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CoBL College Exposure Camp Standouts (May 7)

05/07/2017, 11:30pm EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The first CoBL College Exposure Camp of 2017 brought together well over 100 high school juniors and seniors (and a few sophomores) to the courts at USciences for a day of drills and games in front of coaches from over 60 Division II and Division III schools.

Here are our staff’s picks for standouts from our deepest camp yet:

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Greg Barton (above) was one of the most physically impressive prospects at the camp, with game to match. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Greg Barton (2018/Downingtown West, Pa.)
Based purely on physical attributes alone, Barton was one of the most promising prospects in the building. The 6-foot-6 wing has length, moves well in all directions and can get his head to the rim with ease, and is starting to figure out how to use all of that to be very effective on the court. Barton’s still rather raw, especially in terms of how much muscle he can add to a rather thin frame, but his “wow” moments were up there with anybody in the camp. Defensively, he can guard all five positions at the D-II level and has great timing as a shot blocker. Offensively, he’s a transition problem with a developing half-court game.

Joey Belli (2018/Wayne Hills, N.J.)
There are certain point guards that just have the game in control when they’re on the floor, and Belli was one of the best on the day in that category. The 6-0, 170-pound guard rarely made mistakes in either transition or the half court, understanding when to take advantage of situations and when to back out and set up the offense; he also proved he can score it, with a smooth jumper and strong finishes around the bucket. A strong student, Belli’s going to have a lot of colleges from various levels on him as schools look for someone who can run their offense for the next four years.

Isiah Cook (2017/Reading)
The starting point guard on the 6A state champions was one of several available seniors who attended the camp looking for one final chance to impress college coaches, and Cook certainly took advantage of that opportunity. The 6-2 lead guard is crafty as they come, with the athleticism to seemingly float through the air to make plays around the rim, confounding defenders with his handle and speed to get into the teeth of the defense and make things happen. Knows how to use the glass excellently for layups, including several off-hand layups he somehow spun up and in. Defensively, he brings the Red Knights' aggressive style to the floor, sometimes taking a few too many gambles but overall causing more problems for his opponents than he creates for his own team.

Harrison Eichelberger (2018/Westtown School, Pa.)
An overlooked prospect on a supremely talented Moose roster -- quite a few of his Westtown teammates have NBA aspirations -- Eichelberger showed signs of the capability to have a breakout summer of his own. A 6-7 forward, Eichelberger showcased his ability to knock down the long ball and finish strong at the rim. The rising senior scored at least 10 points in each of his games on Sunday, proving he is capable of taking over and scoring for his team when they need a basket, but he also impressed with his fluidity and effort on the defensive end as well. A strong summer with Team Final Black could land Eichelberger a scholarship at quite a few D-II programs.

Aidan Ellwood (2018/Northampton, Pa.)
No stranger to the CoBL camp setting, Ellwood showed a much improved offensive game on Sunday. While most of his baskets came in transition, the 6-foot-1 guard also displayed his ability to catch the ball on the wing and blow by his defenders to get to the rim with ease, scoring as many as 18 points in one game. A Lehigh Valley native, the southpaw played best when he could get out and run for a fast break opportunity or dish it out to a teammate for a 3-pointer. Never lets himself play too fast, which translates to good things happening on the court.

Ryan Hughes (2018/Middletown, Pa.)
One of the best scorers in the central part of the state came out to Philadelphia and showed he can hang with talent from all over. The 6-foot-3 guard with long arms has a perfect frame for an off guard, though he’s got quite a bit more room to add some muscle. Hughes has an exquisite knack for getting to the hoop, as evidenced by performances mounting to as many as 20 points, including several challenging finishes over defenders, and he’s got a smooth jumper as well. He’s not a top-end athlete and not the quickest on the court (though certainly not bad in either area), but his talent helps make up for a lot of that.


Amear Johnson (above) was silky smooth with the ball in his hands, and showed off an improved jumper. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Amear Johnson (2018/Imhotep Charter, Pa.)
One of two standouts from an Imhotep team that finished in the top-5 of most national polls, Johnson proved that he’s capable of being a significant contributor for the Panthers as a senior. An athletic and fluid 6-foot-5 wing, he’s at his best in the open floor where he has a variety of moves and crafty finishes around the basket. What could really separate Johnson over the next year, though, is the development of his perimeter jumper; he showed great strides in that regard, knocking down four triples in his final game of the day with a couple of them coming off the dribble and with a defender in his face.

Jerry Kapp (2018/Boyertown, Pa.)
Watching Kapp on Sunday, it was easy to see why he averaged 23 ppg at Boyertown last season. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound wing had his mind set on knocking down treys and did just that, showcasing his ability to create space on offense and raining down shot after shot from beyond the arc; he scored a total of 44 points over his team’s three games on the day. What really set him apart today was what he did otherwise, finding teammates on the break even when covered by multiple defenders and displaying quick hands on the defensive end, forcing numerous turnovers as the day went on. Size and competitiveness plus an ability to impact the game at both ends makes for a scholarship-level guard, and Kapp looked the part today.

Nick Leski (2018/St. Mark’s, Del.)
A big-bodied (6-3, 200-pound) guard from the First State, Leski was certainly confident in his abilities, and did a great job of just bringing his game to USciences. He likes to put the ball on the floor and go baseline, with a smooth pull-up jumper from the mid-range, and he’s also above average at finding teammates when he’s attacking the rim; he also showed he can post up a bit against smaller guards and uses the glass well on lay-ins. Defensively, Leski knows how to use his size to his advantage, bodying up opponents to force them out of their rhythm and displaying great box-out abilities.

Bernard Lightsey (2018/Imhotep Charter, Pa.)
After playing a supporting role on a loaded Imhotep squad that featured three Division I-bound seniors and a slew of young talent, Lightsey got a chance today to show what he could do as a featured player and certainly made the most of the opportunity. A strong and compact 6-foot-1 guard, he had his trademark 3-point stroke on display but was equally as impressive getting into the lane and finding open shooters. At this point, Lightsey is a surefire scholarship-level player and will have a chance to earn some low-major Division I looks himself with a strong summer and senior season.

Ricki Lopez (2018/Reading, Pa.)
A hard-working 6-4 forward, Lopez certainly showed just why Reading won the 6A state championship this year with his motor and grit throughout the day. Lopez was relentless on the glass even against forwards with a few inches on him, keeping boards alive with second and third-tip efforts, and he knew how to get defenders up in the air and then get to the line as well. And while some of the big men at the camp got sucked into straying too far from the rim, Lopez knew where his bread-and-butter was, and stuck to it for a productive afternoon of games. A terrific athlete, Lopez will win over a lot of coaches for his ability to step out and guard guards while producing on the offensive end purely on hustle alone.


Collin MacAdams (above) was relentless attacking the rim on Sunday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Collin MacAdams (2018/Central Bucks West, Pa.)
In drills and warmups, MacAdams looked really to impress, and he carried that right over into the afternoon's game sessions. The 6-5 wing loves to play physical on both ends of the floor, inviting contact when going to the rim so he can attempt to get to the foul line -- where he's very consistent -- and he makes enough 3-pointers to force defenders to respect his ability to square up and knock it down. MacAdams is getting more and more vocal on the court as his leadership abilities grow; he's also really active without the ball, looking to take advantage of mismatch situations whenever possible. Certainly a scholarship-level player, but at what level depends on his continued improving athleticism and outside shot.

DaQuan Morris (2018/Hill School, Pa.)
A heady 6-0 guard who can play either backcourt spot with ease, Morris sets himself apart with some impressive athleticism to go along with a great basketball IQ and ability to score and defend. The Hill School junior is fluid with the ball in his hands and loves to get one dribble past his defender, where he can either pull up with a consistent 14-foot jumper or rise up and hit an open teammate on the perimeter for an open look. Hits the glass well and his vertical makes him a threat to grab a lot coming off the rim. Used to playing against a high level of competition in the MAPL and it shows.

Jacob O’Connell (2019/Eastern HS, N.J.)
The highest-level prospect in attendance today, O’Connell made it clear why he’s earned scholarship offers from Stony Brook and Columbia as well as interest from a host of mid-major programs. Standing at 6-foot-10, he had previously done the bulk of his work right around the basket, but is clearly starting to expand his game; he looked comfortable knocking down mid-range jumpers off the catch and even put the ball on the floor from the high post on more than one occasion. If he continues on his current trajectory, the budding young big man has a chance to establish himself as one of the top post prospects in the area.

Julius Phillips (2019/Archbishop Wood, Pa.)
One of the few underclassmen on Sunday, Phillips is no stranger to playing with talent. Coming off of an historic season with the super talented roster of Archbishop Wood, the 6-foot-5 wing showed his above-the-rim talent with his rim-rocking slams. A jump shot and ball handling skills will be vital to his development, but two more successful years at Wood should help Phillips pick up some Division I looks. He’s a very willing rebounder and defender, traits which will certainly help no matter where he plays at the next level, and now it’s about refining the product within.


Isaiah Sanders (above) has some Division I potential with his body and developing all-around game. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Isaiah Sanders (2018/Timber Creek, N.J.)
A wing guard with a college-ready body, Sanders certainly doesn’t take long to catch your attention when he takes the floor, at 6-4 and 175 pounds. And it’s certainly more than just looks for the South Jersey standout, who’s got a smooth athleticism that he displays with every movement, whether he’s attacking the rim or guarding his man defensively. He’s also not just a raw specimen, however, with a beautiful-looking shot that, combined with his height and rise on his jumper, is very tough to defend. Continued work on his catch-and-shoot ability and he’ll have a lot of scholarship opportunities.

Andrew Seager (2018/Ocean Twp. N.J.)
One of the most fluid scorers at the camp, Seager did most of his damage inside the arc, finishing with both hands around the hoop. The 6-foot-7 lanky forward finished with 17 points on two separate occasions on Sunday, showing his natural athleticism, catching the ball in transition and gliding to the basket with ease. If a consistent outside shot is implemented into Seager’s plethora of moves, expect Division I coaches to reach out to the Jersey Shore native.

Xavier Starks (2018/Reading, Pa.)
A role player coming off the bench during his junior year for the state champion Red Knights, Starks showed an improved game on both ends of the floor. Defensively, the 6-foot-1 wing had no problem taking a charge or chasing down his opponents in transition for a block. The southpaw also displayed the ability to shoot from deep or put the ball on the floor and fearlessly attack the rim. A strong senior season could help spark Starks recruitment.

Travis Stoll (2018/St. Augustine Prep, N.J.)
At 6-foot-2, Stoll was one of the most athletic players on Sunday, exploding for big slams on numerous occasions. In addition to rising above the rims, the South Jersey native showed an impressive rebounding ability for a guard, utilizing his ups to at the very least tip the ball out to a teammate if not outright secure it himself. Offensively, he wasn’t afraid to attack the hoop, especially in transition, and though his shot wasn’t falling at a high rate today until late, his form was one of the best at the camp. If Stoll’s progression continues, expect the athletic wing to make a Division II school happy next fall.

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Honorable Mention: Magd Abdelwahab (2018/Upper Darby, Pa.), David Angelo (2018/Bishop Shanahan, Pa.) Bryce Barrouk (2018/West Chester Rustin), Sidney Brown (2017/Winslow Twp., N.J.), Casey Caruso (2018/Camp Hill, Pa.), Will Colleran (2018/Valley Forge Military, Pa.), Trevor Covey (2018/Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.), Matthew Dade (2019/Episcopal Academy, Pa.), Kevin Dodds (2018/Bishop Shanahan, Pa.), Cooper Driscoll (2018/Strath Haven, Pa.) Tony Godwin (2018/North Plainfield, N.J.), Patrick Higgins (2019/Pennington School, N.J.), Jacob Hunt (2018/Brandywine, Del.), Austin Laughlin (2018/Garnet Valley, Pa.), Lotom Leinzon (2018/Perkiomen School, Pa.), Khyree Lloyd (2018/Bartram, Pa.), Dante Masino (2018/Highland, N.J.), Taylor Mason (2018/Hughesville, Pa.) Matt McMahon (2018/La Salle College HS, Pa.), Alfred Mitchell (2019/North Penn, Pa.), Stuart McAvoy (2018/Downingtown West, Pa.), Connor O’Brien (2018/Garnet Valley, Pa.), Amir Pettiford (2018/Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), Jake Reese (2018/Downingtown West, Pa.), Alex Serrano (2018/Liberty), Chad Weldon (2018/Pennsbury, Pa.), Raylil Winton (2018/Pennsbury, Pa.)


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