PCL Season Review: Junior (2026) stock-risers

It was another great season in the storied Philadelphia Catholic League, with a number of legacies cemented and breakouts experienced. We'll take a look here at a handful of 2026 prospects who used their junior seasons as a platform to notably boost their stock on the recruiting front.    The flashes were there in spades last year and throughout the summer as Foster began attracting a flurry of high-major attention, but he ascended to a new level this season with his levels of consistency and efficiency in his production while still possessing a world of untapped upside. While his Carroll team struggled meeting expectations, the swingman was a steady two-way force with his blend of floor-spacing, defense, open-floor athleticism, and enticing flashes of creation off the dribble. There remain some inconsistencies across his game, but Foster's collection of tools and skills to go with a nonstop motor give him an ability to impact any game he plays no matter what struggles he may be having on a given day. The player is starting to catch up with the prospect here, which could be a scary sight as Foster steps back onto the EYBL circuit this spring looking to cement himself as a top 50 prospect nationally.     Perhaps the biggest breakout performer in the entire PCL, MacAdams rose from an occasional starter and infrequent scorer to one of the most dangerous bucket-getters in the league. While he began attracting attention over the summer, he used his junior season to solidify himself as a bonafide D1 prospect. MacAdams is a pure scorer from all three levels with a balance of shotmaking and rim attacks. He uses his strong frame to impose his will on opponents and isn't afraid to rise up above the rim over an unsuspecting defenders. Perhaps most notable is the unwavering chip that MacAdams brings to the floor at all times, playing with an infectious competitive fire. He'll look to continue his ascent stepping onto the EYBL circuit this spring, where further progression in his ballhandling and lateral quickness could help further catch the eye of coaches at the mid major level and above.     While he's always had the tools, showing them in spurts as a contributor since day one of his freshman year, Wheatley showed real signs of putting all the pieces together throughout an All-PCL season while growing into his featured role in the Burrs' lineup. He catches the eye immediately with his physical tools, as the hybrid forward brings positional size to go with long arms, high shoulders, graceful mobility, and explosive leaping ability. Wheatley's skillset has continued to grow as he's become an increasingly reliable and diverse threat as a mismatch scorer in the post or off the dribble, while also growing progressively more consistent with his floor-spacing ability from the arc. He remains an impact defender with his motor and inside-out capabilities up and down a lineup. Wheatley picked up his first pair of D1 offers during the winter and should attract eyes from a variety of levels as he continues to sharpen his game.     Moving up from St. Mark's (DE), N'Diaye made his presence felt loudly with an All-PCL season, increasing his production while also stepping up notably in competition. A blue-collar forward with modern elements to his skillset, he impacts every game with his bruising frame and rugged approach in the frontcourt. N'Diaye proved himself to be a voracious rebounder and efficient interior scorer, with the ball constantly finding him whether his number is called or not. His toughness and sturdy build allow him to play bigger than his size defensively, which he was often forced to do in a guard-heavy Neumann rotation. Coming from relatively off the radar, N'Diaye established himself as a clearcut scholarship prospect with a chance to earn D1 attention as he develops over the next year.     Often the unsung hero of the eventual PCL champions, Westfield built on the splash he made at the Palestra last season with four 3s and established himself as an All-PCL guard in his first year as a fulltime starter. While he's most effective as a sharpshooter, highlighted by his followup Palestra semifinal performance in which he knocked down six triples, he showed real growth this year as a ballhandler and secondary playmaker who could potentially handle lead guard duties at some point in college. He doesn't jump off the page physically or athletically, but is deceptively strong and quick laterally to be able to bother opposing guards defensively. Westfield's growth paid off with Merrimack extending him his first D1 offer late in the season.     O'Brien made a splash last season with his size and dynamic athleticism off the bench, but developed this year into an All-PCL performer with extended minutes and refinement in his skills. On the very short list of the best pure athletes in the state, O'Brien flies across the court on both ends while wreaking havoc as a defensive playmaker and transition scorer. He lives above the rim offensively, but also took a massive step forward in his consistency spacing the floor out to 3. The caveat here is that O'Brien is unlikely to ever touch a college court, as he's regarded as a nationally-recruited four-star athlete on the football field, but he nonetheless proved himself this season to have D1 potential on the hardwood as well.

It was another great season in the storied Philadelphia Catholic League, with a number of legacies cemented and breakouts experienced. We'll take a look here at a handful of 2026 prospects who used their junior seasons as a platform to notably boost their stock on the recruiting front.