Berks hoop review: 5 top freshmen, 5 top sophomores, 5 players to watch in ’24-25

Berks CatholicBoys BasketballConrad WeiserDaniel BooneExeter

By Mike Drago Last updated Mar 30, 2024

Berks Catholic's Kingston McKoy. (Tim Macrina photo)

2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

Five of the Berks Conference’s top six scorers this season were seniors; so were four of the seven All-Berks picks and 11 all-division selections.

Younger players – some of whom you haven’t heard about yet – will move into leading roles next season and help carry their teams into the postseason.

Who will they be? Hard to say at this point. This time a year ago Shermar Killen was hidden deep on the Muhlenberg bench. A big offseason helped him emerge as an All-Berks pick and the Muhls’ leading scorer.

Same goes for Luke Levan: He didn’t see varsity time as a sophomore. He took over as Wilson’s starting center as a junior, was one of the team’s leading scorers and rebounders and helped the Bulldogs win a league championship.

He’ll be back, as will most of the Bulldogs’ starting lineup; they’re the early line favorite to win another title. Their top competitors won’t change much: Reading High, Berks Catholic, Exeter, and Muhlenberg will be right there with them.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the league’s top players, this year and next:

Reading’s Yadiel Cruz tries to maneuver past Wilson’s Luke Levan. (Tim Macrina photo)

5 Most Improved Players of 2023-24

Kingston McKoy, Berks Catholic: Went from sixth man and defensive stopper as a freshman to team leader as a sophomore. Saints didn’t lose with him on the floor.
Yadiel Cruz, Reading High: Sixth man on 32-1 state championship team became go-to guy on surprising state semifinalist and led league in scoring at 22.1 per game.
Shermar Killen, Muhlenberg: Had trouble getting minutes on a deep Muhls’ team as a sophomore. Became a physical force inside, led team in scoring at 15.3 per game, and earned All-Berks honors.
Parker Nein, Berks Catholic: Role player as a junior transformed his body in the offseason and returned as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters and the top scorer on a 23-win Saints team.
Luke Levan, Wilson: Shot 61 percent from the field, led team in rebounds at nearly seven per game and averaged nearly 12 points per game in the postseason. Only scratching the surface. Could end up on this list again next year.

Reading’s Jeremiah Camara puts up a shot against Wilson’s Tom McFadden.
(Jeremy Drey photo)

5 Freshmen to Watch in 2024-25

Jeremiah Camara, Reading High: Clearly at the head of his class. He moved into Red Knights’ starting lineup early in the season and showed rare poise for someone so young. Not big, but fearless; he’ll become a top scorer for them next season.
Justice Hardy, Wyomissing: This may be his third sport, behind track and football, but his athletic ability and instincts make him a game-changer on the court as well.
Justin Armstrong, Muhlenberg: Look for him to emerge as one of the top point guards in the league. Just 5-6, but he’s fearless and can handle it. Knocked down four 3’s against Exeter in district playoffs. Keep an eye on his teammate, Eli Hemming; he can shoot it, too.
Michael Glover, Wilson: Didn’t see key minutes this season but expect him to emerge as an inside force next season. Showed his athletic potential by earning starting tight end spot in football. Classmate Kellen Green, another all-around athlete, will work his way into Bulldogs’ deep rotation next season, too.
Jamier Jacob, Reading High: Added to playoff roster after strong season at JV level. Expect this 6-2 forward to step into lineup next season and help the Red Knights stay on top. They’ll be even younger than this season, with several current eighth-graders – Yandel Perez and Jostin DeCastro among them – expected to make an impact.

Wilson’s Correll Akings. (Tim Macrina photo)

5 Sophomores to Watch in 2024-25

Kingston McKoy, Berks Catholic: The 6-2 point guard is not only at the head of his class but will enter his junior season as the top player in the league. “He’s phenomenal,” said one rival coach, “a legit D1 player.” He has the most well-rounded game of any player in the league.
Weshly Rosario, Reading High: Point guard made the Red Knights go this season, pushing the tempo and stretching the floor with his daring passes. Has the ability to be a top scorer, as well.
Correll Akings, Wilson: Talented athlete picked up his game over the final month of the season, averaging nearly 15 points per game down the stretch. Adept 3-point shooter can take the ball to the glass, create contact, and get to the line.
Aidan Dauble, Exeter: Sixth man on state finalist as a freshman continued to expand to his game, adding the 3-point line to his arsenal. An aggressive rebounder who moves well and sees the whole court.
Jayden Ware, Exeter: Really came on in the postseason for Eagles, showing his defensive abilities and well-rounded game. This spot could go to any number of players in what is a very deep sophomore class, among them AJ Scheifly of Antietam, Danny Fleischood of Wyomissing, Brady Altimar of Berks Catholic and Michael Miller of Muhlenberg.

Daniel Boone’s Brendan Gaines. (PhilMarPhoto)

5 Players to Watch in 2024-25

Kingston McKoy, Berks Catholic: Season lasted just 15 games for the sophomore point guard as he went out in late January with a broken leg. He likely won’t be back on the court until late summer; it’ll be fall until he’s able to go full speed again. He’ll be even more important on a young Saints team next season and will be needed to do more scoring.
Madyx Gruber, Wilson: He’s surrounded by emerging young players who should remove some of the scoring burden from him. That should open up his offensive game and make him even more dangerous as a senior.
Brendan Gaines, Daniel Boone: Even with teams focused on stopping him the junior finished second in the league in scoring at 18.9 and topped 1,000 points. Each of the Blazers’ other top four scorers return as well for 2024-25. Gaines, a 6-3 wing with an inside/outside game, could help them return to the postseason.
Donovan Gingrich, Conrad Weiser: He’ll be playing for his third head coach in three seasons as a senior, which will make for another transition season. The 6-1 wing can fill it up; he knocked down seven 3’s in the season opener and hit 59 over 22 games. He needs 206 points to top 1,000 points.
Ben DeBalko, Oley Valley: He’s led the league in 3-pointers as a freshman and a sophomore, something even Tulpehocken great Charlie Copp didn’t do (he was second in the league as a freshman). He made a program-record nine 3’s against Pequea Valley – eight in the first half. That’s one short of the Berks record. He’ll enter his junior season with 602 points and 128 3-pointers. Only two Berks Conference players have finished with over 200 career 3’s, Copp and Central Catholic’s Matt Ashcroft.