City of Basketball Love

Jeff Neiburg (@Jeff_Neiburg)
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Toward the end of the 2014-15 high school basketball season, Daron Russell came alive for Imhotep.

The 5-foot-10 point guard, just a sophomore last season, ignited Imhotep in the fourth quarter of its Public League title game against Constitution. His 19 points on the day earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player.

There’s no doubt Russell has a ton of talent and skill, and he’s as quick as it comes. But the question mark surrounding his game was: How would a scoring guard his size translate to the Division I level?

On Monday, he found at he’ll at least get the chance to provide an answer.

On the first day colleges were allowed to contact rising juniors, Russell picked up his first scholarship offer, from Binghamton University.

Russell said he’s also heard from Saint Joseph’s, La Salle, Brown, Penn, Quinnipiac, Hofstra, Grand Canyon and Iona - all of which expressed interest in the speedy point guard.

“It’s a really good feeling, knowing that the hard work that I have put in is paying off,” Russell said of the Binghamton offer. “But I’m definitely not satisfied.”

Russell, who plays for Team Final, will get a chance to show off his improving skill set in front of Division I coaches next month during the July live recruiting periods. Satisfaction might come when more offers start coming in.

“I want to show how much I have improved being a pass-first point guard and how consistent my shooting has become,” Russell said.

There’s still two more seasons for Russell to show off those skills and perhaps even grow a few inches. But, even at his size, the ability to play at the next level is there. He’s athletic, has a great ability to get into the lane and create and is a streaky shooter. And his knack for producing in crucial moments is something that can’t be taught.

He’ll also have another potential D-1 classmate at his side next year in 6-foot-5 wing Koby Thomas, which will only help his game.

Russell wasn’t the only local 2017 to hear from Binghamton on Monday. Catholic League guards Marc Rodriguez (Father Judge) and Collin Gillespie (Archbishop Wood) fielded interest from Binghamton. So, too, did Westtown School big man Anthony Ochefu, younger brother of Villanova center Daniel Ochefu.