CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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READING — The only CoBL College Exposure Camp of 2022 took place this past Sunday at Exeter Township High School, as more than 130 high school juniors and seniors participated in the day-long camp. CoBL writers were in attendance all day long to watch drills, team practices and the three games each team played over the course of the afternoon, with dozens upon dozens of players catching our respective eyes and those of the assembled college coaches.
Here’s who stood out to our writers — note that this is not a list of best prospects at the game, but who we felt played the best on this particular day:
Jack Blum (2023 | Council Rock North)
Last year, Blum was just one cog in a North lineup that had several physical wings in the 6-foot-4 range, though it was clear he was one of the more talented amongst them. This year, he should be one of the featured pieces for Jesse Krasna, and you could see why on Sunday. He’s got a college-ready body at 6-4 and a mature floor game, with the ability to step out and hit the 3-pointer, set up an offense, get into the lane off the bounce and rebound well for his position. He’s not elite in any one category, but he also doesn’t force the issue and he’ll make the occasional flashy play when the defense is relaxed.
Gorman Bright (2023 | Haverford High)
Haverford's Gorman Bright dribbles the ball at Sunday's CoBL Exposure Camp. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
A 5-11 point guard, Bright was confident with the ball in his hands, whether it was knocking down 3-pointers — which he did, over and over again, all afternoon — or working in the pick-and-roll, where he could get into the lane and find teammates. Bright also did a good job at controlling tempo, picking his spots to attack or when to back out and set up the offense. He was also an aggressive on-ball defender, picking up his man 94 feet and making it difficult for those he was guarding to get much done.
Joey Callahan (2023 | Bishop Eustace, N.J.)
A 6-1 guard, Callahan’s best asset is his outside shooting, and he was steady from beyond the arc in both drills and games. But the Eustace senior also proved he could attack the basket and finish around the rim, even absorbing contact, and rarely got thrown off his game. He's got a handy spin move that he uses to get free, and also made some one-handed dimes on the move, showing he's more than just a scorer. Like many of the other guards mentioned in this list, Callahan also just played at the college tempo, making quick reads and decisions, getting to his spots and making things happen, limiting his mistakes and making valuable plays for his team.
Jonathan Clark (2023 | Upper Moreland)
Clark poured in 17 points (15 in the first half) in his first game of the day. The impressive part of the offensive outburst was Clark wasn’t hunting for shots. The 6-foot-4 guard is a lefty who can attack from both sides of the court, getting past smaller guards. He is a strong finisher with either hand around the basket as displayed with multiple and-ones with his right. He also knocked down a pair of threes early in the day and had a soft touch once he got into the lane. Clark’s size at the guard position showed up both on the offensive and defensive glass and in his ability to convert through contact. A full-court dime in transition hinted at his vision and passing ability as well.
Connor Fleet (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
Fleet is the definition of energy. Listed at 6-foot, he affects the game offensively on all three levels. He knocks down 3s from NBA range, fearlessly drives to the basket and in transition he is looking to make the correct decision. There is some craftiness to his game that allows him to create for himself and others. Following a summer where he put together a number of big offensive outings, his improved playmaking is something that caught the eye of the CoBL staff on Sunday. Fleet worked hard on defense and was able to stay in front, even against some very quick guards. He competed on the glass as well to help his team, unafraid to box out and challenge bigger players on the boards.
Sadiq Fountain (2023 | Penn Wood)
Penn Wood's Saddiq Fountain surveys the court at Sunday's CoBL Exposure Camp. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
Some of the best handles at the camp belonged to Fountain, a 5-7 guard who had the ball on a string all day long. Fountain was able to break down most of his defenders 1-on-1 and get into the lane, where he hit a few pull-up jumpers, but even when his jumper wasn’t falling, he was able to find teammates and continually made on-point passes all over the court. Fountain loved to change speed and use a hesitation move to free up space, then blow by to get to the rim or kick out to shooters. He was also a strong on-ball defender who stayed low and got right up in his man, causing plenty of turnovers.
Gabe Gonzales (2023 | Holy Cross)
A 6-3, 205-pound forward from the Northeast part of the state, Gonzales was one of the more versatile players in the entire camp. Though he’s undersized for a ‘4’ man, he makes up for it with physicality and athleticism, and then combines that with great footwork and IQ, making him a tough defender and scorer, inside and out. Gonzales is a capable 3-point shooter who made numerous outside shots with his feet set, and didn’t mind putting the ball on the floor once or twice against a defender, though he wasn’t really attacking the basket with regularity. As his ball skills improve, he could be a collegiate ‘3’ but has a college-ready physicality even at the ‘4’ or even a small-ball ‘5.’
Micah Hill (2024 | Downingtown East)
Hill did some things on Sunday that pointed toward an incoming breakout junior campaign. During one of the later sets, Hill pumped and got into the lane where he tossed down a two-handed jam in traffic. A possession or two later he looked smooth stepping into a catch-and-shoot three. The 6-foot-5 forward/wing has a blossoming perimeter game. Along with his outside shot, he was able to put the ball on the floor and break down his man. He can also score inside. Hill’s size and athleticism also proved to be a difference maker on defense as he was not only able to stay in front, but also force tough shots with his length.
Kyle Jones (2023 | Father Judge)
At 6-3, Jones is bigger than what one would expect in a point guard, but it doesn’t affect his athleticism in the slightest. He led his team in rebounding in one game and also had a block as he was tasked with doing post work as one of the biggest players on his team. That didn’t stop him from showing his smooth three-point range, ball handling, and ability to get to, and score at, the rim with craftiness.
Avery Kopcha (2024 | Mt. Calvary Christian)
The junior guard’s physical stature isn’t eye-opening at 5-11 and 170 pounds; his play on the court certainly was. Kopcha has an endless motor that allows him to pick up steals and get out easily in transition for quick buckets. He showed the ability to attack the rim in the halfcourt and hit the 3 in the normal flow of the offense whether off a drive-and-kick to the corner or a catch-and-shoot from the wing. Whenever his team needed a spark, Kopcha provided it.
Matt Lange (2024 | Shipley)
Lange is a 6-foot-3 point guard who seemed to get into the lane whenever he wanted. At his size he’s not lightning quick, but he’s smooth, has a strong handle and a few deadly dribble moves to go along with the ability to change his speeds and get by his man. Lange didn’t fill it up offensively (though he did knock down several 3-pointers and a couple floaters over the course of the afternoon), but his ability to break down the defense and be a playmaker highlighted his performance. He has an extra zip on his ball when making passes and his height certainly helps him make plays once he gets inside. During one afternoon set he made several perfect passes for an open corner three after getting into the lange. Lange competed defensively as well and his consistent high-effort play contributed positively to his squad.
Jamel Lindsey (2023 | Holy Ghost Prep)
Lindsey doesn’t need to dominate possession to get his. The 6-foot-6 forward is efficient in pretty much everything he does on the court as demonstrated in a 14-point outing in his first game of the day when he scored 12 in the second half. Lindsey uses his strength inside to get good looks near the basket. He converts nearly every touch inside with a soft kiss off the glass and consistently knocks down mid range jumpers and even stepped outside to hit from deep a few times on Sunday. He’s also a willing screener and passer and put the ball on the floor when he felt he could take his man. Along with his efficient offensive game, Lindsey dominated the glass on Sunday and proved to be difficult to score against inside.
William Tennent's George Marion, right, takes the ball to the hoop at Sunday's CoBL Exposure Camp. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
George Marion (2023 | William Tennent)
An athletic 6-1, 175-pound point guard, Marion was one of the best defenders at the camp, with a plus wingspan and quick feet, along with his high-energy style, keeping him in front of whoever he guarded. On the attack, he kept his head up in transition and made plays, whether that was finishing at the rim, pulling up in the mid-range or finding shooters. He also had a nice-looking shot and got his feet set quickly, not taking any rushed shots or off-balance attempts. His athleticism and size at the ‘1’ should immediately translate at the next level.
Corey Meade (2024 | North Penn)
North Penn has had quite a few impressive multi-sport athletes suit up on the hardwood, but they haven’t had too many hoops-only stars the last few years. Meade was an eye-opener after playing JV last year, a 6-4 slasher who could get to the rim and finish as well as anybody at the camp. He had a couple double-digit scoring performances during games, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in one game, a key part of his progression. He was also a versatile defender who used his length to his advantage, and forced a number of steals to get things going the other way.
Jamaal Morris (2023 | Our Saviour Lutheran, N.Y.)
Morris was easily the most athletic person on the court throughout his games on Sunday. The skilled and strong 6-foot-1 scoring guard handled the ball, scored at the rim through contact and knocked down the 3 when left open. He finished with 27 points (six threes) in his final game of the day. On defense he owned the assignment of picking up the opposing team's best player full court. One of his defensive highlights during the day’s action was meeting a 6-foot-9 center at the rim to deny a lay-up. He had a similar highlight moment on the opposite end of the court, absorbing contact from an opposing big man and flick the ball behind his head and into the basket on his way down to the ground for an and-one.
Our Saviour Lutheran's Jamaal Morris, bottom, converts an and-one against Lancaster Mennonite's David Weaver at Sunday's CoBL Exposure Camp. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)
Malcolm Muhammad (2023 | Imhotep Charter)
Good luck staying in front of Muhammad; he’s quick and shifty with a tight handle in the halfcourt to get past defenders and has some blazing speed in transition. The 6-1 guard attacks the basket with fearlessness and was rewarded with quite a few trips to the line. It took him a little while to get his shot going, but he knocked down some shots as the day progressed, looking really comfortable pulling up both in the midrange and beyond the arc. On defense, he stripped his man a handful of times as well, giving himself the opportunity to show off that blazing speed in transition.
Noah Payne (2024 | Peddie School)
Payne’s quickness in the open court and elusiveness on drives to the rim generated multiple layups and and-ones. Once the defense took notice, he continued to penetrate the paint but instead found open teammates wide-open for easy buckets. The quickness translated to the defense end where the 6-1 guard pickpocketed his opponent and jumped into passing lanes for steals on many occasions.
Nyle Ralph-Bayer (2024 | West Chester Henderson)
Our second Henderson junior standout, Ralph-Bayer has quite a different game from his winter teammate, but was equally as effective on Sunday. The 6-4 guard has a lean, athletic frame, and an easy outside shot that he doesn’t need much room to get off; he was feeling it in one game where he went off for over 20 points, hitting four or five triples along the way, part of an overall impressive shooting performance by his entire team. Ralph-Bayer has a smooth pull-up jumper when he puts the ball on the floor, and will become a better finisher as he adds strength to his frame. He’s going to be in the scholarship discussion, for sure.
Yahmir Satterfield (2023 | Imhotep Charter)
Another Imhotep backcourt member who got a chance to shine on Sunday, Satterfield put together a strong performance throughout the day. The strongly built 6-2 guard has a game that’s hard to describe but he plays hard and physical and has an underrated skill set that probably deserves more attention. Satterfield showed off his ability to knock down the long ball, even pulling up off the bounce. His effort and physicality earned him some easy opportunities on the offensive glass as well as transition as he grabbed the board and pushed the pace for his team.
Father Judge's Ernest Shelton, right, dribbles the ball at Sunday's CoBL Exposure Camp. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
Ernest Shelton (2023 | Father Judge)
One of a number of Judge upperclassmen who played well on Sunday, Shelton is a lanky 6-2 guard with a smooth offensive game. Shelton knocked down 3-pointers from college range in multiple games, showed the ability to finish around the rim with both hands and threw in a floater. Led his team with 18 points in one game, but his scoring wasn’t the only thing he did well; Shelton found teammates on dribble penetration when layups weren’t there, and kept things moving in the flow of his offense.
Charlie Thornton (2023 | Radnor)
Thornton’s 6-5 frame as a guard allows him the rare ability to see over defenders for his own shot and passes to teammates. He also utilizes that length on the defensive end to disrupt opposing offenses. Thornton hit a game-winner in one game and did it all in another when he had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals as his team went 3-0 on the day. He is not a player who likes to take over with his scoring, but Thornton’s passing ability is a dominant trait and game-changing trait.
David Weaver (2023 | Lancaster Mennonite)
A physical 6-7 left-handed post, Weaver impressed with his inside-out game and high basketball IQ, not to mention his general size and presence in the paint. Weaver’s got good hands and is active in the post, with his guards generally doing a good job of getting it to him when he had position. His left-hand hook is his go-to, but he’s got a capable right hand; he also is useful in pick-and-pop situations, knocking down multiple 3-pointers on the day. Weaver also had multiple assists as he showed his court vision and passing ability, and was a strong post defender as well.
Salot Young (2023 | Olney)
One of only a handful of true post presences on Sunday, the Public League product was able to establish himself as someone who looks poised to play at the next level. The athletic 6-7 forward turned away shot after shot at the rim. He was able to start the fast break and fill the lane in transition. Young used his size and athleticism to attack the glass, getting himself some easy chances on the offensive end. He also showed some versatility on offense, stepping away from the paint to knock down shots.
Honorable Mention
Mason Blazer (2023 | Middletown Area), Chris Brennan (2023 | Father Judge), ArmaniAvant Brown (2023 | Upper Perkiomen), Daniel Carpenter (2023 | Upper Perkiomen), Christian Cervellero (2023 | Cardinal O’Hara), Cameron Chilson (2023 | Methacton), Jalen Clarke (2023 | Pemberton, N.J.), Johnny Cotton (2023 | DePaul Catholic, N.J.), Sean Curley (2023 | Neshaminy), Dominick DeMito (2024 | Pope John Paul II), Gavin D’Iorio (2023 | Devon Prep), Sebastian Fermin (2023 | Pocono Mt. East), August Franzen (2023 | DuBois Area), Reece Garvin (2024 | Exeter Twp.), Trey Grube (2023 | Manheim Central), Connor Howard (2023 | Saint John Vianney, N.J.), Morris Ivery (2024 | Bristol), Ahkir Keys (2023 | Chichester), Tyler Kocak (2023 | Pennsbury), Will Lange (2023 | Shipley School), William Littles Jr. (2024 | Shipley School), Anthony Lilly (2024 | Father Judge), Antonio Morris (2024 | Bensalem), Nile Mosby (2023 | Engineering & Sciences), Zamir Parker-Barnes (2024 | Frankford), Zyion Paschall (2023 | Exeter Twp.), Travis Reed (2024 | Frankford), Billy Rayer (2024 | Haverford School), Kevin Saenz (2024 | Exeter Twp.), Kyle Shawaluk (2024 | Perkiomen Valley), K’Mari Smith (2024 | West Chester Henderson), Timmy Smith (2023 | La Salle College HS), Joey Suarez (2023 | Downingtown West), Connor Taddei (2024 | Pennsbury), Nate Townsend (2024 | Neshaminy), Jahiere Walker (2023 | Wildwood Catholic, N.J.)
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