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2022 West Chester Big 64 Recruiting Notebook (Sept. 24-25)

09/27/2022, 4:15pm EDT
By Owen McCue and Josh Verlin

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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West Chester’s Big 64 brought plenty of talent-laden squads to the area this past weekend for some high-level games. CoBL caught up with some of the top local prospects in attendance as well as a few out-of-towners to check in on their recruitment status.

Here’s the coverage of the player we spoke to on Saturday and Sunday:

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Jalil Bethea (2024 | Archbishop Wood)

Much like he rocketed toward the rim on several occasions Sunday at the West Chester Big 64, the Vikings’ junior 6-4 guard saw his recruitment take off this past summer.


Archbishop Wood 2024 guard Jalil Bethea dunks the ball on Sunday at the WCU Big 64. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

After coming off the bench for Archbishop Wood last season, Bethea had a chance to play the role of go-to guy for the Vikings during the June live periods and followed with an eye-opening performance at Peach Jam in July that truly put him on the national radar.

“I made a bigger jump from last year to this year,” Bethea said. “It just comes from working out and stuff. I’m going to have to play a bigger role and step up because nobody really knew me last year. I just had to work harder to get my name out there.”

Already holding a handful of Division I offers, including locals Temple and St. Joe’s, Bethea played himself into a high-major offeree during the June live period when he picked up Mississippi State. 

Then came a breakout on the national stage at Peach Jam, as he helped Team Final to a semifinal run with some terrific performances, including a 33-point outing. 

When UCLA and Villanova both extended offers soon after on July 25, it was clear Bethea had the attention of the ‘blue bloods’ as well.

“It was great. Those have been my dream schools since I was a little kid,” Bethea said. “I was just excited, anxious, even when they texted me.”

His recruitment hasn’t stalled this fall as Miami and Seton Hall have both offered him within the past two weeks.

Along with the aforementioned schools, Bethea’s list includes Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, VCU, Fairfield and Bryant — all from this summer — and Mount St. Mary’s, Radford, Albany, Jacksonville and Robert Morris — from before and during his sophomore season.

St. John’s, Penn State and Virginia are a few others who have already checked up on him this fall and Archbishop Wood head coach John Mosco expects a number of high-major programs making their way to Warminster before the season, mentioning Virginia Tech amongst the list of schools slated to attend open gyms in the near future.

“Guys gotta get eyes on him. He’s blowing up and it’s gonna be up to him where he wants to go,” Mosco said.

Bethea’s shooting ability is his defining trait. His quick release, beautiful form and ability to convert the long ball at a high rate off both the catch-and-shoot and dribble have many in the area already asking how he ranks among some of the top shooters to come through the city recently.

On Sunday, Bethea, who broke into the national rankings in August (No. 80 on 247Sports), showcased why he has the potential to keep his stock rising. In a 17-points outing against Rocktop Academy and 23-point against Olympus Prep, he knocked seven threes but he also rose up and threw down dunks in transition and in traffic in the half-court; he made some terrific passes to teammates when the defense started to narrow in on him; he used his athleticism to help the guard-heavy Vikings on the boards and impact the game defensively.

“People really think I’m really only just a shooter,” Bethea said. “I gotta show people that I’m not only just a shooter. I can pass, dribble, I can play defense.”

Bethea took a trip to Los Angeles and an unofficial visit to UCLA in late August and an official visit to Temple in mid-September. He also went to a Penn State football game with Team Final teammate Thomas Sorber (more on him below) for an unofficial visit.

Auburn is another high-major program who has been in touch with him. He also mentioned Miami has continued to follow up since offering on Sept. 15. There’s an obvious connection to Villanova with the Wildcats most recent star Colin Gillespie hailing from Wood, and Bethea said the two are very close. Gillespie recently sparred with Temple and Haverford product Shizz Alston in Bethea’s Instagram messages after he posted a picture in an Owls uniform following his visit.

Like Mosco, noted Bethea will likely have his pick of which school he wants to attend at some point. At the moment, Bethea is excited to continue playing and watching his game grow. He only has two varsity starts under his belt.

.“I’m just going with the flow right now,” Bethea said. — Owen McCue

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Matt Gilhool (2024 | Westtown)

Last December, Philly Pride coach Brandon Williams tweeted out: “Good morning. Matt Gilhool still has not received a D1 offer. That is all.”


Westtown's Matt Gilhool is one of the area's top trending prospects at the moment. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Gilhool was on the radar of D1 coaches but no one had yet made it clear they coveted the big man’s services. Fast forward nine months and it’s even more head scratching what they were waiting for.

A lot has changed for Gilhool. Most tweets about him now are updates about a new school added to his list  — most recently Maryland last week. After receiving his first Division 1 offers from Penn State in June, the 6-10 2024 forward has seen his list grow to double digits.

“It was a shock. I didn’t expect any of it,” Gilhool said. “It kind of just came, and a lot of hard work went into that.”

Growing up about two hours away in Elizabethtown, Penn State has always been on Gilhool’s radar. He took an unofficial visit to State College last October and did so again on June 4, when the Nittany Lions became the first Division I program to give him an offer.

It was special to have PSU as the first school on his list.

“I’ve always been a Penn State fan. I’ve always really liked the school. My dad’s family all went to Penn State, so that was pretty cool.”

Of course things haven’t stopped with the Nittany Lions as Bryant and Rutgers joined the list before the end of June. Mississippi State, Iona, West Virginia and Fairfield came through with offers in July and St. John’s did the same in early August.

Within the last month, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh (on unofficial visit Sept. 10), Miami and Maryland have joined his list of suitors.

Gilhool said Notre Dame is another program that has reached out and Williams added Ohio State, SMU and Florida are others interested in the Westtown big man.

“I’ve kind of just had my coach, coach Brandon do it all, so it hasn’t been really stressful, but honestly it’s been super fun,” Gilhool said.

Gilhool had 14 points against West Caholic on Sunday and gave a glimpse at what college coaches are finally seeing. At 6-10, he has terrific coordination for a young big and a list of post moves inside. He also showed off some wing skills, attacking with the dribble from the top of the key and pushing the ball in transition. He thinks one of his biggest assets is being a 6-10 player who can use ball screens to create mismatches, something Maryland talked with him about

“They just think I can be a person who can do a little bit of everything,” Gilhool said. “I can rebound for them and I can push the balli into fast break opportunities, start setting up plays and stuff, using screens.”

“I’m definitely getting more physical. I’m just getting better touch around the rim. I used to be just throwing the ball against the backboard. Now, I’m finishing a lot better. My jump shot’s coming along.”

Westtown began its open gyms last week. He said Miami and Notre Dame will be at open gym on Wednesday to see him He said he’s not certain but he believes he will be at Penn State for the football game against Ohio State on Oct. 29.

The status of his recruitment isn’t the only thing different this fall as he decided last winter that he’d play at Westtown this season to try and help develop his game any more.

He’s already seeing the benefits, heading to the gym several times, something he couldn’t do in public school.

“Any time I want to get in there, I can get in there. And it’s helping me,” Gilhool said. — Owen McCue

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Ty Bevins (2024 | Gwynn Park, Md.) 


Gwynn Park 2024 guard Ty Bevins wants to play for a college coach with NBA experience, like Temple's Aaron McKie. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

A 6-foot-5 combo guard with a handful of high-level Division I offers in his pocket before his junior year of high school even began, Bevins — like many others in that position — has his sights set on playing at the highest levels down the line. And that means he’s intrigued by programs led by coaches who’ve been there, done that.

“I just want to look for the right fit, focus on the fit, wanting to learn, head coach [having] been in the NBA,” he said. “I want to play for a guy that’s been through the process and wants to help his guys get to where he was.

So far, Bevins has two offers with NBA veterans as head coaches: Georgetown, to where Patrick Ewing extended an offer last October; and Temple, whose Aaron McKie extended a scholarship in July. 

He’s been up to see the school’s Broad Street campus, and came away with a positive impression.

“I like the campus, it was cool,” he said. “I like the guys, the energy in workouts and stuff, always talking on defense.”

So far, Bevins said, he’s also taken visits to Georgetown, Towson, UMBC and East Carolina. His other offers come from NJIT, George Mason, UMBC and the College of Charleston, though Bevins said he’s also been hearing from George Washington, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, among others.

He’s got good basketball genes, too; his mother, Tiffany Miller-Bevins, played at Maryland-Eastern Shore, and his father Myron Bevins I played at the junior level at Essex County. 

Even without his shot falling in a win over Downingtown West on Saturday, Bevins found other ways to contribute, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists to go along with four points. 

Right now, the focus is on the 2022-23 season, where the Yellow Jackets have high hopes for their first state title since 1988. With several other Division I prospects joining the fold, including fellow junior Machi Chester and sophomore wing Shane Pendergrass, Bevins is hopeful his squad will be making an appearance in the XFinity Center at the University of Maryland come March. 

“State championship, conference championship, regional championship and county championship,” he said, “we want to win it all.” — Josh Verlin

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Thomas Sorber (2024 | Archbishop Ryan)

Like his Team Final teammate Bethea, Sorber is another local prospect who saw hsi stock rise this summer.

Sorber cracked the top 60 of ESPN’s 2024 rankings (No. 52) and rose into the Top 100 of 247 Sports’ rankings (No. 69) and has seen an uptick in interest from schools to go along with it.

“Mostly after the AAU season. That’s when my stock went up,” Sorber said.

Sorber’s offer list includes Richmond, La Salle, Georgetown, Drexel, St. Joes, Bryant, George Mason, Albany, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Providence, Mississippi State, Pitt, Syracuse and Penn State.

Pitt, Syracuse and Penn State are the most recent offers for the 6-9 forward, all of them coming at the end of August. He visited Syracuse for team camp and Penn State for a football game already this fall and has an unofficial visit to Maryland on Saturday. Auburn hasn’t offered yet, but Sorber said the Tigers have been in touch frequently.

There’s no standouts just yet for Sorber, who is less than a year removed from his first Division I offers from La Salle, Richmond and Georgetown late last December and just starting to make waves nationally.

“All of them, honestly. I’m one of those kids who doesn’t have a favorite school or option, so I just pick the ones I have the best relationship with,” Sorber said. “I’m taking in things now a little bit. I’ll see probably around December or January what I want to do.”

Sorber said he’s felt strides taken in his game he credits for the recent surge in his recruitment. He played well on Sunday, scoring 16 points against Olympus and 19 against Rocktop Academy and asserting himself physically down low in both games, including a poster dunk in traffic against Rocktop.

Sorber also hopes to display his improving shooting stroke as well this season after going 5-for-21 from deep last season.

”I feel my 3-ball improving a little bit. I”ve got to show it more so people can know it. And I’m more physical down at the bottom.” — Owen McCue

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Quick Hits

A 6-foot-5 combo guard with a handful of high-level Division I offers in his pocket before his junior year of high school even began, Bevins — like many others in that position — has his sights set on playing at the highest levels down the line. And that means he’s intrigued by programs led by coaches who’ve been there, done that.

“I just want to look for the right fit, focus on the fit, wanting to learn, head coach [having] been in the NBA,” he said. “I want to play for a guy that’s been through the process and wants to help his guys get to where he was.

So far, Bevins has two offers with NBA veterans as head coaches: Georgetown, to where Patrick Ewing extended an offer last October; and Temple, whose Aaron McKie extended a scholarship in July. 

He’s been up to see the school’s Broad Street campus, and came away with a positive impression.

“I like the campus, it was cool,” he said. “I like the guys, the energy in workouts and stuff, always talking on defense.”

So far, Bevins said, he’s also taken visits to Georgetown, Towson, UMBC and East Carolina. His other offers come from NJIT, George Mason, UMBC and the College of Charleston, though Bevins said he’s also been hearing from George Washington, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, among others.

He’s got good basketball genes, too; his mother, Tiffany Miller-Bevins, played at Maryland-Eastern Shore, and his father Myron Bevins I played at the junior level at Essex County. 

Even without his shot falling in a win over Downingtown West on Saturday, Bevins found other ways to contribute, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists to go along with four points. 

Right now, the focus is on the 2022-23 season, where the Yellow Jackets have high hopes for their first state title since 1988. With several other Division I prospects joining the fold, including fellow junior Machi Chester and sophomore wing Shane Pendergrass, Bevins is hopeful his squad will be making an appearance in the XFinity Center at the University of Maryland come March. 

“State championship, conference championship, regional championship and county championship,” he said, “we want to win it all.” — Josh Verlin

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Quick Hits


Archbishop Wood 2023 forward Carson Howard earned an offer from Millesrville after the WCU Big 64 on Sunday. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Carson Howard (2023 | Archbishop Wood) has seen his recruitment pick up heading into his final season in Warminster. Howard earned his first two offers within the past two weeks when East Stroudsburg and West Chester extended offers while he was on his official visit. Howard put together a pair of strong games Sunday, scoring 16 points in a win over Rocktop Academy and 13 points in a win over Olympus Prep, with Millersville assistants Daniel Eacho and Dexter Harris in attendance. He added the Marauders to his list of PSAC offers by the end of the day.

“The PSAC is a very physical conference, so they’re looking at me for my physicality to come in and contribute there,” Howard said prior to receiving the offer from Millersville.

Howard was a second team All-PCL selection last season while averaging 8.1 ppg and 8.2 rpg. The Vikings’ lone true post presence is one of just two seniors on the Vikings this season and the only returning senior. 

His rebounding and size on defense will be important pieces of Wood with a talented backcourt. He also noted he is trying to expand his range after going 0-for-3 from deep last year. He knocked down one three on Sunday.

— Machi Chester (2024 | Gwynn Park, Md.) spent his summer playing with Team Durant’s 16U squad on the Nike circuit and is now at Gwynn Park, after previously playing at Bishop O’Connell (Md.). The 6-2, 190-pound guard has a sweet outside shot, which he showed with a trio of triples in part of a 17-point, nine-rebound outing in a win over Downingtown West on Saturday, and that’s got schools interested. NJIT is his only offer, and it’s one he’s had for about a year; Chester said he’s also started to hear from Central Florida, Penn State, East Tennessee State and Fordham. He said the schools have told him they want to see consistency, and he’s also working on developing his left hand and getting his teammates more involved, which he did well with four assists against Downingtown West.

— James Ianelli (2023 | Bishop Eustace, N.J.) had a quiet first half in a hard-fought, four-point loss to the Shipley School on Saturday morning, but bounced back to pour in 15 of his 17 points in the second half, showcasing just why he’s a hot commodity among area D-IIIs. The 6-1 guard did a great job of moving without the ball and working free for open 3-pointers (hitting a pair) or layups, and he also showed the ability to create his own shot and get to the rim. His list of college suitors so far includes Catholic, York, Dickinson, Widener, Cabrini, Washington (Md.) and Marymount. 


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