City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The area's Division III scene was intensely competitive this year.

No fewer than eight conferences are represented in the CoBL coverage area, a box that extends from Philadelphia to State College, Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley, as well as the few schools in southern New Jersey.

So picking the best of the best out all the different programs and leagues was not an easy task, especially with numerous conference Player of the Year winners, but here's our attempt.

When coming up with our all-area teams, we consider several factors--individual skill is obviously the biggest one, but importance to team, overall team success and intangibles are also taken into consideration.

With that being said, we present our 2015-16 CoBL-area Division III honors:

First Team

*Josh Miller (Sr./Susquehanna)
The 2015-16 CoBL-area Division III  Player of the Year, Miller emerged by a hair's breadth over his peers with a tremendous finish to his career. The 6-foot-4 wing out of Lampeter-Strasburg HS averaged 17.5 ppg and 8.1 rpg to lead the Crusaders to a 24-5 record and win over Old Westbury in the NCAA Tournament First Round. And he wasn't just putting up big numbers, he was incredibly efficient, shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and 47.3 percent from 3-point range. He finishes his career with 1,048 points and 511 rebounds despite only playing 30 games over his first two years.

Ted Hinnekamp (Sr./Dickinson)
It was a strange year for the Red Devils, who looked lost in beginning the season 2-9 and were 6-12 on Jan. 30 before suddenly ripping off seven straight to finish the season at 13-13. But steady through it all was the 6-7 Hinnekamp, a second-team All-America selection who averaged 17.2 ppg and 7.7 rpg, shooting a nifty 52.6 percent from the floor en route to being named the Centennial's Player of the Year. The York native finished with 1,114 points and is the Dickinson's all-time leader in field goal percentage (.580).

Julian Hyden (Sr./Gwynedd Mercy)
A 6-foot-7 guard out of Bensalem, Hyden averaged 9.3 ppg during his sophomore and junior seasons but absolutely broke out as a senior. His 19.0 ppg was good enough for third in the CSAC, and he did it while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from long distance. In addition, despite largely playing on the perimeter he led the Griffins with 8.4 rpg and 44 steals, all in slightly under 30 mpg. As a team, Gwynedd went 22-7 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Chris Moran (Sr./Delaware Valley)
The rest of the MAC Freedom is going to be happy they no longer have to put up with Moran, a super-talented 6-4 forward from Whitehall (Pa.) who was a force to be reckoned with for the last three seasons but really stepped it up as a senior. After averaging between 13.3 and 14 points the last two years, he pumped that up to 19.9 ppg as a senior, shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and 33.7 percent from 3. He also averaged 9.6 rpg and had 13 double-doubles as Del-Val went 20-8 and won MAC Freedom before losing in the first round of the NCAAs.

Cedric Moune (Sr./Franklin & Marshall)
Maybe the best two-way player in the area, F&M's 6-7 senior out of Cameroon has steadily increased his production each season to become one of the best players around. As a senior, he set new career bests with 15.6 ppg and 9.4 rpg, shooting 57.9 percent from the floor. Even more importantly to the Diplomates, Moune was a top-notch defender who blocked 47, 46 and 45 shots over the last three seasons, and also picked up a steal per game each of the last two years, swiping 37 this year as F&M won 22 games and a Centennial Conference titles.

Marcus Thomas (Sr./Rosemont)
Last but not least (except alphabetically) was this dominant scorer out of the Main Line. A 6-4 wing who lit up the scoreboards for the Ravens since coming over from Manor CC last year, he averaged 21.3 ppg as a senior, but was more than just a pure bucket-getter: Thomas also averaged 5.6 rpg and 4.7 apg, two big reasons he was named the CSAC Player of the Year. Had one of the few triple-doubles around, putting up 17 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds against Marywood. Rosemont's 13-14 (10-8) record would have been a lot worse if he wasn't around, and they'll have a lot of work to do to replace his presence this fall.

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Second Team

Armin Cane (Sr./Stockton)
Ospreys' leader helped them to their third-straight NJAC title and a 21-7 record, averaging 16.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.1 apg. A 6-2 guard out of Pleasantville (N.J.), Cane finished his two years in a Stockton uniform with 898 points (15.8/game) and 295 rebounds (5.2/game).

C.J. Dunston (Sr./Lancaster Bible)
Lancaster Bible had a tremendous season, going 27-0 through the regular season, but lost to Wooster in the NCAA Tournament. Dunston, an athletic 6-5 forward from Maryland, averaged 17.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 3.2 apg; he was named the NEAC Player of the Year for his efforts.

DeShawn Lowman (Sr./Neumann)
A loaded second team continues with Neumann's on-court leader, who averaged 17.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg and  3.1 apg, while making more than half (.519) of his shots. The Knights had another great year, winning 22 games and winning the ECAC South Championship over Swarthmore after falling short to Gwynedd in the CSAC title game.

Tyheim Monroe (Soph./Cabrini)
Monroe put some absolutely ridiculous numbers this season (18.4 ppg, 15.3 rpg) for a 16-win Cabrini team that loves to get out and run. The 6-foot-6 Olney Charter product led the country in total rebounds, rebounds per game and double-doubles (27), achieving that feat in every game.

Andy Orr (Soph./Lebanon Valley)
The only other underclassman on the top two teams, Orr should get used to being up here if not higher. Won MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year honors after putting up 21.3 ppg and 8.6 rpg while shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore as LVC went 16-11, reaching the Commonwealth semis.

Shaquan Turk (Jr./Eastern)
Tough year for Eastern, which was just 11-14, but Turk certainly had a positive individual season: 19.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 2.2 apg, shooting 51.5 percent overall and 36.8 percent from 3. Gospel of Grace product has 1,165 points and 407 rebounds through his first three seasons as an Eagle.

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Third Team

James Butler (Jr./Neumann)
Butler teamed with Lowman to give head coach Jim Rullo a powerful inside-out punch for the Knights. A 6-3 forward out of now-closed Vaux HS, Butler made 56.8 percent of his shots as he averaged 16.2 ppg, finishing second on the team in both scoring and rebounding (8.3/game0.

Cedric Elleby (Jr./Gwynedd Mercy)
Powered by a never-ending motor, this undersized (6-3) forward still found his way to 16.8 ppg and 8.2 rpg, shooting 57.2 percent from the floor and swatting a career-best 48 shots to boot. Already has 940 career points and 545 career boards.

Brandon Federici (Soph./Franklin & Marshall)
High-scoring sophomore is asked to take shots, and he does plenty of that on his way to 17.6 ppg, knocking down 42.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. Lawrenceville Prep product enters his junior year just six points shy of 1000.

John Landro (Sr./Arcadia)
On a very young Arcadia squad, Landro was key in helping the Knights to a 17-11 record and ECAC tournament berth. Cornwall (N.Y.) native, a 6-2 guard, averaged 16.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 2.4 apg, making 38.8 percent of his triples, and was a tough defender to boot.

Sam Light (Soph./Lebanon Valley)
The other super soph on the LVC roster, Light--a 6-0 sophomore out of Northern Lebanon (Pa.)--averaged 19.1 ppg thanks to a 42.6 percent clip from 3-point range. Poured in a season-high 39 against Hood on Jan. 27. Future is certainly bright, between him and Orr.

Dalton Myers (Jr./York)
One of the few area teams in the ultra-competitive Capital Athletic Conference, York went 10-15 this past season, led by this 6-7 junior fro Maryland. Myers averaged 16.4 ppg and for 5.8 rpg on 57.4 percent shooting; has 913 points entering his senior year.

Bryce Williams (Jr./Lancaster Bible)
The Chargers' leading scorer just about defines the word "gunner" when it comes to shooting the basketball. His 20.5 ppg came in large part on his 107 3-pointers, which he converted at a 43.9 percent clip out of 244 attempts.

Fourth Team

Darnell Artis (Sr./Gwynedd Mercy)
One of the main leaders for Gwynedd Mercy over the span of his four-year career, this 5-foot-8 La Salle College HS product averaged 13.7 ppg, 4.6 apg and 2.9 rpg as a senior. Finished career with 1,319 points and 448 assists.

Cody Deal (Sr./DeSales)
The leading scorer on a very balanced Bulldogs squad, Deal, a 6-3 forward from Lower Dauphin, averaged 13.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg, knocking down 40.5 percent from 3-point range. DeSales went 20-8, lost to Neumann in the ECAC South tournament.

Kevin Gladstone (Sr./Gettysburg)
A big reason that Gettysburg had its highest win total (18) since that same number in 2008-09 was due to its 6-6 senior forward. The Haverford HS product averaged 13.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg to help his team to an 18-9 season; only player on his team to make more than half of his shots (.553).

Jair Green (Soph./Cabrini)
While Monroe punished opponents inside, Green did his damage off the wings. Second on the team in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg), while playing 34.9 minutes per contest. Paul VI (N.J.) grad, our Rookie of the Year last season, has 850 points in two seasons.

Tyliek Kimbrough (Jr./Delaware Valley)
Six-foot guard from Brooklyn made quite an impact in his first season at Del-Val after spending two years at Mercer CC. Averaged 13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 4.0 apg for the Aggies.

Sardayah Sambo (Soph./Widener)
His numbers (15.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.1 bpg, .541 FG%) say forward, but the 6-3 Sambo defies expectations. Top player on a 13-12 Pride squad, and one of the few underclassmen to get mentioned; look for him to keep rising up as his career continues and Widener with him.

Kuity Slanger (Jr./DeSales)
Second member of the DeSales squad on this fourth team, as the 6-2 Upper Darby product had too good a season to ignore. The versatile guard averaged 12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 4.9 apg for the Bulldogs. Led the team in both rebounding and assists, and could lead them in every major category next year.

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All-Rookie Team

*Josh Scott (Arcadia)
Our 2015-16 CoBL-area D-III Rookie of the Year, Scott slotted right in at Arcadia and started his entire season. A 6-3 guard out of Penn Wood, Scott averaged 12.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 2.7 apg and is one of several talented freshmen on the Knights' roster. Look for him (and many of those below) on the all-area teams as soon as next year.
Jule Brown (Dickinson)
Lower Merion product, a 6-6 wing, averaged 7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 2.9 apg for the Red Devils. Toolsy prospect should continue to grow and flourish.
Nick DePersia (Rowan)
It's arguable as to which DePersia had the better season, which is just how they like it. Nick averaged 11.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 2.8 apg.
Rob DePersia (Rowan)
Rob didn't 'quite have the scoring total of his brother (8.8 ppg), but his other stats (4.7 apg, 3.6 rpg) were right there if not slightly better.
Ivan Robinson (Cabrini)
Only redshirt freshman of the bunch was actually a team captain and showed why, averaging 12.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 4.0 apg for the Cavs.
Joseph Scibelli (Haverford)
One of a few bright spots on a 4-win Haverford squad, this 6-5 forward from Charlotte averaged 11.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg for the Fords.

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Coach of the Year

John Baron (Gwynedd Mercy)

The overwhelming choice for this nomination by his peers, Baron led the Griffins to a 22-7 record, including an incredible 17-1 mark in the CSAC, as well as a win over Marietta College in the NCAA Tournament. That was the fifth March Madness appearance of Baron’s 14th seasons, and just the third time he’s seen his team advance past the first round. And all of that came while he was dealing with an incredibly difficult family situation at home.

Hon. Mention: Frank Marcinek, Susquehanna; Zach Filzen, Lancaster Bible