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CoBL Interstate Shootout Day One Standouts (Sept. 10)

09/11/2022, 7:15am EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

The 7th Annual CoBL Interstate Shootout brought 70 teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to the courts at Friends’ Central and Haverford College this weekend for yet another fantastic weekend of hoops in front of dozens of college coaches, as well as the CoBL staff and other assorted media.

Here’s the CoBL staff’s picks for standouts from Saturday’s action at Friends Central:

Zaki Alston (2023 | Sankofa Freedom)

In a game where points were hard to come by, Alston found a way to get the ball in the hoop, scoring 17 in a 37-31 win over Montgomery (N.J.) to begin his day and rolled that into another strong showing against Egg Harbor (N.J.. Alston showed off his range with a 3-point shot in the first half against Montgomery, but he did most of his work inside the arc. He was also a disruptive presence defensively for Sankofa.

Brandon Benjamin (2024 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
Benjamin demonstrated his ability to dominate a game, scoring 24 points in Bergen Catholic’s 56-51 victory over Neumann-Goretti on Saturday. The 6-8 forward showed off his athleticism and ability to run the floor, scoring on four transition opportunities including a tough alley-oop layup and a breakaway dunk. The senior has strong footwork inside allowing him to create shots for himself and for his teammates.


Neshaminy's Sean Curley goes up for a shot against Brick Memorial (N.J.)

 Sean Curley (2023 | Neshaminy)
Curley brought it from the jump on Saturday, pouring in 21 points in the opening set against Brick Memorial (N.J.).The 6-1 point guard buried three 3-pointers, showing off his range, and got to his spots in the mid-range for pull-up jumpers. While the shooting is Curley’s biggest attribute, he can also get to the paint and finish around the rim with solid touch. The talents he showed off at the Shootout have drawn interest from Division III programs like Scranton, Haverford, Gettysburg and TCNJ.

Jacen Holloway (2023 | Devon Prep)
After a quiet first game against St. Peter’s Prep, Holloway bounced back, scoring 23 points to lead Devon Prep to a 43-37 win over Rutgers Prep. The 6-4 senior small forward made some crucial plays down the stretch including scoring eight straight to give his team the lead midway through the second. He went on to seal the game with two strong finishes in the final two minutes to keep Rutgers Prep at bay. The recent West Point commit demonstrated his ability to score at all three levels, knocking down multiple threes and midrange jumpers to go along with the tough finishes inside.

Khaafiq Myers (2024 | Neumann-Goretti)
Myers, a 5-11 point guard, did all the little things well in the Shootout, showing what makes the undersized ball-handler so valuable. He led the Saints to a victory over Teaneck (N.J.) then had a strong effort in a narrow loss to Bergen Catholic (N.J). While Myers can certainly score and distribute to teammates, his ability to defend and grab rebounds make him an all-around weapon at the high school level. Despite being small, he has a great motor that allows him to maintain high energy, box out and chase down loose balls to create extra opportunities for his team.


Bergen Catholic's Chidi Nwigwe handles the ball against ANC. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Chidi Nwigwe (2026 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.)
The 6-6 wing got the start in both of Bergen Catholic’s matchups on Saturday afternoon and did not disappoint. Nwigwe had 14 points in the team’s 41-40 loss to Academy New Church, followed by a 10-point performance in a 56-51 win over Neumann-Goretti. The freshman has a versatile skill set with the ability to score down low and knock down the midrange jumper. Nwigwe also demonstrated his ability to distribute the ball, breaking down the zone on offense and making sound decisions in transition.

Gioacchino Panzini (2024 | St. Rose, N.J.)
One of several impressive newcomers for second-year head coach Brian Lynch — who, like the rest of the N.J. coaches, aren’t allowed to coach their teams this time of year and thus have to watch from the far sidelines — Panzini had his shot working for him in St. Rose’s game against Academy New Church on Saturday evening. The 6-5 guard has the look and feel of a scholarship guard with his confidence and smooth outside shot, as well as ability to put the ball on the floor in the open court and make something happen. Panzini’s been hearing from several high-academic Division Is and has an upcoming visit to Colgate, but is still chasing his first offer.

Chauncey Presley (2023 | Math, Civics & Sciences)
A 6-1 point guard, Presley set the pace as MCS defeated St. Rose (N.J.) on Saturday afternoon. He pushed the ball in transition throughout the game, setting up teammates with creative passes and looking to attack the basket himself as well. His passing ability created a number of open opportunities for others. Presley demonstrated skill in the half court as well, penetrating with the ball in his hands and being a willing shooter off the catch. He caused havoc on defense throughout the day as well. The senior ball-handler has heard from Division II programs East Stroudsburg and Chestnut Hill.

Keishon Sellers (2023 | Cherokee, N.J.)

Sellers concluded Saturday’s activity with a contested bucket inside for an overtime game-winner against Upper Merion. A wiry and bouncy athlete, Sellers displayed some craftiness around the rim, particularly in transition. He led his team with 15 points in the win over the Vikings and got the line handful of times. Sellers also has a solid looking jumper, knocking down one long ball in the win.


ANC's Deywilk Tavarez shoots a free throw. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Deywilk Tavarez (2023 | Academy New Church)
In an 41-40 overtime win against Bergen Catholic, Tavarez led his Academy New Church squad with two clutch threes, one to send it to overtime, and one to clinch the first-to-three overtime. The 6-1 guard finished with 15 points, including three triples, while also creating opportunities for his teammates along the way. The senior’s ball-handling and passing skills were on full display as he dished out multiple assists in the lane and in transition opportunities.  

Tyler Tejada (2023 | Teaneck, N.J.)
Tejada’s going to have to carry a big load for a young Teaneck squad this year, and he did just that in a pair of close losses on Saturday. Fresh off a commitment to Towson this week, the 6-foot-8 forward was productive against both Neumann-Goretti and Math Civics & Sciences, scoring 20-plus points against the Saints. Tejada’s got a solid handle and can create his own shot from the perimeter as well as get to the hoop, though he sometimes settles for mid-range jumpers (which he can make at a decent clip). He’s best when driving and using his length to take advantage of mismatches.

Jackson Tindall (2023 | St. Peter’s Prep, N.J.)
The 6-6 forward played with toughness and aggression as he led St. Peter’s Prep to a 52-37 victory over Devon Prep. Tindall finished with 16 points, including 10 in the first half. The senior wing showed off his post-play with multiple strong finishes around the basket including a spin move finish with his left. On the other end, Tindall used his length and athleticism to create deflections and disrupt plays.

Robert Wright III (2024 | Neumann-Goretti)
Fresh off his commitment to Baylor earlier in the week, Wright was as smooth as ever in the Interstate Shootout. With the ball in his hands, the 6-1 guard can maneuver past defenders with a combination of handle and burst. He also has a quick release that makes his outside shot such a problem; and when Teaneck went zone and lost him in transition multiple times, Wright made them pay over and over. Wright scored a game-high 28 points against Bergen Catholic, making it clear why he’s considered one of the top high school prospects around.

Honorable Mentions

Devon Allen (2025 | Upper Merion), Jordan Atkins (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Dior Carter (2026 | Academy New Church), Jadin Collins (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Terry Copeland (2024 | Bergen Catholic, N.J.), Tyler Dandrea (2024 | Central Bucks East), Matt Gardler (2025 | Marple Newtown), Joey Giordano (2023 | Central Bucks East), Jayden Hodge (2025 | St. Rose, N.J.), Matthew Hodge (2024 | St. Rose, N.J.), Judd Holt (2025 | Cherokee, N.J.), Larenzo Jerkins (2024 | Neumann-Goretti), Jerell Keel (2023 | Academy New Church), Keith McKnight (2025 | Teaneck, N.J.), Josh Michigan (2023 | Brick Memorial, N.J.), Nico Pena (2024 | St. Peter’s Prep), Cameron Piggee (2023 | Rutgers Prep, N.J.), Tyler Scarpulla (2023 | Devon Prep), Devin Swayze (2024 | Upper Merion), Nathan Townsend (2024 | Neshaminy), Jamil Wilkins (2023 | Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.), Nasseem Wright (2024 | Math, Civics & Sciences)


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