The area’s best boys’ basketball players to watch in the 2025-26 season

Four of the six defending PIAA state champions from last season were part of the Philadelphia Catholic League, which included West Catholic (Class 3A), Devon Prep (4A), Neumann Goretti (5A), and Father Judge (6A).

Those schools are still filled with basketball talent this season, and more public-school programs, like Imhotep Charter, Coatesville, and Plymouth-Whitemarsh, also have returning premier players who could be in contention for a PIAA Class 6A state title.

Here are some of the area’s top boys’ basketball players to watch during the 2025-26 season.

» READ MORE: Top high school girls’ basketball players to watch out for in the 2025-26 season

Malvern Prep, 6-foot-10 sophomore center

Chwastyk, the No. 2 ranked sophomore in the state, is a big defensive presence, and has great court awareness. He possesses unlimited growth coming off a great summer. He knows where to be on the court and how to set up his teammates. He needs to get stronger, but that will come in time as his body matures. He will be a factor in the Inter-Ac League this season.

Bonner-Prendergast, 6-4 junior guard

At 6-4, 196 pounds, Francis is a strong downhill guard who is fast and physical. He plays through contact and can score driving the lane or with a mid-range jump shot. He has received scholarship offers from St. Joseph’s, Albany, Temple, Florida Gulf Coast, Hofstra, and East Carolina. In the Friars’ first two games this season, he is averaging 22 points and could arguably be the best guard in the Catholic League. He was a first-team all-Catholic selection as a sophomore, receiving a vote from every team in the league.

Haverford School, 6-5 junior guard

Graham averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals as a sophomore. He can dribble-drive, pull up from the mid-range, and hit three-pointers consistently. He is a scoring threat that can tilt a defense. He actually started at Haverford School as an eighth-grader, which is permitted in the Inter-Ac League. He makes everyone around him better, and is receiving mid-major interest.

» READ MORE: Meet Coatesville High’s Maxwell and Colton Hiller, who are rising stars in different sports

Coatesville, 6-6 sophomore forward

Considered one of the best players nationally and locally, Hiller played for the Team USA U16 team in the June FIBA AmeriCup tournament, won by Team USA against Puerto Rico. He finished with a team-high 23 points. In the first three games this season against District 1 Class 4A champion Bishop Shanahan, Catholic League contender St. Joe’s Prep, and traditional Central League powerhouse Lower Merion, Hiller is averaging 27 points.

He can score from anywhere, and has already received offers from Alabama, BYU, Louisville, Kansas State, and Maryland, but not yet Duke, his dream school. Hiller is rated by numerous recruiting services as the No. 3 sophomore in the country.

Roman Catholic, 6-7 senior guard

A Virginia Commonwealth pledge, Sammy is the son of former Roman Catholic and Temple star Marc Jackson. Sammy can score on all three levels, and averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as a junior. He is a matchup problem as a guard, and is primarily a facilitator, which may change this season, considering Roman now has Imhotep Charter transfer point guard RJ Smith, who’s committed to La Salle.

Archbishop Wood, 6-10 junior center

Jenkins has received offers from Georgia, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Old Dominion. Pittsburgh and Penn State have shown interest. Jenkins has added some weight, moving up to about 210 pounds. He can control the glass, block shots, and rebound. He’s coming off a sophomore season where he averaged 8 points, eight rebounds, and 4.5 blocks, shooting 52%. This season, he is projected to average a double-double.

Hill School, 6-7 senior guard

Johnston, who’s heading to Marquette, is a dynamic player who has added an inch and 10 pounds since last season. He is a 1,000-point career scorer. His best attribute is his length, and possessing good vision as a passer. He can be selfless to a fault, and can score a triple-double at any time.

» READ MORE: Former Neumann Goretti star Robert Wright III starts anew at BYU with the NBA on his mind

Imhotep, 6-4 senior guard

A Drexel pledge, Lorenzano-White is averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks so far this season. He can get to the rim, and is a shutdown defender, who is usually assigned by Imhotep coach Andre Noble to cover the opposing team’s best player.

Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy, 6-5 senior wing

Kelly, who will play at Lafayette next year, is a lefty shooter who can score on all three levels. He averaged 18 points and nine rebounds as a junior. He is coming off an elbow injury over the summer, and his length and wingspan make him a stout defender, one of the best in the Inter-Ac League.

Father Judge, 6-3 senior guard

Morton-Rivera is committed to Temple, and he’s considered one of the better shooters, if not the best shooter, in the area. He averaged 17.7 points last season, reaching the 1,000-point career plateau, and led the Crusaders to their first PIAA Class 6A state championship in school history and first Catholic League title since 1998. He can shoot over defenses or score driving to the basket.

» READ MORE: Father Judge guard Derrick Morton-Rivera commits to Temple

Imhotep, 6-6 junior forward

Muhammad-Gray lost his sophomore year in the second game of last season to a torn ACL. He has come back this season at 220 pounds, almost 30 pounds heavier than he was last year, and is making up for lost time. He’s averaging a team-high 15 points, eight rebounds, and 3.5 assists so far this season.

He is a strong rim protector, and what makes him unique is his constant energy. Colleges backed off due to the injury, but interest is starting to grow again.

Neumann Goretti, 6-4 junior guard

Newson is an electric, above-the-rim finisher with the ability to dominate games. He joins the Saints this season, transferring in from Academy of the New Church, where he helped lead the team to a Friends’ League championship.

This is his third school in three years, after originally playing as a freshman at Sanford School in Delaware. He has received offers from Arizona State, Virginia Tech, St. Joes, and Penn State.

Westtown, 6-6 sophomore guard

A transfer from Archbishop Wood, Phillips came off the bench and was among the Vikings’ leaders in scoring, averaging 19 points in 25 minutes of action. He is a three-level scorer, up there with Hiller in his ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the court.

Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6-4 senior guard

Sajid, a Towson pledge, averaged 19 points last season, and is an exceptional shooter, with an explosive first step. Though listed at 6-4, his length and wingspan enable him to play more like he is 6-7. He can get shots off anywhere on the court, and against taller players. A natural scorer, his three-point shot is becoming more consistent.

» READ MORE: Brad Wanamaker knows about Roman Catholic’s basketball tradition. Now it’s his time at the helm

Roman Catholic, 5-10 senior guard

Smith transferred into Roman this season. He carries a poised, steady hand that comes from experience starting as a freshman at Imhotep. He has an uncanny ability to play much larger than his size. He’s quick on his feet, and will handle the point for the Cahillites this season. Because of the transfer, Smith will not be eligible to play in the PIAA state playoffs.