4-star WR/DB Joey O'Brien

Joey O'Brien gets a lot more attention than most high school kids. He has more than twenty Division I offers for football. The list includes powerhouse programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. "I'm grateful for it, not a lot of kids get it. It just proves all the hard work that I put in is showing," O'Brien told SV Sports' Paul Roberts. He's ranked #141 overall in the Class of 2026 by ESPN. The 6'4 junior WR/DB helped La Salle College High School go (10-1) this fall. He had 68 catches for 1,029 yards and a dozen touchdowns. O'Brien also made 36 tackles and would like to play on both sides of the ball at the next level. The 4-star prospect explained what he's looking for in a college. "Path to play, that relationship I build with the coaching staff and players, and I want to win," he said. O'Brien expects to announce his decision this summer after taking his official visits. As for now, he's focused on the hardwood. O'Brien enjoys playing hoops and mentioned that college football coaches are looking for multi-sport athletes. "Guarding someone in basketball is kind of similar to guarding someone at DB. I feel like everything matches up together," he noted. The Explorers are participating in the Catholic Christmas Showcase this weekend at Bishop McDevitt. They earned a hard-fought 59-51 victory over Berks Catholic on Friday evening. Despite picking up two quick fouls, O'Brien contributed nine points in a balanced attack. He showed off his leaping ability with a steal and two-handed dunk in the second quarter. The (6-2) Saints led 16-10 after the first quarter and 25-24 at halftime. Nick Neri, a 6'1 sophomore who also plays football, started the fourth quarter with a three-point play to put La Salle up 43-42. Neri ignited an 11-3 run for the (5-3) Explorers. He finished with a team-high 15 points. Nick Parisi, a 6'4 senior guard, added 11 points including three treys. Max Okebata was a big spark off the bench. The 6'3 sophomore scored all ten of his points in the fourth quarter. "He's gonna be very good. I think he's one of the best players on our team right now. He does everything well," said O'Brien. Okebata's 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 51-45 with with five and a-half minutes left. Kingston McKoy was responsible for all nine of Berks Catholic's points in the final period. The 6'2 junior guard poured in 29 points. La Salle is getting ready for its Philadelphia Catholic League schedule. That gauntlet begins next week. "It's one of the best leagues in the country. It helps you get better," stated O'Brien.