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West Chester 'Big 64' Standouts (Sep. 25-26)

09/29/2021, 9:45am EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

This past weekend was the West Chester ‘Big 64,’ with more than 120 regional teams heading to WCU for at least a couple games of action. CoBL had several reporters check in over the course of the weekend, not able to watch all of the action but getting to see a good chunk of the competition.

Here’s who stood out in games the CoBL staff watched this weekend; (click here for recruiting coverage featuring Imhotep’s Justin Edwards and Lower Merion’s Sam Brown):


Penn State commit Jameel Brown (above) was knocking down shots from deep this weekend. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jameel Brown (2022 | Westtown School, Pa.)
The biggest new face on the Moose this fall is Brown, who’s looking well-integrated into his new team amongst a group of returners who have a couple years of chemistry under their belt. The former Haverford School standout, who’ll be playing at Penn State next fall, displayed the shooting range and ease that made him a four-star recruit, but the 6-foot-4 guard also was taking the ball to the rim and drawing contact, showing he can play the combo guard role at the next level by making some strong passes as well. 

Raijon DiSpensa (2023 | Shipley School, Pa.)
DiSpensa, a 6-8, 185-pound forward, impacted the game in more ways than one. The junior showed his offensive versatility in the first game Sunday, getting to the line and knocking down his foul shots while also finding the open man out of the post and picking up assists. His size allows him to affect the offensive player’s shot, which he showed in the second game, yet he still has the footwork to stick with his man on the perimeter, which he showed on a pickpocket steal at the top of the key in the first game. Once it all comes together, watch out.

Kareem Ewell (2022 | Olympus Prep, N.J.)
A 6-6 wing forward who graduated from the Patrick School (N.J.) and is now doing a post-grad year at Olympus, Ewell was all over the court during a 47-35 win over Westtown. Ewell was an efficient 6-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-3 from the foul line, hitting two of his three 3-point attempts, to get him to 17 points in the victory; the outside shooting isn’t typically a strength of his, but when his shot is going in he’s an effective inside-out scorer who’s not afraid of playing physical. Ewell is strong to the hoop with the ball and can finish through contact, but also gives good second effort and goes after the offensive glass.

Elijah Jones (2022 | Mt. Zion Prep, Md.)
Standing at 6-foot-9, the tallest player on the court for Mt. Zion also made the biggest impact for the Warriors this weekend. Jones is a versatile offensive contributor, scoring from the post, screening for teammates, catching a few lobs and extending his game with a smooth-looking jumper. The senior forward is a committed rebounder, who leverages his frame to box out and his height to grab boards away from opponents. Jones is a solid rim protector and interior defender, altering many shots on Saturday and even pinning a couple off the backboard.

Kyle Jones (2023 | Father Judge, Pa.)
It took a while for Father Judge to get going in its 41-24 win over Shipley during the 10 a.m. slate Sunday, but once the Crusaders did, they didn’t stop. The main catalyst was Jones, a 6-3, 180-pound guard who got to the basket and either scored or drawed a foul on his way to 12 points. He has a tight handle and showed willingness to crash the boards. Jones, who enrolled at Judge this year after playing at Langston Hughes (Ga.), is cousins with Rahsool Diggins (Archbishop Wood, UConn).


St. Joe's Prep wing Jackson Gaffney (above) showed his floor-spacing ability at WCU on Saturday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Jackson Gaffney (2023 | St. Joe’s Prep, Pa.)
With Prep’s seniors on college visits this weekend, it was a young group of Hawks that took its lumps in a couple losses, with Gaffney — an import from the Haverford School — providing some more veteran experience. A 6-7 wing forward, Gaffney is a ‘3’ man with length who can stretch the floor, knocking down multiple jumpers against both Executive Education and Salesianum (Del.), though not the most physical prospect, he also showed a willingness to attack the basket after getting defenders up in the air, and hit several pull-up mid-range jumpers as well. That length and shooting on the perimeter will help Prep navigate through the tough, experienced PCL this year.

Jalil Schenck (2022 | Executive Education, Pa.)
The Raptors’ offense isn’t shy about taking shots, and it starts with Schenck, a 5-9 lead guard with range. Schenck went off for 25 points in a 61-47 win over St. Joe’s Prep, going 10-of-20 overall and 5-of-10 from deep, getting his production spread throughout the course of the 40-minute game. A true gunner, Schenck knows how to work to open spots without the ball in his hands but also will pull up if given space from anywhere around NBA range and within; he’s also a strong on-ball defender, and grabbed 10 rebounds with a pair of assists in the win. Multiple small-college programs are in pursuit.

Gabe Tanner (2024 | Mid Valley, Pa.)
A 6-3, 175-pound wing, Tanner showed a full skillset in a 45-37 loss to Bishop Shanahan during the noon slate. He had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals while handling point guard duties for the majority of the game. The sophomore gets to the rim at ease and will become even more dangerous offensively as his outside shot improves. Defensively, he’s polished already; he averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocked shots per game in his freshman season as Mid Valley made it to the district final before a loss to Scranton Prep. Tanner was invited to the CP3 Rising Stars National Camp in August.

Honorable Mention
Brendan Boyle (2022 I Notre Dame), Olin Chamberlain (2025 | St. Joe’s Prep, Pa.), Zane Domsohn (2022 | Bishop Shanahan, Pa.), Darrien Grady (2023 I Shipley), Larenzo Jerkin (2024 I Chester), Sean Howlett (2022 | Notre Dame), Isaiah Hynson (2024 | Salesianum School, Del.), Paul King (2023 I Father Judge), Demetrius Lilley (2022 I Lower Merion), Jaron McKie (2025 | St. Joe’s Prep, Pa.), Justin Moore (2022 I Archbishop Wood, Pa.), Khaafiq Myers (2024 | Neumann-Goretti), Kevin Rucker (2024 I Chester), Moustapha Sanoh (2023 | Executive Education, Pa.), Masud Stewart (2022 | Neumann-Goretti)


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