City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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(Ed. Note: This article is part of our 2024-25 season coverage, which will run for the six weeks preceding the first official games of the year on Nov. 4. To access all of our high school and college preview content for this season, click here.)

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As always, Philadelphia basketball is everywhere.

Year after year, well over 100 Philly-area ballplayers are spread around Division I rosters, from East Coast to West Coast, North to South, low-major to high-major and everywhere in between. Each fall, CoBL rounds up all of those local prospects to update you on how their careers are going and what’s expected of them in the year to come.

We’ve split the area’s D-I alumni into a four-part list, the whole thing way too big to run all at once. Here’s Part 2 of our 2024-25 CoBL alumni roundup, featuring more than two dozen players who are on scholarship on a Division I roster this season.

(If we’re missing someone, let us know: cityofbasketballlove@gmail.com)

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2024-25 Men's Alumni Roundup: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

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Houston Emory (Jr. | Delaware)
A Devon native, Emory graduated from the Blue Ridge School (Va.) after starting at Conestoga; the 6-9 forward is now going into his third year with the Blue Hens. Thus far, he hasn’t played too much, appearing in a total of 24 games in two seasons for 104 minutes (4.3/game), with 28 points (1.2/game) and 13 rebounds (0.5/game). This year, he’s joined by his younger brother, Macon. 

Macon Emory (Fr. | Delaware)
Similar to his older brother, Emory started at Conestoga — playing JV ball as a freshman — before going to Blue Ridge (Va.), then coming up to the Perkiomen School for his last two years. While his older brother is more of a post, Macon at 6-8 is more of a big wing, who picked Delaware over double-digit other scholarship offers, including FGCU and William & Mary. 

Khalil Farmer (R-Soph. | Hofstra)
The former Roman guard is at a key point in his college career. Going into his third season at Hofstra, the talented 6-3 off-guard has under his belt one redshirt season and then a year where he played in 24 games off the bench for the Pride, averaging 1.9 ppg in 9.0 mpg on 43.6% from the floor. A good bit of Hofstra’s scoring production from last year hit the portal, so there’s an opportunity for Farmer to play a much bigger role this time around. 

Anthony Finkley (Soph. | Saint Joseph’s)
Finkley didn’t have quite the rookie season of his high school teammate Xzayvier Brown, but he had a quality impact in his freshman year. The versatile 6-6 wing forward started 12 of his 31 appearances, averaging 2.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg, with a season-high 10 points against Loyola (Md.). Finkley’s never needed to score to make an impact, but his defensive versatility and basketball IQ translate well, and he should have a similar role if not larger as a sophomore.

Augustus Gerhart (Soph. | Penn)
A 6-9 post from central Pennsylvania who spent his last few years at the Hill School, Gerhart played in 26 games as a freshman for the Quakers, averaging 6.9 minutes per contest. He finished with season averages of 1.8 points and 0.7 rebounds, topping out with 10 points against Monmouth and D-III John Jay (N.Y.). He’ll be counted on to fill a huge role next year after Nick Spinoso graduates, so a step forward this season would be a good sign.

Lynn Greer III (Sr. | Temple)
After two strong years with St. Joe’s, the son of the former Temple great is returning to his roots and donning the Cherry & White for his final collegiate season. Greer III started 61 of 65 games for the Hawks, averaging 11.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 3.9 apg in those combined seasons, playing as one piece in a deep SJU backcourt. The 6-2 guard, who played at Roman Catholic before a season at IMG Academy (Fl.) should jump into a similar role this year with Temple alongside the likes of Jameel Brown and Jamal Mashburn Jr., also new to the team, and a few holdovers.

Tristen Guillouette (Fr. | Florida Gulf Coast)
Yet another local presence on the FGCU roster, Guillouette comes down to Fort Myers after spending a season at George School, where he was a first-team all-Friends School League selection. That in itself was a significant achievement for the 6-10 forward, considering he’d been at St. Joe’s Prep in 2021-22 and 2022-23, but the PIAA denied him a fifth year of eligibility in 2023-24, so he was forced to play that year at the private school. 

Cole Hargrove (Jr. | Drexel)
A 6-8 forward out of Methacton, Hargrove has spent his first two years at Drexel largely learning from the now-graduated Amari Williams. In that time, Hargrove has played a total of 135 minutes spread over 34 appearances (4.0 mpg), averaging 1.0 ppg and 1.0 rpg in that span. With Williams now in Kentucky and some unproven freshmen in the frontcourt along with a JUCO transfer, it would seem like the time is now for Hargrove to play major minutes for the Dragons. 

Zahree Harrison (R-Sr. | Coppin State)
Injuries have been a problem for Harrison the last couple years, limiting the former Cheltenham guard to 15 appearances in the last two seasons, ending his 2023-24 campaign — his first at Coppin State after three at St. Francis — just eight games in. The 6-0 point guard was averaging 5.4 ppg at that point, starting six of eight games and playing a thus-far-career-best 24.4 minutes per game, with a season-high 14 points against La Salle. He’s listed as a redshirt senior, but he can extend his college career beyond this one if he chooses thanks to the injury and COVID seasons. 

Thomas Haugh (Soph. | Florida)
The pride of New Oxford (Pa.) and a product of the Perkiomen School, Haugh goes into his second year at Florida hoping to build on the foundation of a quality freshman year. Haugh played in 36 games (including two starts) for the Gators, helping them to a 24-win season and spot in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 14.7 mpg, shooting 45% from the floor. The 6-9 forward reaching double figures in scoring three times and in rebounding twice, though never in the same game, with season highs of 17 points against Georgia and 11 rebounds against Merrimack.

Jackson Hicke (Soph. | Princeton)
Playing on a deep, veteran Princeton squad, Hicke got some valuable minutes early in the season, getting a few double-digit runs in some non-conference matchups. He exploded for 12 points and 15 rebounds against D-III Bryn Athyn, but an injury shortly thereafter kept him out until late February; he got a few more appearances, including seven minutes in the NIT. For the season, the 6-5 Radnor alum averaged 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16 appearances. 

Rahdir Hicks (Sr. | Towson)
A Coatesville native and Malvern Prep grad, Hicks is coming off a year that saw him go down in the fifth game with a season-ending injury, leaving him with two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-0 point guard has played in 56 games with 19 starts thus far in his Towson career, with career averages of 2.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 1.5 apg; he was averaging 4.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg and 1.0 apg in the four games prior to his injury. 

Anquan Hill (R-Jr. | Sacred Heart)
Hill’s back on the court this year after a redshirt season in his first at SHU, now healthy in time for the Pioneers to begin play in the MAAC after moving up from the NEC. A bouncy 6-9 forward out of Archbishop Carroll, Hill started his career at FDU, averaging 7.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 26 games (17 starts), but was less successful in a year at St. Bonaventure (1.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg off the bench). 

AJ Hoggard (Gr. | Vanderbilt)
After a strong four years at Michigan State, Hoggard is finishing up in the SEC at Vanderbilt, where he’ll bring a ton of experience to the Commodores backcourt. The 6-3 lead guard from Coatesville, who finished in the top five on MSU’s all-time assist list (609 dimes), has career averages of 8.6 ppg, 4.6 apg and 2.8 rpg across 131 career games (83 starts), averaging 10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 3.1 rpg as a senior with the Spartans. 

Jacen Holloway (Fr. | Army West Point)
A 2023 Devon Prep grad, Holloway starts his freshman year at West Point after doing a year at the army’s prep school (USMAPS), a route that eight of his fellow Cadets have taken. As a military service academy, Army isn’t bound by scholarships, so Holloway has 26 teammates to compete against for playing time. That’s not an impossible task for the 6-4 left-handed wing forward, who’s used to being matched up against players with several inches on him and out-dueling them anyways, with his outside shot an additional weapon.

Tariq Ingraham (Gr. | Rider)
Ingraham’s story is one of perseverance: after three years at Wake Forest where he took a medical redshirt and the only played in a total of three games over the following two years as he continued to struggle with injuries, Ingraham has found a second wind at Rider. The 6-9 Bonner grad has played in 65 games (with 48 starts) over the last two years, starting all 32 games a year ago. The bruising post put up his best numbers yet, averaging 9.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg while hitting 48.9% of his shots and 72.0% of his foul shots, getting to the line 3.3 times per game. 

Chas Kelley III (Jr. | Boston College)
A Houston native who played his upperclassman years of high school ball at the Phelps School, Kelley is going into his third year at Boston College after two years mainly as a featured reserve. The 6-5 guard has played in 57 games (7 starts) the last two seasons, averaging right around 15 minutes per contest both years; his averages of 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game were all slight improvements from his freshman year. He’s only shot 35.1% overall and 26.9% from deep thus far.

Franck Kepnang (Gr. | Washington)
Kepnang came to Washington from Cameroon, via the Westtown School and then a couple years at Oregon. The bruising and skilled 6-11 post has struggled with injuries, which have limited him to just 18 games (8 starts) in his two years in a Huskies uniform. He’s played only one full season of college ball, 35 games at Oregon as a sophomore; in a Washington uniform, he’s averaged 8.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg on 56.1% shooting, showing he can certainly be productive in his minutes. 

Christian Kirkland (R-Fr. | Youngstown State)
A late-rising prospect at Friends’ Select who really came on strong over the course of his junior and senior years, Kirkland spent last season redshirting at Youngstown State. Now 6-9 and listed at 215 pounds, the wing forward will start his four years of eligibility this winter. 

Gestin Liberis (Jr. | St. Francis)
A 6-9 forward out of the George School, Liberis is going into his third year with St. Francis, having taken a solid step up in production from his first two his second season. As a sophomore, Libertis played in 26 games for the Red Flash with three starts, averaging 5.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 14.6 minutes. He came on strong at the end of the season, with double-digit scoring outings in three of the last four games of the season, including a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double against Merrimack. 

Demetrius Lilley (Jr. | La Salle)
The big man from Lower Merion is back in the area after two years at Penn State, stepping right into what he hopes will be a big role with a new-look Explorers squad. As a sophomore, the 6-10 post averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 20 appearances (9.2 mpg), topping out with eight points each against St. Francis and Minnesota. 

Jordan Longino (Sr. | Villanova)
A 6-5 wing out of Germantown Academy, Longino has been in the upper part of the Villanova rotation each of the last two years, averaging 6.6 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 29 games (five starts) last season. In 80 games (13 starts) in a Villanova uniform, he’s got career averages of 4.5 ppg and 1.9 rpg, with some lingering injuries playing a part as he’s yet to really crack the potential he displayed in the prep ranks. It hasn’t helped that he’s 47-of-162 (29.0%) from 3-point range, going 26-of-80 (32.5%) as a junior to mark a slight improvement. 

Matt Mayock (Soph. | American)
After missing most of his senior year at Westtown School due to an injury, Mayock got comfortable quickly in his first year at the Division I level. The 6-6 sharpshooting swingman started all 28 games for the Eagles, averaging 8.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg while going 55-of-130 (42.3%) from downtown. He got better as the season went on, as well; in Patriot League play, he averaged 9.5 ppg and hit 42% of his 3-pointers, and averaged 10.7 ppg over the final 10 games of the season. 

Kevin McCarthy (Fr. | Army West Point)
McCarthy joins Jacen Holloway as local prospects on the Army roster, coming in straight out of Episcopal Academy. The 6-4 guard from West Chester is a sharpshooter who had a strong senior season at EA knocking down shots from all over the court while improving his abilities to attack the rim off the bounce. 

Jaelen McGlone (Sr. | Central Connecticut State)
McGlone is back at the Division I level after playing the last two seasons at East Stroudsburg. He spent two years at Rider (2020-22), playing in 31 games with four starts but averaging 2.3 ppg and 1.3 rpg. The 6-4 wing had much more success at the D-II level, averaging 12.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg last year while going 44-of-112 (39.3%) from downtown and 52.5% overall from the floor. He’s joining a CCSU program that’s coming off a 20-win season under third-year head coach Patrick Sellers, the program’s first with that mark since 2006-07 (22-12).

Pearse McGuinn (Fr. | Stonehill)
A 6-8 stretch-forward out of Cardinal O’Hara, McGuinn will be a true freshman in the NEC this winter. In his senior year with the Lions, McGuinn averaged 12 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, making 84% of his free throws. Stonehill has a largely young frontcourt, starting two freshmen bigs last year, so it’ll be interesting to see how McGuinn factors into the mix with a 7-0 freshman also joining the Skyhawks.

Naheem McLeod (Gr. | Syracuse)
McLeod’s in his second year at Syracuse after previous stops at Chipola College (Fl.) and Florida State, the 7-4 Plymouth Whitemarsh grad suffering a season-ending foot injury midway through last season. In 14 games, all starts, McLeod averaged 3.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.9 bpg in 14.6 mpg, the towering center connecting on 59.4% from the floor. If he’s over his foot injury, McLeod should once again provide a strong rebounding and shot-blocking presence when he’s on the court.