After months of legal turmoil veiling my focus, I found myself thrust back into the heart of basketball drama, this time amidst the fervor of a Philadelphia Catholic League Playoff clash between Archbishop Ryan and St. Joseph’s Prep. I haven’t been writing much about high school basketball. I’ve been largely preoccupied with a pressing legal matter for the past 11 months. Fortunately, those issues are in my rearview mirror. Just know, I’ve got a helluva story to tell and I’m gonna tell it in excruciating detail. For now, like the late great Marion Barry, all I’m gonna say is…

“Bitch set me up!”

Y’all ain’t gonna believe what the prosecutor tried to do. But that’s another story for another day in the very near future… Stay tuned for details.

Today, in a battle reminiscent of classic Philadelphia high school basketball lore, Archbishop Ryan clashed with St. Joseph’s Prep in a Catholic League Playoff game that had the entire city on edge. The stakes were high, with a trip to the iconic Palestra dangling as the ultimate prize.

The matchup was a spectacle, boasting a lineup of D1 prospects destined for greatness. Both teams were under the guidance of esteemed coaches eager to etch their names in the annals of Catholic League history. Jason Harrigan, known for his past successes at Del-Val Charter and Cardinal O’Hara, now helmed St. Joe’s Prep, aiming to lead his squad to glory after coming agonizingly close last season.

However, the road to victory was fraught with challenges. Harrigan’s plans took a hit when standout 6’9” 240 pound, PF/C Tristen Guillouette faced eligibility issues, altering Prep’s strategy and forcing them to adapt on the fly. Despite the setback, Harrigan’s quartet of D1 guards, Jaron McKie, Jordan Ellerbee, Jalen Harper and Olin Chamberlain fought valiantly to keep their dreams alive.On the opposing bench, Joe Zeglinski, a coaching veteran with a storied track record, marshaled his Archbishop Ryan team with precision. Led by the dynamic duo of Thomas Sorber and Darren Williams, Ryan’s players showcased their mettle in a tightly contested affair on the road.

The venue was perfect… The refurbished and renovated St. Joseph’s Prep gym is stunning. The lighting is wonderful, the floor is spectacular, there’s ample space for a couple thousand fever pitched spectators and the scoreboards are state of the art. Danny DiBerardinis and the rest of the Prep Administration have done a phenomenal job restoring the gymnasium to peak condition.

The game unfolded as a defensive chess match, with Prep’s relentless pressure testing Ryan’s offensive prowess. Sorber, in particular, found himself the focal point of Prep’s defensive scheme, laboring for every point while Williams seized opportunities to shine.

No one should be surprised that Ryan is back in the Final Four. Georgetown commit, Sorber is concluding one of the great schoolboy careers in recent memory. His sidekick, Florida Gulf Coast commit, Darren Williams is morphing in Cuttino Mobely right before our eyes.

In a tightly waged contest, the two Ryan stars managed to eke out a road win over the four D1 guards. To Harrigan’s credit, St. Joseph’s Prep had an excellent defensive gameplan. They hounded, harassed, fronted and double Sorber. He worked extremely hard for every point.

The intense focus on Sorber allowed Williams to take advantage opportunities on the wing. The smooth southpaw hit big shot after big shot to fight off a persistent Prep attack.

Heavily reliant on isolation, Prep struggled to establish a rhythm on the offensive end. While Ellerbee and Harper can thrive in transition and beating defenders off the bounce, McKie is an absolute knock down jump shooter. While he can create his own shot, that’s not his forte. I kept waiting for Prep to run McKie off a screen or two or three or four to get an open look. McKie with his feet set from 22 feet is equivalent to a layup and Chamberlain can get him the ball in shooting position.

In the end, Sorber missed a free throw and Jaden Murray misfired on consecutive layups to give Prep an opportunity to steal a win. Huge shots by Ellerbee and McKie led to a tie game. After what seemed like 7 consecutive time outs, Ryan inbounded the ball and Ryan Everett made a perfect entry pass to Williams who immediately released a picture perfect 15 foot jump shot that was pure from the moment it left his hand.

Game!

Ryan is once again in the Final Four at the Palestra.

Will someone other that Roman or Neumann-Goretti cut down the nets this year?

I don’t know… But I would not bet against, Zeglinski, Sorber and Williams.

Joe Zeglinski is, by far, the most accomplished coach in the Catholic League without a title. Since taking over at his alma mater, he’s been to the Final Four damn near every year. He’s produced a plethora of scholarship players. One of his guys is an NBA player. All he does compete against the best year in and year out.

Could Archbishop Ryan defy the odds and topple perennial powerhouse Neumann-Goretti and beat Roman Catholic or Father Judge to claim the championship? With Zeglinski, Sorber, and Williams leading the charge, anything seems possible.

In the unpredictable landscape of Catholic League high school basketball, one thing is certain: the stage is set for an epic showdown, where legends would be made and dreams realized. And in this tale of triumph and tenacity, Archbishop Ryan has staked its claim as a team to be reckoned with.

By: James Nelson “Suburban Guru” Stewart

As we get to the end of the Regular Season and the Conference playoffs, this year has been an excellent year where parity has been the key word and the “Blue Bloods” of District 1 (Chester, Abington, Lower Merion, Plymouth Whitemarsh & Coatesville) have expectedly and somewhat unexpectedly maintained their positions among the top of the standings while teams such as Henderson, Central Bucks East, Bensalem, Spring-Ford, Unionville & Upper Dublin (last District title 1985) are on missions to bring home the elusive District title in their respective classes.  This season has been as competitive as any in the recent memory of District 1.  In past years, District 1 has been dominated by names such as Kobe Bryant, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Eric Dixon, John Allen, John Salmons and Jameer Nelson.  This year, District 1 has had a plethora of very good players, but no one has separated themselves to that extent.  A lot of the players this year have crossed that 1,000-point threshold, which shows the quality and the type of high school careers of these young men.  The playoffs should be as exciting as almost every lower seed team will have a chance of winning.  As the title states, “Coaching Matters” and players will look to create their own legacy in this postseason. 

I have chosen a few players and coaches that have stood out in the area.  District 1 covers the largest area in SEPA basketball.  With that understanding, I have 3 All area teams that covers every league that makes up District 1.  Also, I wanted to give some recognition to some of the Freshman and Sophomores that have been contributing heavily on the Varsity level. 

Coach of the Year-Keith Taylor (Chester) 
This was a year when a lot of coaches could have won this award.  You have coaches like Chris Cowles (Unionville), Derek Brooks (Upper Dublin) and Ron Morris (Bensalem), who have led their programs to new heights.  Eric Burnett (Phoenixville), Ken Ivory (Pottstown), Joe Dempsey (Spring Ford), Jason Ritter (Henderson), Eric Henrysen (CB East) and Pat Lockard (Methacton) battle through their tough leagues every year and seem to get stronger in the postseason.   You have coaches such as John Allen (Coatesville) and Pat Fleury (Cheltenham) who year in and year out do an incredible job despite all the barriers that other coaches in this district don’t have to deal with.  But it came down to 3 wonderful coaches that led their teams to incredible and unexpected seasons.  Those 3 coaches are Timothy Smallwood (Radnor), Gregg Downer (Lower Merion) and this year’s winner Keith Taylor (Chester).  Each of these coaches had tremendous arguments to win the award.  Smallwood is a new coach and lost much of the team that won the 5A District title last year and he led this unheralded group to the #3 seed (5A) and a 19-3 record.  Last year’s team was a hard act to follow but the encore turned out to be much better than people expected.  Downer, what else can be said about the job he does yearly except Remarkably Consistent.  This year was supposed to be the year that Lower Merion was going to come back to the pack.  This year’s Sr class has seen 2 District Titles (back-to-back) and a Final Four appearance last year.  He led this year’s squad to a 21-1 record and the #1 seed in District 1 6A. 

But nobody led a turnaround like Coach Taylor of Chester.  2 years ago, Chester had the look of a team that might 3-peat in District 1.  Winning the 5A title with 3 Sophomore starters, it had the look of a dynasty in the making.  Chester, historically the best District 1 team in the history of HS basketball in PA.  This was not a new phenomenon that Chester would have a dynasty.  But along the way, changes started happening.  1st Chester lost 2 of those Sophomore starters to Catholic League teams and fell out of the playoffs all together last year and coming into this year, the 3rd Sophomore starter from the 2022 champs, went to the Catholic League too.  Expectations around the area for Chester were the lowest in recent memory.  No one was picking Chester to win anything, no one even knew if they were going to make or miss the playoffs again.  Taylor and his staff knew something that the rest of the region did not know “Chester is still Chester”.  This is not like the Chester juggernauts of the yesteryear; this is a Chester team led by a football star Connecticut (Football) Signee Dominick Toy and by Sr G Dante Atkinson.  This group has 8 players averaging between 10.5 and 5.3 ppg.  This group may not be led by a Zain Shaw, Jameer Nelson or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but by group of tough-minded players ready for battle.  This group ended the regular season at 20-2 and are poised to make a run at the District and State crowns.  In a year where there are no dominant teams throughout the district, Taylor and the Clippers of Chester have an excellent chance to add to the school’s impressive hardware total.    
 

Co Player of the Year-Jaden Colzie (Plymouth Whitemarsh) & Nyle Ralph-Beyer (Henderson) 
Both players have proven that their reputations coming into the season were warranted.  Sacred Heart signee Ralph-Beyer has led Henderson to a 19-3 record while averaging over 23 ppg.  The silky-smooth Guard scores in a variety of different ways while playing unselfish basketball.  He also accepts the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter player while scoring at this clip.  He is trying to lead Henderson to their 1st District Title in school history.  Him and backcourt mate Connor Fleet, have both eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier this season, giving them that rare distinction in High School.  For these reasons Nyle has been named Co Player of the Year in District 1. 
The season for Jaden Colzie culminates a superb career that he has had at Plymouth Whitemarsh.  A 4-year starter, Colzie always seems to play his best in the big games.  Last year in Kobe Bryant Gymnasium, Colzie led the 4th quarter charge that knocked off 2-time defending 6A District Champions, Lower Merion.  Then went on a delivered the knockout blow to Spring Ford to win the 6A District 1 title.  This year for an encore, Colzie in the 1st SOL game of the season, he went to Abington and scored 27 points on 10/11 shooting in the FIRST HALF.  Then in a matchup with Henderson, he went for 31 points in a heartbreaking loss.  Because of such outbursts, Colzie faced a variety of junk defenses and still averaged 20.3 ppg and went over 1,000 points.  He is on pace to be in the Top 10 scorers in Plymouth Whitemarsh history which is impressive considering his freshman season was the “COVID” year.  Colzie has been named Co Player of the Year for always stepping up in the big games. 
 
1st Team 
Nyle Ralph-Beyer-Sr. (Henderson) 21.7 pts Co-MVP 
Jaden Colzie-Sr. (Plymouth Whitemarsh) 20.3 pts Co-MVP 
Julian Sadler-Sr. (Perkiomen Valley) 22.8 pts  
Dior Kennedy-Sr. (Coatesville) 17.0 pts 
Ryan Mulroy-Jr. (Upper Dublin) 16.2 pts 
Jacob Cumminsky-Sr. (Central Bucks East) 16.4 pts 
Kirby Mooney-Sr. (William Tennent) 23.8 pts 
Owen McCabe-Sr. (Lower Merion) 16.7 pts 
Dominic Toy-Sr. (Chester) 9.7 pts 
Max Lebinsky-Sr (Phoenixville) 17.8 ppg 
 
2nd Team 
Donovan Fromhartz-Jr. (Downingtown West) 21.3 ppg 
J.T. Anderson-Sr (Unionville) 13.2 ppg 
Jacob Nyugen-Jr. (Spring-Ford) 14.3 pts 
E.J. Campbell-Sr. (Spring-Ford) 14.9 pts 
Jake Sniras-Jr. (Garnet Valley) 18.7 pts 
Dante Atkinson-Sr. (Chester) 10.5 pts 
J.J. Lee-Sr. (Abington) 17.4 pts 
Connor Fleet-Sr. (Henderson) 15.8 pts  
Nelson Lamizana-Sr. (Henderson) 15.0 pts 
Antonio Morris-Sr. (Bensalem) 14.3 pts 
Matt Gardler-Jr. (Marple Newtown) 21.3 pts 
 
3rd Team  
Josiah Hutson-Jr. (Cheltenham) 15.7 pts 
Nate Townsend-Sr. (Neshaminy) 16.5 pts 
Robbie Sukaly-Jr. (Christopher Dock) 13.2 pts 
Ryan Brown-Sr. (Unionville) 11.7 pts 
Zuri Harris-Sr. (Coatesville) 10.3 pts 
Kendall Bratton-Jr. (Phil Mont Christian) 19.5 pts 
Adam Herrenkohl-Sr. (Lower Merion) 16.6 pts 
Jaiden Moffitt-Jr. (Bensalem) 18.2 pts 
Abdul Jackson-Sr. (Pottstown) 18.3 pts 
Marquis Kubish-Sr. (Harriton) 17.5 pts 
John Mobley-Sr. (Lower Merion) 15.7 pts 
Super Sophomores and Fab Freshman 
Mani Sajid-So. (Plymouth Whitemarsh)  
Christian Matos-So. (Methacton)  
Larry Brown-So (Coatesville)  
Dawson Brown-So (Phoenixville)  
James Brenner-So (Unionville)  
Kobe Bazemore-So. (Upper Dublin) 
Chanse Salone-So. (Souderton) 
Mike Mita-So (Penncrest) 
Rowan Miller-So (Conestoga) 
Jagger Verbit-Fr (Faith Christian) 
Karon Booth-Fr (Phoenixville) 
Peyton McClendon-So (Cheltenham) 
 
HONORABLE MENTION 
Luke Fryer (Owen J. Roberts), Dom Vacchiano (Wissahickon), Emeer Coombs (Neshaminy), Sadeeq Jackson (Pottstown), AJ Washington (Dock), Norman Gee (North Penn), Shawn Murphy (Upper Moreland), Zeke Staz (Downingtown West), Khamai Orange (Delco Christian), Tommy Walsh (Jenkintown), Myon Kirlew (Norristown), Deacon Baretta (Phoenixville), Idris Rines (Upper Dublin), Miles Longacre (Quakertown), Ahmaar Godhania (North Penn), Aaron Jones (Abington), Timmy Rahill (Council Rock South), Noah Morris (Bensalem), Matt Engle (CB West), Ben Robinson (Conestoga), Brady Fogle (Upper Dublin), Amir Drummond (Bensalem), Alex Hermann (Methacton), Colson Campbell (Upper Moreland), Marquis Peoples (Coatesville), Kyle Shawaluk (Perkiomen Valley), Jayden Byrd (Norristown), Jah Sayles-Pendergrass (Plymouth Whitemarsh), Jayden Robinson (Lower Merion), Bill Sackor (Souderton), Connor Taddei (Pennsbury), Christian Cervino (Phoenixville), Xavier Peters (Pennridge), Kessy Cox (Radnor), Carlton Gordy (Chichester),  Teddy Mangan (Pennsbury), Tre Simpson (North Penn), Brayden Ryan (Wissahickon), Tommy Kelly (Spring Ford), Nile Tinsley (Cheltenham), Elijah Sellers (Radnor), Allen Cole (Upper Merion), Jurell Young (Pottstown), Dom DeMito (Pope John Paul), Salvatore Iemmello (Methacton), Chris D’Ambra (William Tennent), Bob Hartman (Springfield Montco.), Sam Jankowski (CB West), Tyler Dandrea (CB East), Imad Abunima (William Tennent), Nick Diehl (Unionville), Amon Foulkes (Coatesville) 

What’s up with Billy? Is he ready for prime time?

The echoes of the Wildcats’ triumphant three-point barrage against Stonehill still resonate within the walls of Rupp Arena as No. 17 Kentucky prepares to face a hungry St. Joseph’s team on Monday night in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats, rebounding from a challenging loss to #1 ranked Kansas, showcased their deep shooting prowess in a dominating 101-67 victory. However, the focus now shifts to a pivotal matchup against an improved and determined St. Joseph’s squad, with shooting accuracy emerging as the linchpin for success.

In a surprising turn of events, it’s the unsung freshmen, Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, who have stolen the spotlight for the Wildcats early in the season. Against Stonehill, Sheppard dazzled with 25 points, sinking 7 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Dillingham added 20 points, connecting on three three-pointers. Both players also demonstrated their playmaking abilities, contributing seven assists each. Despite the presence of highly acclaimed recruits like Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, it is Sheppard and Dillingham who have exceeded expectations, adding a new dynamic to Kentucky’s lineup.

Sheppard and Dillingham have outperformed all expectations early in this season. While Senior wing Antonio Reeves leads Kentucky with 17.8 points per game, Dillingham averages 16.8 points per game in just 22.3 mpg. Meanwhile, Sheppard has contributed 13.3 points and 3.0 steals per game in just 23.0 mpg for the guard-heavy Wildcats. Senior forward Tre Mitchell is adding 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

It should be noted that Sheppard is Kentucky royalty. His father, Jeff Sheppard is a Kentucky legend. The elder Sheppard played at Kentucky from 1993 to 1998 and was named Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament in San Antonio in 1998. He played on two national championship teams at Kentucky under Rick Pitino in 1996 and under Tubby Smith in 1998.

However, not all of Kentucky’s highly touted recruits have found immediate success. Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, projected as one-and-done lottery picks, have struggled to acclimate to the college game. Both players are averaging just above 9 points per game and have yet to find their rhythm, especially from behind the three-point line. Shooting percentages from behind the arc reveal their difficulties, with Edwards at a mere 14.3% and Wagner at 23.5%. As they face familiar foes in St. Joseph’s, the hope is that the challenge will serve as motivation for the talented rookies to break out of their offensive slump.

In his fifth year as head coach, Billy Lange has been steadily steering St. Joseph’s in the right direction. The Hawks, off to an impressive 3-1 start, have shown promise. Expectations are sky high among Hawk faithful. Lange enters the game with enough size and athleticism to truly compete with SEC programs like Kentucky. Redshirt freshman center Christ Essandoko is 7’0” and 285. He is averaging 4.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg. St. Joseph’s features a pair of athletic power forwards. Sophomore PF Rasheer Fleming, a Camden High School teammate of D.J. Wagner, is averaging 10.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg. A gifted athlete, Fleming can run and jump with anyone in the country and has started to generate some NBA buzz. Kacper Klaczek (6’8”, 225 lbs) is another athletic PF that plays extremely hard for Lange. Thus far, Klaczek is contributing 7.0 ppg and 4.3 prg in 24.0 mpg.

St. Joseph’s possesses a well-rounded roster, with junior Erik Reynolds II leading the scoring charge at 14.3 points per game. Reynolds is complemented by Lynn Greer III, Xzayvier Brown, and the athletic Fleming, all averaging double figures in scoring. Greer has evolved in a selfless leader in this program. He has the size, strength and lateral quickness to compete with Wagner, Dillingham and Shepperd. Brown was the best high school guard in the Philadelphia/Camden region last season, not named Wagner. His transition to college basketball has been seamless. Lange has developed a high degree of trust in Brown very early in his rookie campaign. His teammates also look for Brown to make plays in crunch time. The Hawks’ success hinges on their ability to convert three-pointers, a facet they struggled with in their last game.

Unlike most Kentucky fans, Calipari and his assistant Bruiser Flint are intimately familiar with the Hawk program. While he was coaching UMass, Calipari and former Hawk Coach Phil Martelli waged some serious slugfests. Flint, a former SJU point guard (1983-1987) also led UMass for five years in the late 90’s and battled Martelli and the Hawks every year in some memorable contests.

The matchup holds significance for both teams, as a St. Joseph’s victory would signify a turning point and a re-emergence as a national force. For Kentucky, the familiarity with the Hawks’ program adds an intriguing layer to the game, with the potential for breakout performances from Delaware Valley natives Edwards and Wagner against a familiar foe.

As Kentucky and St. Joseph’s prepare to clash on the hardwood, the game takes on added importance for both teams. Kentucky’s young stars aim to continue their impressive start, while St. Joseph’s, under the leadership of Billy Lange, seeks to announce their arrival on the national stage with a signature win. The spotlight will be on the three-point line, where Kentucky’s sharpshooters and St. Joseph’s skilled backcourt will determine the outcome of this high-stakes showdown. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter that could reshape the narratives of both teams in the early stages of the college basketball season.

#ImTryin2SeeSumthin

Five years back, my buddy Orlando reached out, hoping I could facilitate a meeting with Dawn Staley for his daughter, Hannah then a high school freshman. She was a promising player with dreams of meeting Staley joining South Carolina’s roster. Knowing Orlando’s keen eye for talent, especially with his talented sons, I understood the significance of his request. I recalled meeting Hannah a couple of years prior at Life Center Academy, a young, dynamic player on the court, dribbling with restless energy along the sidelines during a boy’s game.

It was a moment etched in my memory, thanks to NBA agent Stephen Pina, who had pulled me aside and insisted, “Del, she’s the one.” His conviction about her talent in middle school left a lasting impression. So when Orlando called, seeking that connection with Staley, I knew I had to make it happen.

The phone call was fantastic; Staley’s support and encouragement left Hannah absolutely captivated by her idol. Hannah went on to become, perhaps, the best PG prospect in the class of 2023. Staley would win another National championship. However, Notre Dame would ultimately land the uber-talented Hidalgo.

Then came the surreal moment today when I tuned in to watch high school All-American and McDonald’s All-American game MVP, Hannah, face off against my homie in her first college game in Paris, France five years after I connected them.

In the first quarter, Hannah burst out, racking up a quick 13 points, and by halftime, she had 17. But, as we’ve come to expect over the past decade, Staley and the Gamecocks were dominating, leading by 15 midway through the game.

You simply can’t make up a story like this. It’s as good as it gets. Hannah Hidalgo reminds me of another little point guard from the Raymond Rosen projects in “Norf” Philly that took college basketball by storm over thirty years ago.

I love this shit…

The history of Jewish basketball in the United States is a tale of resilience, passion, and a determination to break barriers. In the early 1920s, as Jewish immigrants and their American-born children sought acceptance in a new land, basketball emerged as a unifying force. The game became a vehicle for integration, a means to overcome discrimination, and a source of pride for Jewish communities across the nation. In this narrative, two contemporary figures, Jeremy Treatman and Kenny Holdsman, emerge as quintessential Philadelphia hoop heads, carrying forth the legacy of Jewish basketball in the City of Brotherly Love.

During a time when anti-Jewish sentiment was on the rise, basketball provided a platform for Jewish players to showcase their skills and demand recognition. In the face of discriminatory practices, Yale University’s recognition of Jewish players marked a significant milestone, demonstrating that sports could be a catalyst for acceptance and integration on campus. Nat Holman, a pivotal figure in this narrative, not only coached at CCNY but also played for the Original Celtics, a team that played a pivotal role in popularizing basketball across the country. Their barnstorming tours showcased the strategic brilliance and showmanship that characterized Jewish basketball.

The 1930s witnessed the establishment of independent teams, including the iconic New York Hakoahs and the Philadelphia Sphas. The latter, founded by future Philadelphia Warriors owner Eddie Gottlieb, began as an amateur group and evolved into a professional force, winning a staggering ten championships in leagues across the Philadelphia area and the East Coast. The Sphas not only exemplified excellence on the court but also embodied the resilience and determination of Philadelphia’s Jewish athletes in a changing America.

As professional basketball remained on the periphery, college basketball surged in popularity. Madison Square Garden became the epicenter of the sport, with New York schools boasting rosters filled with Jewish talent. A distinctive playing style characterized by constant motion and quick passing became synonymous with Jewish players, challenging teams with a different approach. The NIT and NCAA Tournaments witnessed the triumph of teams led by prominent Jewish players, culminating in CCNY’s historic “Grand Slam” in 1950.

Socio-economic success, suburban migration, and changing priorities contributed to the decline of a centralized Jewish playing presence in the sport and altered the landscape of Jewish basketball. While a few players like Lennie Rosenbluth and Art Heyman continued to excel, the torch was passed to Jewish coaches, general managers, owners and businessmen who left an indelible mark on the game.

In 2023, Jeremy Treatman and Kenny Holdsman were honored by the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame for their unwavering contributions to basketball in the Greater Philadelphia region. For a quarter century, Treatman’s Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics has been the top high school basketball showcase event company in the country. His formula is simple: invite the top teams and premier players in the country to compete at first class venues and watch the stands fill with knowledgeable and passionate hoops fans! Play By Play Classics have showcased 127 future NBA players and nine future WNBA stars, including: Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Elena Delle Donne, Kyle Lowry, Maggie Lucas, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley.

More than 850,000 fans have attended his events and another 2M+ have watched games we’ve produced on television. They have hosted games at some of the nation’s landmark arenas and college campuses, with stops at Ohio State, US Bank Arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, The Palestra, Temple University, Villanova University, The Dean Dome, St Joseph’s University, Greensboro Coliseum (NC), Dayton University, The Pyramid (TN), Sovereign Bank Arena (NJ) and many more.

Holdsman co-founded Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) in the Spring of 2015 along with four other passionate civic leaders grounded by a common purpose: to leverage the iconic game of basketball to help today’s underserved youth overcome the most urgent and systemic issues facing their communities. Since then, PYB has been working hard to build a high-impact and high-quality program, organization, and future Youth Basketball, Education, and Communinty Empowerment center, quite literally “brick by brick”.

Since its inception, PYB has built a small but mighty staff team, diverse Board of Directors, community-based volunteer pool, and collection of dynamic advisory committees. They are proud of their broad donor network across Philadelphia and the tri-state region, breaking all lines of race, gender, ethnicity, and class – a true grassroots approach.

Early next year, Holdsman and PYB will unveil The Alan Horwitz ‘Sixth Man’ Center. Located in the Nicetown neighborhood of North Philadelphia, this 100,000 square foot world-class facility will be a second home for thousands of young people and a resource for the community, transforming lives for decades to come.  The Center will provide everything that PYB believes young people need to thrive academically and intellectually, socially and emotionally, & civically and vocationally.

They stand as contemporary torchbearers of a rich tradition, representing the enduring spirit of Jewish basketball in the City of Brotherly Love. Through their passion, dedication, and commitment to the game, they continue to inspire future generations to carve their names in this storied legacy.

Jeremy Treatman received the Simcha Gersh Award and Kenny Holdsman received the Pillar Award for civic contributions to our City and its young people. The recognition by the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to their profound impact on the game of basketball and their role in preserving a vital chapter in American sports history. As quintessential hoop heads, they stand on the shoulders of giants who paved the way for Jewish athletes in the world of basketball. Their contributions not only honor the past but also inspire a new generation to carry forth the legacy of Jewish basketball in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Much Respect and Mazel Tov to my dear friends!

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