Ryan Brooks is certainly one of the top young players in the city. Brooks, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Temple, showed flashes of brilliances in his first season.

Brooks’ overall talents helped him become the second pick overall in Hank Gathers College League draft. He was chosen behind Brandon Costner, North Carolina State star, who was the first pick in the draft. The summer basketball league is part of the Sonny Hill Community Involvement League.

The league will begin play next month at its regular location, Temple’s McGonigle Hall.  

Brooks put on quite a performance in a losing effort against Saint Joseph’s in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, scoring 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field. He should be a key player for the Owls next season.

Brooks led Lower Merion to the 2006 PIAA Class AAAA state championship. As a senior, he earned first-team all-state honors and scored more than 1,000 points in his career.

After Costner and Brooks, the following players were taken in this order: Mike Ringgold, Rider; Garrett Williamson, Saint Joseph’s; Zahir Carrington, Lehigh; Jason Thompson, Rider; Ameer Ali, Morgan State; Gerald Caldwell, West Chester; Evan Neisler, Drexel and Luis Guzman, Temple. Each team drafted between seven and eight players to go along with several returning players from the last summer.

Lennon Financial

Protected players: Matt Spadafora, University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Jason Green, University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Quincy Marshall, Holy Family; Darryl White, Lincoln University; D.J. Rivera, Saint Joseph’s.

Drafted: Brandon Costner, North Carolina State; Brian Grimes, La Salle; Justin Reilly, Penn; Kenny St. George, West Chester; Theodore Petty, Community College of Philadelphia.

Luigi’s Italian Ice

Protected: Maurice Thomas, Texas-El Paso; Stephon Jackson, Texas-El Paso; Paul Graham, Florida Atlantic; Thomas Young, University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Drafted: Ryan Brooks, Temple; Andrew Jones, Penn State; Rickie Crews, Monmouth; Mike Yocum, University of Albany; Harris Mansell, Rider; Robert Jones, Immaculata; Tyrone Coleman, Eastern University.

Bob Black

Protected: Dionte Christmas, Temple; Marvin Kilgore, Texas-El Paso; Scott Rodgers, Drexel; Tracey Worley, University of New Orleans; Mike Green, Butler.

Drafted: Zahir Carrington, Lehigh; Malcolm Ingram, Philadelphia University; Kimmani Barrett, La Salle; Keith Mobley, East Stroudsburg; Vinny Simpson, Hampton; Andreas Schreiber, Penn; Channon Easley, East Stroudsburg; Jerome Monroe, Bucks County Community College.

Camille Cosby

Protected: Kyle Hines, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; Semaj Inge, Temple; John Noonan, Ursinus College; Tim Smith, Jr., Gloucester County College, Frank Elegar, Drexel.

Drafted: Mike Ringgold, Rider; Malik Alvin, Texas-El Paso; Bilal Benn, Niagara; Daziah Miller, Shippensburg; Andre Woodlin, Kutztown; Reggie Strickland, Immaculata; Matt Johnson, Gwynedd Mercy; Dennis Delli, Gwynedd Mercy.

James Flint

Protected: Randy Oveneke, Drexel; Shane Clark, Villanova; Reggie Redding, Villanova; Sergio Olmos, Temple.

Drafted: Jason Thompson, Rider; Dan Geriot, University of Richmond; Brian Zoubek, Duke; Darren Smith, Penn; Nate Edwards, Kutztown; Aron Cohen, Penn; Justin Simmons, Millersville.

Jimmy Binns

Protected: Rodney Green, La Salle; Matt Sosna, Widener; Nick Shattuck, Ursinus College; Brad Cohen, La Salle; Andrew Jerry, Bloomsburg.

Drafted: Garrett Williamson, Saint Joseph’s; Wayne Ellington, North Carolina; Yves Mekongo Mbala, La Salle; Dutch Gaitley, Monmouth; Blake Wilson, Princeton; Joe Zeglinski, Hartford; James Inge, Colorado.

Honor Foods

Protected: Jason Hickenbottom, Philadelphia University; Dominique Curry, Cheyney University; Aaron Brown, University of South Carolina-Aiken; Shawn Taylor, University of South Carolina-Aiken; Angelo Hernandez, North Carolina A&T.

Drafted: Ameer Ali, Morgan State; Gerald Henderson, Duke; Jason Love, Xavier University; Jason Blake, Community College of Philadelphia; Keith Peel, Community College of Philadelphia; Maurice McPherson, Cheyney University; Makal Stibbons, Millersville; Dwayne Bradley, Lackawanna Junior College.

Mikel Jones Law Firm

Protected: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; Charron Fisher, Niagara; Dante Cunningham, Villanova; Mike Johnson, Virginia State.

Drafted: Kyree Brown, California University of Pennsylvania; Gerald Caldwell, West Chester; Lenwood Greenwood, West Chester; Ryan Ayers, Notre Dame; Ryan Thompson, Rider; Maurice Martin, Philadelphia University; Mike Dunn, Philadelphia University.

Aaron McKie

Protected: Andrew Ott, Villanova; Mark Tyndale, Temple; Tamir Smith, Cheyney University; Darnell Harris, La Salle; Dawud Morris, Cheyney University.

Drafted: Evan Neisler, Drexel; Ruben Guillandeaux, La Salle; Rob Kurz, Notre Dame; London Houston, Holy Family University; Kevin Presbery, Lackawanna Junior College; Tariek Belcher, Shippensburg.

Shechtman, Marks and Devor

Protected: Omar Johnson, Barton County College; Chris Clahar, Community College of Philadelphia; Joel Green, Slippery Rock; Kenny Tribbett, Drexel.

Drafted; Luis Guzman, Temple; Shawn McKeown, Kutztown; David Kellstrom, Kechan Myers, University of New Orleans; Casiem Drummond, Villanova; Ryan Lancaster, Holy Family University.