 6-2 junior guard, Warner, will fill a similar role, being another wing option on the roster. 

Aydin Scott, a 6-7 senior who transferred from St. Mark’s (Del.) last year, will provide support inside the paint as his ability to elevate allows him to play above the rim and score effectively. During last season’s 5A run, Scott really stepped up and was the key to the team’s close win over Upper Dublin where he had 11 points and 12 rebounds. 

Cassidy’s focus right now is ensuring his team is healthy going into the start of the season. Scott has been out since May after an injury during AAU which required surgery. He is expected to be back at the start of the regular season. Carroll has also been battling ankle issues. 

“We just want to get to the season, be as healthy as possible,” Cassidy said. “Hopefully we can remain healthy throughout the whole year which is something that hurt us towards the end of last year. So, health is all we are focused on at the start of this season.”

As the Friars kick off PCL play in January, to take on this challenging league they are not concentrating on how to beat the individual juggernaut teams within it, instead they are directing their energy to being the best team they can be with their end goal still being to move up in the Catholic League.

“The Catholic League is the best high school league in the country for a reason because everybody is always loaded with talent, size, and the coaching is exceptional,” Cassidy said. “That’s the beauty of the PCL and our goal in our program is to be the best team at doing all the little things, building our habits, and getting a little bit better each day. That’s our focus and hopefully with that we are playing basketball as long as possible.”