City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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MANHEIM — The 2024 edition of the Hoop Group Showcase League came to its exciting conclusion this past weekend at Spooky Nook Sports

Here’s who stood out to the CoBL staff this weekend:

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Andrew Benedict (2025 | NEPA Elite 17U HGSL)
A 6-3 wing guard from Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.), Benedict’s versatility and toughness stood out Saturday night as NEPA Elite lost in the 17U HGSL quarterfinals. Benedict racked up a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, no easy feat against a ShoreShots squad with a lot of size and physicality, which was sending multiple guys crashing after every rebound all game long. Benedict grabbed three of those on the offensive end, managing to tough one or two of them back for a layup; he also hit three 3-pointers (on seven attempts) and played physical defense on guards and bigs alike.

Jake Blackburn (2025 | House We Built 17U HGSL)
Blackburn, a 6-5 shooting guard, delivered a standout performance with 35 points, including 10 three-pointers, in a 69-40 victory against Ray Allen Select. Blackburn's quick release, combined with his height, makes him a formidable catch-and-shoot threat. When defenders overplayed, he effectively drove to the basket, showcasing his playmaking abilities by getting two feet in the lane and finding cutters for finishes at the rim.  His impressive range was displayed as he confidently pulled up from logo distance multiple times without forcing any shots. Blackburn's offensive prowess was crucial to his team's win in dominant fashion today.

K.J. Carson (2025 | East Coast Power 17U Platinum)
Carson was a major reason East Coast Power’s secondary squad made it to the championship game of their bracket. The 6-2 guard from The Haverford School went for 16 points with nine rebounds and two assists on Saturday in a win over BCRI Green, hitting two of his four 3-pointers and a number of other shots in the mid-range. Cochran was continually pushing the pace in transition, getting defenders on their heels and attacking the bucket, and he wasn’t afraid to let shots fly in an uptempo game. 

Jabari Edmonds (2027 I Team New England 16U HGSL)
The 6-5 wing from Phillips Andover Academy (Mass.) — who reclassified after attending The Wheeler School (R.I.) — had a bunch of flashy plays in TNE’s lopsided win over Terror Squad in a 16U HGSL semifinal Sunday in the 11:30 set. Edmonds had multiple rim-rattling dunks, hit a 3, and got his teammates involved with four assists. Edmonds had a 26-point outing in the quarterfinals and has the ability to continue reeling in offers in addition to the one he already has from FIU.

Aaron Ekwere (2026 | Drive Basketball Academy Finland 17U)
It was a treat to watch Ekwere, a 6-6 bouncy wing from Helsinki who has offers from South Carolina and Radford. The most astonishing play he made was a posterizing dunk over a 6-9 defender in Drive’s 65-51 victory over Mountain State Basketball Academy HGSL in the 3:30 slate Saturday. He finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while scoring his points at all three levels.

Amon Fowlkes (2025 | East Coast Power 17U Platinum)
Fowlkes was a defensive menace as Power stormed past BCRI’s second team on Saturday, putting together a big-time stat line with 20 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists. The Coatesville rising senior, normally a reliable 3-point shooter, missed a couple early treys and then did all of his damage inside the arc, usually getting to the rim in transition after one of his steals; on more than one occasion, he weaved in and out of several defenders on a speedy trip down the court before finishing with either hand.

Keaton Gregory (2027 | Rockit Premier 15U HGSL)
A lanky 6-8 post with a lot of upside, Gregory showed that he’s already a productive big man with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance against BW Elite in a 15U HGSL bracket game on Saturday. Gregory didn’t miss a shot, going 8-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the foul line, showing great hands, footwork and touch around the rim; all of his points came within 10 feet, but he put in a couple hook shots from different spots on the floor, was active in post-ups, grabbed three offensive rebounds and was stronger than his lanky frame would indicate. 

Kodi Johnson (2025 | East Coast Power 17U HGSL)
The Phelps School’s 6-6 wing brought the energy when East Coast Power lulled at the start of its 15-point all-around team win over Young & Reckless during the 4:40 set Saturday. Johnson got to the rim and drew fouls, hit a 3, and disrupted Y&R on the defensive end on his way to 12 points, six rebounds, and a block. Most importantly, his effort and physicality seemed to spark his teammates into doing the same.

Beau Lyren (2025 | East Coast Power 17U Platinum)
The 6-3 shooting guard from Delco Christian delivered an outstanding performance in ECP’s championship game, scoring 29 points on nine 3-pointers. Lyren demonstrated his shooting prowess, consistently hitting shots from all over the court. He excelled in transition and capitalized on drive-and-kick opportunities created by his teammates. Lyren's extended range stretched the opposing defense, creating significant challenges. 

Carson Kasmer (2025 | Penn Warriors 17U HGSL)
Kasmer delivered the Warriors a weekend-opening win on Saturday morning, the Lower Merion left-hander’s layup within the final 10 seconds the difference-maker in a one-point victory. That capped off a 21-point, seven-rebound, three-assist game for the 5-11 left-hander, which saw him impress with his ball-handling and driving abilities, moreso than the outside shooting he’s typically known for. Though he did hit one triple, Kasmer was continually probing into the heart of the defense, knowing when to attack the hoop, pull up for a mid-range or a floater or keep the offense going. 

John Kelley (2025 | Middlesex Magic 17U HGSL)
The 6-9 big man can certainly bang down in the post averaging over 10 rebounds in games CoBL had eyes on Saturday and Sunday. Kelley, attending Kimball Union Academy for a post-grad year, also showed a keen aptitude in playmaking when catching the ball at the top of the key and hitting teammates with precise passes on backdoor cuts for easy points. Kelley did whatever was needed for the good of the team and had a seven-point, 14-rebound, four-assist game in a first-round win over Lone Star Elite; a nine-point, 12-rebound, two-assist game in a quarterfinal win over BW Elite; and a six-rebound, three-block, two-assist game in the championship victory.

Christopher Lamm (2027 | Rockit Premier 15U HGSL)
While Gregory impressed in the post for Rockit, Lamm’s toughness and ability at point guard was another major reason they advanced into bracket play on Sunday. The 5-10 guard from Mechanicsville High (Va.) was continually able to get to the hoop off the bounce, finishing tough layups around the rim, absorbing contact well or using odd angles. His 16-point outing included three different ‘and-one’ opportunities, and he got to the line on two other occasions; he was plenty comfortable in the paint, waiting patiently if he needed to as bodies flew around him until he found an opening around the rim. 

Griffin Linstra (2025 | NJ ShoreShots 17U HGSL)
The main man from Manasquan (N.J.), Linstra had a big game Saturday night in leading the ShoreShots to a win over NEPA Elite in the 17U quarterfinals. The 6-5 point guard is just so smooth with the ball in his hands, able to see above defenders and easily maneuver his way around the perimeter and into the paint; he’s an expert at using screens to his advantage, and once he gets going downhill he’s tough to stop, while also being an excellent facilitator. He finished with 18 points (6-11 FG, 6-6 FT), nine rebounds and five assists in that particular showing.

Ryan Moesch (2026 | Crown Basketball 17U HGSL)
We’ve seen Moesch (pronounced like “mesh”) impress a few times over the last couple offseasons, and this weekend was no exception. The wiry 6-0 left-hander is super-skilled with the ball in his hands, able to work around screens or use his handles to create space, and he can score in all sorts of ways. That was on display Saturday, when Moesch went for 26 points in a 17U HGSL bracket win, doing so on 11-of-14 from the floor (1-3 3PT, 3-4 FT), hitting some tough layups, pull-ups, a floater, and jumpers, with great natural feel wherever he was on the court. The newly-reclassified 2026 will go to Cushing Academy (Mass.) this winter.

Thomas Semiraglio (2025 | Penn Warriors 17U HGSL)
Samiraglio impressed on Saturday morning in the Penn Warriors’ win over Prodigy Basketball (Mass.), the 6-3 wing guard doing a little bit of everything. An engaged defender with length, Semiragilo presented a constantly-moving frame on whoever he was guarding, and that energy translated to the offensive end as he was always moving or finding a way to get involved in the action. The rising senior at Bishop Eustace (N.J.) started the game off with an and-one layup, launching him to a 21-point, six-rebound, two-assist game, which saw him knock down a couple 3-pointers; he also did a great job of following up on his shot, getting a couple layups just by attacking the glass off a missed trey, collecting the rebound halfway there and depositing it in past a defender. 

Jacob Sniras (2025 I PA Coalition 17U HGSL)
Sniras, a 6-4 wing, showcased his scoring versatility in a Saturday afternoon win, 67-49, against the Tokyo Samurai 17U. Demonstrating his ability as a three-level scorer, Sniras hit pull-up jumpers from the foul line, operated effectively in the post, and sank four 3-pointers (4-6 3PT). Defensively, he was active on the glass, diving out of bounds, and displayed his capability to switch from guarding positions one through four. Sniras also highlighted his playmaking skills, finding teammates in transition and on backdoor cuts, contributing significantly to his team's performance. Sniras ended the contest with 24 points in an impressive overall effort.

Teagan Swint (2025 I Middlesex Magic 17U HGSL)
Newton North’s 6-4 wing goes about his business quietly until he showcases an athletic finish that opens the crowd’s eyes. By the end of the game, he’s nearly up to 20 points and his opponent is wondering what happened. Swint gets hot quickly and can equally drill 3s, finish at the rim, or hit a pull-up. He had 19 points in a first-round win over Lone Star Elite, nine points in a win over BW Elite in the quarterfinals, and 18 points in the championship for the 17U HGSL winners.

Jahrel Vigo (2025 I Team Final Red 17U Platinum)
Nobody could stop Vigo in transition in the 1:00 set Saturday. The 6-2 guard from Allentown Central Catholic was making pristine no-look passes, using his sturdy body to finish at the rim, and crashing the boards before rapidly starting the break for Team Final Red in a 67-53 win over Virginia Premier HGSL. Vigo finished with at least nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block (CoBL got there late and only took statistics starting with 7:08 left in the first half). 

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Honorable Mention
Bryce Bennett (2025 | Lone Star Elite 17U HGSL), Derek Bishop (2025 | Young & Reckless 17U HGSL), Nate Blenman (2027 | Team New England 16U HGSL), Antonio Brittain (2025 | Penn Warriors 17U HGSL), Jake Dallas (2025 | Team Final Red 17U Platinum), Dylan Deluca (2025 | Virginia Premier 17U HGSL), Thomas Ferdinando (2025 | Middlesex Magic 17U HGSL), Robert Fiore III (2025 | Middlesex Magic 17U HGSL), Justin Fuerbacher (2025 | NJ ShoreShots 17U HGSL), Quinn Gibson (2025 | NJ ShoreShots 17U HGSL), Zubayr Griffin (2025 | NEPA Elite 17U HGSL), Chais Harriette (2025 | Prodigy Basketball 17U), Carnell Henderson (2025 | Brad Wanamaker 17U HGSL), Owen Kelly (2026 | Philly Revolution 16U HGSL), Damien King (2025 | George Hill All-Indy 17U HGSL), Brady MacAdams (2026 | Philly Revolution 16U HGSL), Brycen Martin (2025 | NEPA Elite 17U HGSL), Brendan McDonald (2025 | BCRI 17U Green), Matthew McCarthy (2025 | East Coast Power 17U HGSL), Max Moshinski (2026 | Philly Revolution 16U HGSL), Max Okebata (2027 | BW Elite 15U HGSL), Samuel Osayi (2025 | Team New England 17U HGSL), Zamir Parker (2024 | PA Hoops Academy 17U HGSL), Kwynsie Pittsnogle (2024 | Mountain State Basketball Academy 17U HGSL), Brandon Russell (2025 | NJ Beasts 17U HGSL), Mason Thear (2025 | PA Hoops Academy 17U HGSL), Jaymen Townsend (2025 | George Hill All-Indy 17U HGSL), Jeffrey White (2024 | Prodigy Basketball 17U)