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CoBL College Exposure Camp Standouts (June 28)

06/29/2016, 12:00am EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Here are the standouts from today’s CoBL College Exposure Camp at Philadelphia University:

Colin Daly (2017/Archbishop Carroll)
One of the bigger names in Tuesday’s camp, Daly showcased not only his well-known three-point shooting ability, but also an all-around game. He’s been overshadowed at times both at Carroll and for Jersey Shore Warriors, but today he proved he could take on a much bigger role. He assisted on several key plays, came down with tough rebounds, and, of course, shot the lights out, particularly late in games. He even made a few shots from well behind the three-point line as either the ball-handler coming off screens or as the screener on pick-and-pop plays.

Dakquan Davis (2017/Roman Catholic)
Serving as the sixth man on a talented Roman squad the last two years put Davis in a position to succeed at the camp, and the 6-2 guard took advantage. Typically a 3-point shooter for his high school team, Davis was able to showcase a more well-rounded offensive game at Philly U, getting to the basket off the dribble in the half-court set and knocking down some mid-range buckets as well. Considering the ball will be in his hands quite a bit as a senior, Davis could creep into D-II territory with a strong next few months.


Northampton's Aiden Ellwood. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Aiden Ellwood (2018/Northampton)
One of several impressive rising juniors who came down from the Allentown area, this 6-1 shooting guard was consistently making shots all afternoon long. Not someone who looks the part of a high-level athlete right away, he continued to impress more and more as the day went on, earning a spot on this list with three strong games. A smooth lefty, Ellwood could equally knock down jumpers off the catch or pulling up, with a quick motion, high release point and consistent form every time. More importantly, he had a great concept of shot selection, rarely (if ever) settling for bad shots while making quick decisions on swinging and passing to set up his teammates for open looks.

Mikey Esquilin (2018/Whitehall)
One of the quickest guards at the camp, Esquilin had the ability to blow by defenders with ease if he got even the slightest advantage coming off a screen or in transition; the 5-11, 145-pound point guard also showcased a smooth jumper from 3-point territory as well as the midrange. And despite his frame, he's certainly a tough guard, not afraid of taking on contact in transition to try and get to the line or finish off a 3-point play. With continued improvement, he has a chance to be in Division I territory by this time next year thanks to his game and his speed.

Matt Faw (2017/Upper Merion)
Faw, a rising senior from Upper Merion, did not let his 6-foot 8-inch, 205 pound frame keep him strictly in the paint. The big man imposed his will inside and out all day, stepping outside the arc on numerous occasions to knock down threes on unsuspecting defenders. The only player returning from the Suburban One American First Team, this senior will look to lead his team to a league title in their new conference, the PAC-10. Also an outstanding student, Faw will certainly be at the top of Division II recruiting lists with a chance to snag some Division I looks if he continues to improve.

Collin Gillespie (2017/Archbishop Wood)
Gillespie showed exactly how the point guard position is to be played today. Gillespie got all of his teammates involved and was fantastic in transition finding his man for an easy bucket. Gillespie was also in a groove from downtown, converting on several from downtown on the day. Gillespie showed a lot of effort on the defensive end, making it difficult for his opponent to do much offensively. Division II schools flocked to see him play, and with one D-II offer already in his pocket (Holy Family) it’s hard to see him not picking up a few more.

Tamir Green (2017/Constitution)
Green was one of the best ball-handlers and passers at Tuesday’s camp. The guard from Constitution made a point of getting the ball and pushing in transition, often finding teammates on the break or a lane for himself. Green also can shoot the trey. He knocked down four 3-pointers in one of his team’s game, including two triples in the final three minutes that helped his team edge out a narrow victory.

James Hines (2017/Lindenwold)
Whenever HInes was in the game for his team, he made things happen. The 5-10 guard played fearless basketball all day long, relentlessly attacking off the bounce and in transition to either get to the rim or to the foul line. He's strong with both hands, not limited to driving one way like quite a few still are at this age, and he can pull up and knock down shots even with a hand in his face. Playing for Lindenwold, a small school in Jersey, Hines doesn't get the exposure some of his camp peers receive, but he didn't shy away from the level of competition on Tuesday.

Matiss Kulackovskis (2017/Archbishop Ryan)
The big man was very effective around the basket, with several nice moves and putbacks. He showed nice touch with his post moves, and did not seem to force anything in spite of playing in front of numerous college coaches. He also cleared a lot of space with long reach and made some tough rebounds in traffic. Defensively he had several nice rejections and showed that he could recover well if drawn out to the perimeter.


Colts Neck's Michael Lamb. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Michael Lamb (2016/Colts’ Neck)
The only high school graduate at the camp, Lamb came into Tuesday looking for a college program to land at after missing the last year-plus due to injury. But the big man looked ready to contribute at the next level with a solid all-around showing on Tuesday, scoring inside and out with equal ability. A 6-7, 210-pound forward, Lamb did a good job of establishing post position, and had the ability to put the ball on the floor once or twice before utilizing a nifty drop step or right-hand hook shot; he also displayed

Ryan Legler (2017/Wildwood Catholic)
Fresh off a strong spring with the South Jersey Jazz, where he plays for his dad Tim Legler -- the former La Salle and NBA sharpshooter -- Ryan Legler displayed the basketball IQ and shooting ability that has all sorts of high-academic D-IIIs and some D-IIs checking him out. The 6-2 guard rarely forces the issue, though he doesn't need much room to launch a 3-pointer from the wings, corners or straightaway. Instead, he does a very good job of probing one or two dribbles into the defense, getting things to collapse before kicking over to a shooter or swinging around the perimeter to set up the offense.

Jesse McPhearson (2017/Archbishop Carroll)
The long and rangy McPhearson made his presence in the paint felt all afternoon at Philly U. The Carroll forward was tough to contain on the glass, protected the rim well with a few swats on defense, and he also capitalized on plenty of chances to score. Whether it was on a putback, post move or a nice dish from a teammate, McPhearson was getting the ball and scoring near the basket often. No basket, though, was as memorable as his two handed slam over an opponent that sent his bench into a frenzy.


Upper Merion's Ethan Miller. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Ethan Miller (2017/Upper Merion)
The thunder to Faw's lightning in the Upper Merion frontcourt, Miller made a name for himself as a 6-6 forward who could score inside as equally well as he could bomb away from 3-point range. But what he did at the camp was rather surprising, as it was perhaps Miller's shot-blocking abilities that stood out; he had several rejections on the afternoon, taking advantage of good positioning and timing to make up for what he might lack in terms of elite size in the frontcourt. Of course, Miller still managed to make his presence felt offensively, showing off a good handle to slash to the basket on several occasions as well as knocking down a few trademark jumpers.

Mike Millsip (2017/Neumann-Goretti)
Millsip had himself a day shooting the ball. Whether it was for three or a mid range, Millsip had his shot going today. Not only was the outside shot working for the rising junior, Millsip also had a bunch of easy finished at the rim, set up nicely by his guards. Millsip was also consistently boxing out nicely, putting himself in good position to pull down the boards all day long. Millsip helped lead his teams to a great overall winning day.

Alex Nordenholt (2017/CR South)
If there's one word to describe Nordenholt, it would be "crafty." The 5-10 guard has a great feel for pace and how to change it, utilizing some hesitation moves and a quick first step to draw a defender off guard, and has a tight handle that he uses to get into the lane and break down a defense. Has the ability to throw up a floater or two as well over approaching forwards, and also left a few nice drop-off passes as well thanks to his ability to drive-and-dish. Active and energetic defender didn't let many get around him, and came up with a fair number of swipes as well.

Ethan Norton (2017/Hill School)
It’s no wonder Norton was an All-Area selection in soccer his junior year, as well as being a key contributor for the Hill School on the court. The 6-foot 2-inch rising senior guard sped his way past opponents all game, using his athleticism and range to create havoc in the passing lanes, along with creating shots for his teammates as well. While most players were getting tired towards the end of halves, Norton was the opposite, using his stamina to score five straight points for his team at crucial points in both the first and second half of his last game.


Abington's Joseph O'Brien. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Joseph O’Brien (2017/Abington)
At 6-8 and a solid 240 pounds, O'Brien proved no easy load for anybody to handle in the paint. Though he's a fairly grounded big man athletically, O'Brien knows what he is and doesn't tend to force too much -- he scoops off offensive boards with regularity, puts in second-and third efforts on the glass and provides a rim protector for his team, standing tall as an immovable force in the paint when other forwards try to back him down. Where he lands in college will all depend on program fit, but there's no doubt that with his size, good hands and soft touch around the rim, he's a scholarship-level player. If he can get his motor running even higher and continue to get in better shape, he's got the size to potentially go D-I.

Trevonn Pitts (2017/Cheltenham)
Pitts, who will be a senior at Cheltenham in the fall, is listed at 6-foot-2, but he definitely did not play like it Tuesday. Pitts made sure opponents and the rim knew who he was after throwing down a few dunks, including an eyebrow-raising putback slam in his first game. In addition to the highlights, Pitts exemplified an ability to get to and score at the basket, and he corralled plenty of rebounds. So yes, he is listed at 6-2, but his springy step was evident.

P.J. Ringel (2017/Marlboro)
A 6-1 combo guard, Ringel did much than just score the ball, though he showed the ability to do that with some nifty finishes and shooting ability. The New Jersey native was one of the more athletic perimeter players at the camp, with some impressive hangtime on a few drives to the bucket where he was able to either finish or find open teammates on the wing. And he used that athleticism well on the defensive end, locking down opponent after opponent and forcing several tough shots. Seemed to play the game a step faster than his opponents often, thanks to a high basketball IQ and quick instincts.

Patrick Robinson (2018/Conwell-Egan)
Robinson was certainly one of the breakout stars of the camp, a 6-0 point guard with bounce and flash to his game, and plenty of substance as well. A high-IQ point guard with great court vision, Robinson did everything quickly -- getting up the court, running his team’s offense and dishing off to teammates on the break. A terrific student, Robinson certainly looks primed to make a big step up for the Eagles after only seeing a handful of varsity minutes as a sophomore. He’ll be all over college radars within a year from now if today was any indication.


Father Judge's Marc Rodriguez. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Marc Rodriguez (2017/Father Judge)
Another one of the few players who came into the camp with an existing DIvision II offer, Rodriguez showed why he's on the borderline of Division I with a strong camp on Tuesday. Even when his shot isn't falling at a high percentage, Rodriguez always brings a great energy and attitude to his team, constantly supporting his teammates, shaking off bad plays and making adjustments. One of those players who's playing the game a little quicker than many of his peers, Rodriguez might yet earn that D-I look but would make a terrific D-II player who could have a four-year impact at a high-level program.

Jesse Saul (2017/Bishop Eustace)
Saul didn't come into the camp with the reputation as a big-time scorer, but he was getting buckets all afternoon long, taking advantage of transition opportunities whenever possible and knocking down a few open jumpers to boot. A 6-3 wing, Saul is a good athlete who can defend numerous positions on the court, utilizing a long wingspan to keep opposing ballhandlers contained and showing he was strong enough to handle a post player as well.

Darien Simmons (2017/Conwell-Egan)
In a camp with several highly-athletic players, Simmons athleticism seemed to standout from the rest. He blew past defenders on fast breaks on numerous occasions, whether it was with the ball or without. In the halfcourt, he routinely split defenders on his way to the basket and showed he could finish through hard contact around the rim with several highlight-reel type finishes. Defensively, he was active and communicative, leading to several forced turnovers by his opponents.

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Honorable Mentions:
Rashaad Anderson (2017/Penn Wood), David Angelo (2018/Bishop Shanahan), Ryan Boyd (2017/CR South), Myles Bunyon (2017/Valley Forge), Matt Carson (2017/Downingtown West), Matt Carter (2017/MaST Charter), Matt Cerruti (2017/Archbishop Wood), Avery Close (2017/Phoenixville),  Colin Flach (2017/Roman Catholic), Pernell Ghee (2017/Penn Wood), Dylan Higgins (2017/Bonner-Prendergast), Denelle Holly (2018/George Washington), Lucas Hudson (2017/Southern Lehigh), Mike McFadden (2017/Holy Ghost Prep), Zae Murray (2017/West Chester East), Kevin Newbert (2017/CR South), Jesse Paradiso (2017/Morris Catholic), Matt Paulus (2017/La Salle College HS), Malik Slay (2018/Downingtown East), Alex Serrano (2018/Liberty), John Zamichieli (2017/Southern Lehigh)


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