-Francis has always possessed the ability to get downhill and bully his way to spots in the halfcourt but it was good to see him use those paint touches to create for teammates as well throughout the game to make himself into an even more well-rounded prospect. Francis scored on and1 layups, had several successful drive n kicks that led to open 3s for teammates, and served as a switchable defender throughout the afternoon that can chest up with bigs or chase guards around screens. His toughness shone through as he served as a magnet for 50/50 balls in the halfcourt, coming up with big rebounds or steals by beating multiple opponents to the spot. His jumper looks much more smooth and consistent–especially on midrange drives that forced his defender’s out of drop coverages. I’d expect his recruitment to continue to see an uptick over the next few months as coaches should be drawn to his hard-nosed brand of basketball.

The Catholic League MVP and arguably the player of the year across the state this season, Francis put a bow on a fantastic junior season with a dynamic two-way showing to secure Bonner’s first state title in program history. Francis stuffed the stat sheet to the tune 18 points, 7 steals and 5 rebounds with a pair of assists and blocks, respectively. He was impossible to stop going downhill and used his defensive prowess to help break the game open with a transition onslaught in the fourth quarter, turning what had been a single-digit game into a commanding 62-35 win for the Friars. His toughness and leadership were vital in overcoming Bonner’s lack of size to shut down West York’s best player in the frontcourt. It wasn’t his highest-scoring game but was the exact type of gritty two-way performance that local fans became accustomed to from Francis over the course of the winter.

Francis has been playing at as high a level as anybody in the state entering the postseason, so while he slowed down a bit on Wednesday, his 18 points were still enough to stand out. The junior guard and recently-crowned league MVP showed no signs of backing down from the bright lights in his Palestra debut, coming out aggressive and setting a tone with his toughness defensively and on the glass. He knocked down a 3 to get started, his first of 3 on the night, which would help to set up his trademark downhill attack. Francis looked to run out of gas a bit late in a game that should prove to be a key learning point in his development.

The recently-named PCL MVP has been playing at a different level from anybody in the league as of late and continued that trend with arguably his best performance to orchestrate the win. Francis was utterly dominant with 33 points on just 16 shots to go along with (unofficially) 10 rebounds and 4 assists. He scored 20 of his 33 after halftime while taking over primary ballhandling duties in the halfcourt, showing improved polish to his pace and handle while weaving to his spots with ease before finishing at the rim or dishing to an open teammate. If there’s a nit to pick with his play right now it’s that he’s largely abandoned his 3-point shot, but that’s hard to critique too much when there’s been seemingly nobody able to stop him from getting to the rim when he wants to. Francis continues to trend up as a potential high-major target in the junior class, with tonight’s game offering a glimpse into his long-term upside as a lead ballhandler.

Our pick for league MVP and the expected winner on behalf of the coaches, Francis is as easy a selection as it gets for this selection. He plays up and down the lineup for a guard-heavy, relatively undersized Bonner team but can best be categorized overall as a scoring guard. Francis flourishes with a blend of physicality, skill, and increasing athleticism as one of the most potent downhill threats in the region. He’s not afraid to use his size and strength to mix it up either, showing strong instincts in the floor game with a high defensive ceiling moving forward. He shows flashes of transitioning into a lead guard down the line, but was effective when asked to take on a primary scoring role this year, leading the PCL with 23 points per game in league play.

Francis began his campaign for this award from the very start of the season and seized it for good with a statement 28-point effort in a win against Sammy Jackson Sammy Jackson 6'7" | SF Roman Catholic | 2026 State #64 Nation PA and Roman Catholic. The physical downhill guard led the league in scoring at over 23 points per game while leading Bonner to a 10-3 record and 2nd seed in the playoffs. He was largely impossible to contain getting to the rim off the bounce while also contributing across the floor game to tie things together as the second-tallest piece to Bonner’s regular rotation. He’s also shown signs of growth as a lead guard despite playing as part of a crowded backcourt. With continued growth as a perimeter shooter, he should continue trending up and right onto high-major radars throughout the spring and summer.

On a night that started with a celebration of his 1,000th career point, Francis put together a dominant 28-point effort to secure the win and put Bonner in the driver’s seat for the league’s second seed. From start to finish, Francis was unstoppable getting to the rim, with each of his buckets coming by way of a self-generated layup or dunk. He played tough-nosed defense, moved the ball when appropriate, and was efficient with his scoring output despite not connecting from the perimeter. It was a statement performance on a night that start and a significant step toward securing PCL MVP honors.

A returning All-PCL performer from a year ago, Francis has clearly taken another step or two forward while placing himself firmly in the mix for MVP honors at the midway point of the league slate. Leading a guard-heavy Bonner attack, Francis has been the consistent focal point not only with his scoring but also with his contributions across the floor game. He sets the tone with his physical and aggressive downhill style while continuing to grow as a perimeter shooter in both pullup and catch-and-shoot situations. Francis uses his strength and burgeoning athleticism to guard across multiple positions while also hitting the glass consistently. He also flashes capabilities as a lead guard despite spending most of his time off the ball for the time being. Francis is being prioritized by mid-major programs across the region while beginning to creep onto the radar of power conference schools as well.

Coming off a 36-point performance in Bonner’s league opener on Friday, Francis wasn’t counted on as much in the scoring column but turned in a workmanlike effort to help steer the win. Francis delivered 17 points, coming mostly by way of his customary bruising drives to the bucket. The junior guard stuffed the stat sheet with a versatile and consistent floor presence, making crisp reads to record a handful of assists setting up his shooters, crashing the glass for at least a half-dozen boards, and playing tough-nosed on-ball defense to help ignite transition going the other way. Francis was rewarded for his efforts with a mid-major offer from La Salle, whose head coach was in attendance to see him along with an assistant from Temple.

The jumbo scorer impressed with his vast scoring repertoire. His mid-range is like a layup and if he gets to his spots there is a 9 out of 10 chance he is converting from there. He seeks out contact well and lives in the paint. Francis was active on the glass sagging rebounds like he’s an outfielder playing at Citizens Bank Park. He spent a lot of time the charity stripe and converted most of his chances. He also sowed he could make others better by finding them for scoring chances of their own. The biggest Achilles heel in his game is his consistency to make shots from behind the arc, if he becomes a consistent threat from there there should be an uptick in his recruitment. He is a prospect who I think is a MM+ guard and would be a great fit in the A-10, AAC, Mountain West, C-USA, Missouri Valley, & WCC. Should also see some HM- programs tracking him too.