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CoBL Underclassman Camp Standouts (Aug. 18)

08/19/2016, 12:00am EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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For the first time ever, some of the area’s top rising freshman and sophomore prospects donned CoBL Exposure Camp uniforms and took to the court at USciences for our inaugural CoBL Underclassman Camp.

Here are some standouts and honorable mentions from amongst the nearly 100 participants who took part in the one-day event:


Tajir Asparagus (above) was one of two Rustin sophomores who impressed on Thursday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Tajir Asparagus (2019/Bayard Rustin)
One of two players who started as a freshman at Rustin, Asparagus showed why he’s on track to be one of the rare four-year varsity starters. A 6-4, 175-pound wing, Asparagus has great size out on the perimeter, but he’s more than just an athletic wing with a good frame. A few easy buckets in the first game of afternoon competition seemed to loosen him up, and as the day went on, his confidence grew and grew; he ended the day hitting some open catch-and-shoot triples as well as blocking a few shots on the defensive end. Won’t be under-the-radar in this area for long.

Eric Dixon (2019/Abington)
Dixon came into camp with a reputation to live up to after a stellar freshman campaign at Abington, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. He was by far the most dominant interior presence of the day, using his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame to establish position down low and finish strong. He’s willing to do the dirty work on the glass but is also continuing to develop a more complete face-up and off-the-dribble game. And more than just a big body, he’s got terrific footwork and hands, vacuuming up every rebound in his area -- oftentimes with just one hand. There might not be anybody in the area who can stop Dixon from going to work around the rim for too long.

David Duda (2019/Methacton)
It got to the point that when Duda was spotting up for a 3-pointer, everybody had a feeling that it was going to go in. The 6-foot-2 left-handed guard showed his range from all different areas beyond the arc throughout the camp, with a consistent shot that he could get off in an instant. After making a few from downtown, Duda was able to utilize his pump-fake to get an even higher percentage shot. If Duda rounds out the rest of his game to be as good as his shooting ability, then he can definitely get some serious college looks in his college career.

KeShaun Hammonds (2020/Constitution)
If you watched KeShaun Hammonds play on Thursday, you’d never guess that he was just a rising freshman. The 6-foot point guard demonstrated his ability to score the ball in a variety of ways. Whether he was shooting from beyond the 3-point arc, blowing by defenders with his quickness, or running the open floor, Hammonds has a well-developed offensive game that was on full display. Defensively, the Constitution guard was a pest, constantly playing tight to ball handlers, forcing turnovers, and starting the break in transition. One of the quickest guards at the camp, it was near impossible to keep Hammonds out of the paint whenever the speedy guard set his mind to it.

Zahree Harrison (2020/Archbishop Wood)
The term gets tossed around a lot, but there’s not many guys who embody what it means to be a floor general more than Harrison. While his deceptive handle draws more attention from the crowd, it’s the little things he does that make him a coach’s dream. Harrison always has his head up looking for the open man and takes greater pride in setting his teammates up than he does in scoring himself. A bit undersized at 5-foot-7, he’ll have to improve his outside jumper to be more of an offensive threat, but Archbishop Wood fans should expect to see a lot of Harrison over the next four years.

El Khana Hidalgo (2019/Paul VI)
Hidalgo just seems like a player that his teammates love to play with. Hidalgo has a knack for finding his teammates and putting them in position to succeed for scores. Hidalgo also demonstrated great slashing and driving ability, using his speed to get himself in good position to score. Hidalgo was also a force on the fast break, either finishing himself after blowing by a defender or making a smart pass to a teammate. Hidalgo also was constantly on his feet when he was on the bench cheering his teammates on.

Luke House (2019/Archbishop Carroll)
Every time House touched the ball anywhere on the court, you could hear echoes throughout the court screaming “Shooter!” House has range from anywhere on the court, whether he is pulling up from three, settling for a jumper from the elbow, or putting his back to the basket and finishing with a fadeaway jumper. House showed the confidence to be able to connect anywhere on the floor. House also filled in the lanes well on fast breaks to finish for two at the rim. House has the potential to be a notable piece for Archbishop Carroll in the PCL in the upcoming future.

Konrad Kiszka (2019/La Salle College HS)
The 6-5 wing had perhaps the individual play of the day, when he took a feed from several steps outside the lane, drove baseline and dunked on two defenders. It was a big-time statement from a fairly soft-spoken sophomore, who’s used to playing with high-level talent on the Team Rio National AAU squad this summer. Already with a Niagara offer in hand, Kiszka has a very good chance to pull in many more scholarships with his length, athleticism and shooting ability, with a quick, high release and a smart shot selection.


Semaj Mills (above) is part of the next generation of Neumann-Goretti guards. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Semaj Mills (2019/Neumann-Goretti)
One of several Neumann-Goretti products in attendance, Mills looked like he could potentially contribute as soon as this coming year for the powerhouse Saints. A wide-shouldered guard, Mills is at his best getting downhill in transition where he’s got great quickness and explosiveness towards the rim. He also uses his physical tools on the defensive end, where he’s very tough guarding the ball and has the strength and athleticism to make plays all over the floor.

Jake Nelson (2019/Bayard Rustin)
Nelson towered over most of his competition on Thursday, showcasing his physical tools and excellent ability to dominate in all areas of the game. The 6-foot-6 wing forward scored using a variety of post moves, powered through contact to finish around the rim, and used his length to get every rebound. Not only does Nelson provide a scoring threat, but the rising sophomore was tough on the defensive end, altering multiple shots in the paint and using excellent positioning to box out would be offensive rebounders. Nelson’s combination of size, athleticism, and skill is phenomenal, and he’ll be a key player for Rustin this season.

Jacob O’Connell (2019/Eastern)
O’Connell very recently picked up his first offer-- from Stony Brook-- after a strong performance at Hoop Group’s Future All-American Camp. The 6-9 big man did not disappoint, continuing his strong play during the summer months. He was effective around the basket, showing he could post up defenders and finish at the rim with touch. He also showed that he can use his athletic ability to run the floor and clean up missed opportunities by teammates in transition. On defense, he was adept at protecting the rim, altering shots with his long wingspan. Look for his recruitment to take off within the next year, especially as he begins to fill out his tall frame.

Christian O’Donnell (2019/Upper Moreland)
One of the bigger eye-openers from the camp was this 5-7 guard, who shined early in drills and carried that momentum right over into the games. Not at all fazed by being one of the least physically imposing players in the event, O'Donnell had no qualms about throwing his body around, playing physical and forcing numerous turnovers on the defensive end with his pestering on-ball skills. And he was no slouch with the ball in his hands, dishing off to teammates with no-look passes on the break and attacking the rim when he got  a lane. One reason why Upper Moreland is a sleeper team to watch in District 1 this year.


Lower Merion's Stephen Payne (above) looks ready to lead the Aces' offense before long. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Stephen Payne (2019/Lower Merion)
Likely to be the next standout guard from Lower Merion, Payne was especially impressive getting to the rim throughout the afternoon. He used his height advantage at 6-1 to finish over smaller point guards consistently, while bigger defenders simply could not stay in front of him off the dribble. Though he excelled in driving to the basket, he was not one dimensional on offense, as he showed off his handle and was able to create/get teammates involved. Defensively, he used his size to advantage as well, sealing off passing lanes and getting his hands on many passes. Payne will likely become more of a household name this winter as a very important player for Gregg Downer’s bunch.

Jaquill Stone (2019/Archbishop Ryan)
As a freshman, Stone helped MCS into the state championship game, and now he’ll be playing in the Catholic League -- and it’s become clear that Stone is a phenomenal talent. Shooting, scoring, facilitating, and defending, this point guard really can do it all. Time and time again, Stone would get a steal in the front court, run the open floor, and either finish through traffic or find the open man for an easy lay in. The rising sophomore is able to get by any defender thanks to his quickness, and navigate through the paint with a multitude of finesse finishes.


Sean Yoder (above) stood out with his versatility and toughness all camp long. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Sean Yoder (2019/Pennridge)
Not the first of his family to come through the Pennridge program -- his older brother Kyle started for the Rams several years back -- the younger Yoder embodies a lot of the traits Dean Behrens develops in his players; namely, his willingness to dive on the floor, play multiple positions and play smart on offense. A 6-3 wing, Yoder was one of the more mature players at the camp in terms of his selfless play, often giving up his body for a loose ball and fighting for rebounds at both ends of the court. A smooth shooter, he kept his form consistent even when shots weren’t falling at first; eventually, they dropped with regularity.

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Honorable Mention: Luke Baldini (2019/La Salle HS), Wesley Butler (2019/Reading), Alex Capitano (2019/Great Valley), Shane Cohen (2019/Lower Moreland), Matt Dade (2019/Episcopal), Kobe DeVine (2019/Sankofa Freedom), Ahmad Fair (2020/Neumann Goretti), Theodore Henry (2019/Lower Merion), Rahdir Hicks (2020/Malvern Prep), Terrance Jones 92019/Lawrenceville), Ryan Holmes (2020/Penn Charter), Aziz Khammassi (2019/Marple Newtown), Alfred Mitchell (2019/North Penn), Omar Nichols (2019/Friends’ Central), Milton Robinson III (2019/Conestoga), Julius Phillips (2019/Archbishop Wood), Nick Roggio (2029/Central Bucks East), Bryce Spriggs (2019/Friends’ Central), Meese Tobey (2019/Ridley), Joe Varhula (2019/Father Judge), Jayden Walsh (2020/Allentown CC)


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