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CoBL/Nexxt Level Shootout: Day One Standouts (Sep. 23)

09/23/2017, 11:45pm EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

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The 4th annual CoBL/Nexxt Level Shootout got underway on Saturday, with 24 teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware in action.

Here are our picks for standouts from the first day of the event:

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Jake Betlow (2019/St. Benedict’s)
Betlow was one of the best shooters in the building on Saturday. His quick release makes him a dangerous catch-and-shoot threat if he can get a few inches of space, and he didn’t hesitate to fire when he got his feet set with some room. The 6-foot-3 guard heated up quickly in the second half of St. Benedict’s second game of the day against Abington. Betlow also did a good job handling pressure out top and getting the ball to his teammates.

Rodney Carson (2019/Girard College)
In his first ever game with Girard College, Carson showed he fits right in with the defending PIAA Class A runner-ups, who looked as dangerous as ever on Saturday. The Cheltenham transfer combined tremendous athletic ability with an impressive feel for the game on Saturday. Rather than force unnecessary shots, Carson used his dribble to create open looks for teammates, playing more of a guard role than the wing he previously played. He also helped force turnovers on defense to allow Girard to get out and run.


Abington's Eric Dixon (above) couldn't be stopped during his two games at the CoBL/Nexxt Level Shootout. (Photo: Tommy Smith/CoBL)

Eric Dixon (2019/Abington)
The hefty 6-8, 245-pound big man has been the most productive underclassman in the area over the last two seasons, and now he’s turning into one of its’ most talented upperclassmen. Dixon had a tremendous summer for WeR1’s 16Us, pulling in offers from the likes of Virginia, Miami (Fl.), Penn State, Oklahoma State, Georgetown and more; he showed why quickly on Saturday morning. The lefty demands the ball in the post and the Ghosts feed him often, and there wasn’t much defenders could do to stop him -- Dixon hit, among many other shots, a fadeaway 14-foot baseline jumper, a smooth step-back left-wing three and a one-dribble pull-up from just inside the arc, to go along with his stellar rebounding abilities.

Kevin Dodds (2018/Bishop Shanahan)
Dodds is just solid. That’s the best way to describe him. His passing ability? Solid. Rebounding? Solid. All-around performance? Solid. Every time he takes the court. Though he’s a little undersized for a true post at 6-6, the lefty knows how to play hoops and takes advantage of that ability. He’s got a strong frame, utilizing his lower body to establish his spot in the post, and he’s got great feel from 15 feet and in, including a smooth face-up jumper to the foul line extended. Neither Salesianum nor Winslow Twp. had an answer for Dodds on Saturday afternoon, and Shanahan was perfectly content to go back to its big man over and over to come away with two wins.

Caleb Fields (2018/Wildwood Catholic)
Fields was instant offense for Wildwood Catholic. He showed the ability to play on and off the ball. Field made threes off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. He also used a quick first step to drive past his defender. Fields is a big, physical guard, which makes it hard to take the ball off him. He also showed off strong defensive capabilities at the top of Wildwood’s 3-2 zone, bothering some very impressive opposing guards into giving up the ball time and time again when he was on the court.

Carl Gibson Jr. (2019/Cherry Hill East)
Gibson mixed efficiency with productivity on the offensive end. He didn’t force shots unless they came naturally through the offense, yet he scored 20 points in his final game of the day. Gibson was dialed in from 3-point range. The 6-2 guard also showed the ability to get into the lane and finish with a lethal floater or get to the rim. One of several juniors in the East starting lineup, Gibson is the most talented player on the squad; how he plays will go a big way in determining how they finish in South Jersey Group 4, as he can best help get East’s bevy of shooters their looks.

Ajiri Johnson (2018/Bonner-Prendergast)
Johnson is in an interesting position for a big man: as a senior and the only returning starter from last year’s Friars, he’s automatically in a leadership position. But as a big man and one who’s only been at the school for two years, Johnson is still getting adjusted to playing high-level basketball, and his growth is taking leaps and bounds. But it’s clear the 6-8 forward is going to be all over the court this year for Bonner, due if only due to his motor and athleticism; Johnson was productive whenever he was on the court in Bonner’s pair of games: grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, finishing around the rim. Drexel, Lafayette, NJIT, Monmouth and others are all in the mix.

Lucas Monroe (2019/ Abington)
Monroe has tremendous size for the point guard spot. At 6-foot-5 he is much bigger than most lead guards at the high school level. Monroe does a little bit of everything for Abington. He rebounded, set up teammates for assists, blocked shots, forced steals and scored the ball. He has a solid mid-range jumper and can use his body to get buckets inside. The only thing missing from his game is an outside shot; Monroe did not shoot many threes on Saturday.

Paul Mulcahy (2019/Gill St. Bernard)
It’s tough to describe just what exactly Mulcahy is -- but he’s a flat-out basketball player. The 6-5 wing isn’t quite a point guard, as he doesn’t have an elite handle or much of an outside shooting ability at this point. But for his size, he does have the ability to create quite well off the bounce, and he’s got elite-level court vision and ability to make passes on the move, which fit in well in a GSB attack that often passed the ball five or six times in quick succession before a shot; he also made a few impressive finishes around the rim. Rutgers, Seton Hall and more have already offered Mulcahy, who’s a reliable jumper away from being a seriously high-level talent due to his size, wingspan, athleticism and general basketball IQ.


Justin Paz (above) hit the game-winner to lift Bethlehem Catholic to a big win over St. Benedict's. (Photo: Tommy Smith/CoBL)

Justin Paz (2019/Bethlehem Catholic
A shifty combo guard who spends about equal time playing on and off the ball for BeCaHi, Paz shook off a shaky opening half to lead his team to two tight wins. With his shot falling from outside, he was able to use his quick handle and straight-line speed to get into the lane where he could finish with a variety of crafty layups or dish to open teammates. The highlight of Paz's day was an off-foot runner in the middle of the lane to send the Golden Hawks to an opening win over St. Benedict's in what was perhaps the best game of the entire day.

Isaiah Sanders (2018/Timber Creek)
Sanders was a matchup problem offensively and defensively on Sunday afternoon. The 6-foot-4 guard was able to attack off the dribble and get into the lane pretty much anytime he wanted, often drawing contact and getting to the foul line. On defense, his long arms closed down passing lanes and his quick feet prevented smaller guards from getting by him. Sanders also showed a nice shooting form from outside. Sanders was probably most impressive in transition, where he showed off his finishing ability and athleticism. He ended the day with two powerful one-handed slams on the fast break.

Peter Sorber (2019/Gill St. Bernard)
A solid-bodied 6-8 forward, Sorber opened eyes early in Gill St. Bernard’s first game of the day with some big-time blocks, getting a surprising amount of lift for his frame. He had a strong pair of games as he continues to adjust to Gill St. Bernard, after playing last year at Notre Dame (N.J.). Sorber seemed to play tentative when he was first coming up through the high school ranks, but his motor and understanding of what to do as a big man has much improved; he’s still lacking for elite size, but is clearly tracking Division I at this point as he continues to make leaps and bounds in his development. By the time he hits the 17U AAU circuit next spring, he’s going benefit greatly in terms of his recruitment.

Taj Thweatt (2020/Wildwood Catholic)
It’s tough to believe that Thweatt is only a sophomore. The 6-5 wing has some impressive physical tools, with a strong upper and lower body as well as the ability to finish above the rim with ease. Now it’s about turning from just an elite athlete into a real basketball player, and Thweatt is making very good progress in that regard; he’s got a great feel for moving and cutting to the rim, getting a lot of production by strong rolls to the hoop and the ability to catch and finish even through traffic. He’s a strong and capable defender as well. If he continues to work on his handle and outside shot to be able to play the true ‘3’, his recruitment will skyrocket over the next 12-18 months.

Lance Ware (2020/Camden)
In terms of raw upside, there might not have been a better prospect in the building all day long. A 6-foot-9 wing forward with an even longer wingspan, Ware played the ‘3’, ‘4’ and ‘5’ for “The High,” where he’ll play this year after spending his freshman season at Life Center Academy. Defensively, he showed off some impressive shot-blocking abilities in the post, challenging quite a bit around the rim as a primary defender while also coming as a help defender for some louder swats. Offensively, the lefty can put the ball on the floor several times and can pass with both hands on the attack. The biggest thing right now for Ware is learning to play with a high motor at all times, whether he has the ball in his hands or not.

Honorable Mention: Ebrima Dibba (2018/St. Benedict’s, N.J.), Anthony DiCaro (2019/Cherokee), Gavin Gibson (2020/Cherokee), Mikeal Jones (2020/Girard College), Dominic London (2018/Octorara), Collin MacAdams (2018/Central Bucks West), Robert Mangum (2018/Winslow Twp.), Zach Moran (2018/St. John Vianney), Joe O’Malley (2019/Bishop Shanahan), Michael Perretta (2019/Bonner-Prendergast), Dienye Petersid (2018/Cherry Hill East), Alex Schachne (2018/Gill St. Bernard), Scott Spann (2019/Sankofa FreedoM), Myles Thompson (2018/Camden), Chad Weldon (2018/Pennsbury), Raylil Winton (2018/Pennsbury), Isaiah Wong (2019/Bonner-Prendergast), Ryan Young (2018/Bethlehem Catholic)


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