District 12 Playoffs: Archbishop Carroll 60, West Philly 49

With the state tournament quickly approaching, the last order of business in Philly are District 12 championship, seeding, and play-in games. In a Class 4A seeding game, the PCL's Archbishop Carroll played its first game in weeks, and despite being down several starters, held on for a close win over West Philly HS of the Public League. Nationally-ranked junior [player_tooltip player_id='1454254' first='Luca' last='Foster'] led the Patriots with a game-high 22 points.    In the thick of conversations as the top overall prospect in the state, Foster wasted no time showcasing his robust display of developing talent. With a pullup 3 for the game's first points followed by a catch-and-shoot and an explosive cutting dunk, he remained active and efficient throughout on his way to a game-high 22 points. His ability to produce without requiring extreme usage is maybe his biggest selling point, but Foster showed key subtle signs of growth creating his own shot via multiple dribbles off the bounce. Coming into his own more and more each day, the swingman could really break out on the national scene on the EYBL circuit.     The other nationally-heralded piece of Carroll's talented lineup, Greig came out aggressive and was a persistent force getting himself to the front of the rim off the bounce. He routinely was able to burst past his man to either side in the halfcourt while also looking to consistently apply pressure in transition. Greig used his length and fluid athleticism to play a factor defensively and on the glass as well. When he's consistently in attack mode, a consistent jumper is all that stands between Greig and a treasure trove of high-major offers.     Among the more naturally talented prospects in the state, Butts had dashes of his dynamic skillset on display throughout the game to keep West Philly in striking distance. Despite his size, he's at his most comfortable playing on the ball, showing a natural rhythm to his handle with creative passing instincts. While he can take some tough shots at times, he shows to be a reliable shooter from range when in rhythm with enticing flashes in the pullup game. Most encouraging was Butts' level of engagement defensively and on the glass. If he can keep his motor running, we'll be eager to see how Butts' talent can be adapted into more structured settings with D1 talent around him.     Given the fact that he's been contributing since early in his freshman year, the consistency and value of Ralls' impact can go overlooked at times alongside some splashy high-major talents. Shooting and defense are always in demand, however, and Ralls provides both in spades with a nonstop energy and intensity in the backcourt. While not a true lead guard, he showed ability off the bounce while navigating to the rim to finish, also finding his way into the right spots for scrap points in some key moments. Firmly on the scholarship radar, Ralls will surely attract D1 coaches on the sidelines in HGSL competition this spring and summer.     Along with Butts, Washington was the key factor towards keeping West Philly within a couple possessions until the final minutes. He was a nonstop aggressor off the dribble, using a crafty handle and quick first step to routinely work to the rim for tough finishes in traffic. A streaky shooter in the past, he knocked down a pair of key second half 3s to keep the defense honest. Washington was also a pest on defense looking to speed Carroll up and force turnovers. If he's hitting jumpers and making clean decisions, he'll have a chance to earn a scholarship with his play over the next year.     While his stat line wasn't eye-popping, Williams was a steady piece for West Philly while showing a translatable skillset as a floor-spacer on the wing. With a smooth high release off the catch, he was the Speedboys' main shooting threat while showing improved ability to run off screens and let it fly from deep range. Williams shows a level of engagement and sense of the floor on both ends that should pair with his clean complementary skillset to get him on the floor early for the right small-college program.

With the state tournament quickly approaching, the last order of business in Philly are District 12 championship, seeding, and play-in games. In a Class 4A seeding game, the PCL's Archbishop Carroll played its first game in weeks, and despite being down several starters, held on for a close win over West Philly HS of the Public League. Nationally-ranked junior Luca Foster Luca Foster 6'5" | SF Link Academy | 2026 #37 Nation MO led the Patriots with a game-high 22 points.