Player Spotlight: The Splash Brothers of Next Play Basketball: Franklin & Carson Gilbert
The Splash Brothers of Next Play Basketball: Franklin & Carson Gilbert
Underdogs. Workers. Shooters. Hungry Dogs.
Every basketball program has players who change the energy in the gym the moment they walk in. For Next Play Basketball, those players are Franklin and Carson Gilbert — two brothers, two different styles, one shared identity:
They shoot the lights out.
Around our gyms, they’ve earned the nickname that fits them perfectly:
The Splash Brothers of Next Play.
But don’t mistake the nickname for an easy story.
Their path is anything but smooth.
Not the Stars. Not the Favorites. Not the “Chosen Ones.”
Here’s what makes their rise so impressive:
Neither Franklin nor Carson has ever been the best player on their team.
Not once.
Franklin faced setbacks early in his basketball journey — the kind that make many kids walk away. Instead, he used those moments as a spark to work harder, stay committed, and transform himself into the player he is today.
Carson, meanwhile, continues to climb faster than anyone expected.
He earned his first varsity minutes yesterday — as a freshman!
This isn’t Rudy.
This is Rocky — two underdogs refusing to stay down.
The Work Behind the Splash
People see the clean release, the deep range, the confidence.
What they don’t see:
early-morning reps
late-night workouts
extra shooting after practice
the commitment to never miss twice
the slow, steady climb from overlooked to undeniable
The Splash Brothers were not born.
They were built — one rep at a time.
Carson Gilbert — SCH Varsity
Carson Gilbert — earning his first varsity minutes as a freshman — bringing toughness, shooting, and fearlessness to SCH Academy.
The Gilbert Foundation: Their Mother, Rose
Every shooter has a beginning.
Franklin and Carson’s begins with Rose.
A proud Bishop McDevitt Lancer, Rose competed in the ultra-competitive Philadelphia Catholic League — the same league Franklin played in before transferring this summer.
And let’s be clear:
Rose can shoot.
She’s competitive. She’s passionate.
And she can be heard coaching her boys from the stands in any gym in the tri-state area.
That fire? She passed it down.
The confidence? That too.
The energy? Absolutely.
Rose is the foundation of the Gilbert basketball DNA.
Two Brothers. One Standard.
Franklin
Calm. Skilled. Resilient.
Once overlooked — now a starter at Haverford from day one, built through work, discipline, and self-belief.
Carson
Fearless. Competitive. Nonchalant.
Now a freshman earning varsity minutes at SCH, proving he belongs on the big stage.
Franklin Gilbert — Haverford Starter
Franklin Gilbert — rising up with pure shooting form — now starting at Haverford and proving daily what resilience and repetition can create.
Sibling Fire: The 1v1 Fuel
The oldest rivalry in sports still fuels everything they do:
When you have a big brother, you want desperately to beat him 1v1.
That driveway fire shaped both boys:
Franklin learned to protect the throne.
Carson learned to chase it with everything he had.
Fouls were debated.
Possessions restarted.
Arguments settled only by the ball going through the net.
That fire still burns.
You see it in every rep, every possession, every big moment.
Hungry Dogs Run Faster
They’ve never been handed anything.
They’ve never been crowned “the guy.”
They’ve never had teams built around them.
And that’s exactly why they’ve become two of the best shooters in the entire Next Play program.
Hungry dogs run faster —
and the Gilbert brothers have been running uphill their entire lives.
The Future Is Bright — And Could Be Head-to-Head
And here’s the fun twist:
They squared off last night on the campus of SCH.
Carson — now with SCH varsity as a freshman.
Franklin — starting for Haverford.
A family rivalry.
A shooting showcase.
A Rocky-style storyline in real time.
The Splash Brothers Aren’t Done
Franklin and Carson are only getting started.
Their story isn’t about being chosen — it’s about choosing to work.
Two brothers.
Two underdogs.
Two shooters built on grit, repetition, and the fire their mother lit long ago.
A blueprint for every Next Play athlete:
Do the work.
Stay humble.
Stay hungry.
Keep shooting.
Next play.
