By Chloe Conwell • Posted April 9, 2026

When the scoreboard clock hit all zeros March 21 inside a packed arena in Hershey, Pa., all eyes fell on Msgr. Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast High School boys basketball guard Korey Francis, who ran to join the rest of his team after capturing their first PIAA state championship in program history.

It would be a big moment for any high school player, but Francis has kept his eye on something bigger this basketball season: His journey into full communion with the Catholic Church, which came to fruition this Easter at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester.

The Bonner & Prendie junior has etched his name into school history as this year’s Philadelphia Catholic League MVP and a career 1,000-point scorer for the Friars, garnering nine Division I men’s basketball scholarship offers so far.

Students and staff alike have always known him to be a highly goal-oriented and determined young man, and he has already earned the title of 2027 class president.

“He’s brought our whole community, our school, our alumni, single-handedly, tighter and together more than ever,” said Friars head coach Billy Cassidy. “Everybody is so impressed with how he carries himself as a superstar on and off the court, and how it reflects his teammates and everybody else.”

Cassidy  says Francis is simply the best person he has been around.

“I wish I could adopt him. That’s what I tell people,” he said. “He’s the coolest kid. He’s the best kid, and I admire who he is, how he carries himself, and just watching him.”

Francis’ decision to join the Catholic Church came when he was a sophomore Bonner & Prendie, when he joined the school’s OCIA program (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). He was drawn to Catholicism through adoration of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, which have  invited him to grow in faith.

Through the OCIA process Francis met many people who shared similar experiences. He emphasized the importance of group discussions about Jesus that have brought him closer to his peers.

“It’s just been able to show me that no matter the good or bad situations in your life, God has something in store for you,” Francis said.

“I used to wonder why bad things used to happen, or I’d wonder why I didn’t get something that I wanted, and now that I understand God more, it’s brought me to know that things are in place for a reason. So, God purposely did not allow me to do something that I thought I wanted because He knows what’s better for me.”

Although not baptized at birth, Francis comes from a primarily Catholic family. He credits his grandmother with helping him to expedite the process, making sure he remained on track with his intention to be baptized.

“She let me have my own path because a lot of my family is baptized, and they did it all when they were babies,” Francis said. “She let me grow up and do it on my own. It kind of paid off because I really wanted to do it on my own. She’s been a big influence, but she’s always also let me figure things out myself.”

In joining the Catholic Church, faith has moved from a mere aspect of Francis’ life to the center, evident in shifts in his lifestyle and the way that he views the world. Following his baptism, he plans to continue to put God first and demonstrate to others the way that God has kept him strong and safe.

“A lot of things that I do now are for God,” Francis said. “I’d much rather leave a lot of things up to God rather than worrying about it myself, and also, no matter what happens, good or bad, I always thank God for it. 
Even after my ‘states’ win, the first thing I did was thank God, just because I know all good comes from Him.”

Francis is also recognized for the way that he instills faith in his teammates. Cassidy mentioned that Francis will write inspirational quotes on the soles of his sneakers before their games, and that the team will talk about the quotes and how they can apply them to their play.

The coach adds that the team looks up to Francis and counts on him, and the way that Francis handles the responsibility with pride is what makes him invaluable to the team.

 “You have to see the work that (Francis) puts in every day,” Cassidy said. “He doesn’t cheat a day. He doesn’t complain. And he’s so driven and passionate that he’s gonna crush whatever goals he wants as he goes forward.”

Francis aims to continue inspiring others as he looks to finish high school next year and play basketball at the collegiate level.

“I’ve never seen a story like this happen,” Cassidy said. “I’ve never encountered somebody converting to become a Catholic at this point in his life, and with who he is, hopefully it brings more attention to everyone around him about how strong and how important it is to have strong faith and belief in God.

“For him to do it now when a lot of things are going his way, I think that’s the part that’s so special, and that kind of makes him who he is.”

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Chloe Conwell is a sophomore at Mount St. Joseph Academy and the co-president of PCL Sports Network, a student-owned and operated outlet that covers Philadelphia Catholic League athletics.