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CoBL/Nexxt Level Shootout: Day Two Standouts (Sep. 24)

09/25/2017, 12:00am EDT
By CoBL Staff

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

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VOORHEES, N.J. -- The 4th annual CoBL/Nexxt Level Shootout wrapped up on Sunday, as 24 more teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware came to Nexxt Level Sports for two games apiece.

Here are our staff’s picks for standouts from the second day of action. Keep in mind that our standouts are not necessarily the best players, but those who had the most productive days. For our Day One standouts, click here.

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David Cross (2020/Bishop Eustace)
The sophomore guard had a strong showing in two games against quality Philly opponents in Archbishop Wood and St. Joe’s Prep. The toughness stood out the most from Cross, who wasn’t afraid of the Catholic league reputation of bully-ball. He even dazzled the crowd with a sick, well-timed block from behind off a St. Joe’s big. Cross is a terrific, sound defender, often applying full-court pressure. A lefty, Cross can shoot the lights out from the outside. The guard plays fast, and can hit shots in the half-court, as well as transition.  


Dominic Dunn sliced his way through opposing defenses for two straight games on Sunday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Dominic Dunn (2018/Camden Catholic)
Through most of the day Sunday, Dunn was Camden Catholic’s lone source of offense. The senior doesn’t appear as an all-world athlete when he steps onto the court, but he’s lethal with the ball in his hands. He scored 13 of the Irish’s 16 points at halftime in their game against Shipley, connecting on mostly spot-up jumpers. Dunn didn’t need much room to let it fly, but when the defender played him tight, the forward put the ball on the floor, and finished inside. An undersized center (for Sunday at least), Dunn made life difficult for Shipley big man Ray Sommerville, playing sound, positional defense. Dunn was also a heady player without the ball. When overplayed, he kept the defense honest with backdoor cuts.

Aaron Estrada (2019/Woodbury)
Estrada’s ball-handling ability made defenders dizzy on Sunday. Woodbury’s junior point guard displayed an array of dribble moves to create space or get by defenders. He knocked down several step back jumpers after getting separation with his crossover. His spin move helped him speed past defenders and drive to the rim, where his ability to hang in the air allowed him to finish or draw contact. Estrada also shot the ball pretty well from all over the floor. He scored from three-point range, the midrange, at the basket and at the foul line.

Drew Friberg (2018/State College)
There are some players that make you think the ball is going through the hoop every time they take a shot. Friberg fits snugly in that category. The 6-6 wing, a Princeton commit, also possesses a certain amount of versatility when it comes to playing around the rim, which ensures that opposing defenses can’t cheat. On defense, he showed a knack for anticipating passes and disrupting passing lanes. Next year Friberg will be taking his talents to Princeton. His easily translatable skill set will be a welcome addition for the Tigers.

Andrew Funk (2018/Archbishop Wood)
A recent Bucknell commit, Funk demonstrated his ability to penetrate and find the open man spotting up. The 6-3 guard’s shot from beyond the arc is well documented, but he flashed his ability to drive into the lane, which opened up the floodgates for the rest of Archbishop Wood’s high powered offense. The Archbishop Wood backcourt tandem of Funk and Tyree Pickron did a tremendous job facilitating the action on the court, and setting each other up with open shots that converted into digits on the scoreboard more often than not. Funk will be asked to fill the large shoes left from Villanova’s Collin Gillespie in the starting point guard position, and if the way he ran the offense today was any indication, he may well be up to the task.

Brady Haggerty (2018/Council Rock North)
At 6-4, Haggerty did the dirty work down low for his Council Rock North squad on Sunday. Whether it was grabbing rebounds in traffic, boxing out defenders, or twisting his way to score at the rim, Haggerty was his team's spark plug. The tallest member of his team, Haggerty was the only true big man in a lineup which typically features four guards. In addition to banging down low with the big guys, Haggerty showed off his mid-range game, hitting several jumpers from free throw line extended, and even stepped out to hit a few threes. North will need Haggerty to be as versatile as possible this year if they’re to make a run at a district playoff bid.

Jailen Jamison (2018/ Phelps School)
Jamison had Phelps’ offense out and running all day. His behind the back passes on the fast break drew oohs and ahhs from those in the crowd and on Phelps’ bench. The speedy 5-9 guard did a terrific job helping put his teammates in a position to score or get to the foul line. In particular, Jamison did a great job finding the sharpshooting Manasseh Small, who was almost automatic from 3-point range, and also dished well to the Phelps’ bevy of bigs. On defense, Jamison applied pressure to speed up opponents and force them into poor decisions, which allowed Phelps to play a quick pace and get easy buckets on the other end of the floor.


Darius Kinnel (above, right) and Eustace's David Cross were both standouts on Sunday. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Darius Kinnel (2018/St. Joe’s Prep)
Two years ago, as a sophomore guard for the Prep, Kinnel tried to be more of a scoring combo guard alongside classmate Kyle Thompson as the two were thrust into starting roles sooner than Speedy Morris’ usual rotations, which are typically short and filled with upperclassmen. But now, with more talent around him than he’s had in his now three seasons in the starting lineup, Kinnel’s true strengths as a pass-first point guard and high-level defender are really starting to shine. He’s eager to pick up his man defensively, getting low in his stance and communicating loudly on that end of the floor. Offensively, he’s a strong on-ball presence who can handle pressure, and knows how to set up his team’s shooters and big men alike.

Anton Loginov (2018/Phelps School)
There is a certain pizazz to Loginov’s game that draws eyes to him when he is in the gym. He dazzled on Sunday with no-look passes and tremendous handles, and on defense, he wasn’t afraid to gamble on passes in order to try to run the fast break. He is a bouncy athlete, which makes him tough to stop once he gets into the lane or out in transition. Loginov played both on and off the ball for Phelps. With the ball in his hands, he used his dribble to penetrate and either attack or find teammates; if he can show off a consistent jumper, he’ll certainly head into Division I territory. The 6-3 guard is in his second year at Phelps after playing two seasons at IMG Academy.

Neumann-Goretti
It’s not that the Saints were necessarily the best team in the gym on Sunday -- though they were certainly up there. It’s just that, with head coach Carl Arrigale cycling through all 14 players he brought to Nexxt Level, it was really a true team effort in their two wins. A few players deserve some mention, of course -- 6-10 senior Marcus Littles, fresh off a commitment to George Washington, rebounded and defended well scoring well around the post; 6-3 senior Dymir Montague, 6-3 junior Christian Ings and 6-0 sophomore Ahmad Fair all scored the ball at a good clip. But really, just about everybody in the rotation had their moments.

Tyree Pickron (2018/Archbishop Wood)
A recent Quinnipiac commit, Pickron was on fire from deep on Sunday. The 6-3 guard was extremely confident with his shot from beyond the arc, nailing a good percentage of his threes. He’s not afraid to let loose with even a hint of space, or take advantage when a defender doesn’t get an arm up. When Pickron wasn't lighting it up from deep, he showed a great feel for facilitating the ball and finding his teammates -- particularly Andrew Funk, who also had himself a day from beyond the arc. One of four seniors on Wood’s roster, look for Pickron to score a bunch this year for the Vikings before heading up to the Nutmeg State next fall.


Eli Smith (above) impressed with his ability to get to the hoop and create for himself and his teammates. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Elijah Smith (2020/Cardinal O’Hara)
Lions’ second-year head coach Jason Harrigan is really starting to shape his program the way he wants to, and that includes a few promising young guards. Smith, a swift 6-foot combo guard, certainly had the spotlight the most on Sunday. Whenever his team forced a turnover -- several of which were forced by Smith himself -- the sophomore would streak down the court with the ball, crossing over opposing defenses and getting to the hoop, where he could finish with impressive body control. Things might not be so easy in the Catholic League, but Smith and fellow sophomore Tre Dinkins will both play big roles for O’Hara as the program tries to climb the PCL ladder.

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Honorable Mention: Gabe Arizin (2019/St. Joe’s Prep), Jack Brockett (2018/Seneca), Antwuan Butler (2018/Cardinal O’Hara), Khai Champion (2020/Shipley School), Jack Clark (2018/Cheltenham), Ed Croswell (2018/St. Joe’s Prep), Rahsool Diggins (2021/Archbishop Wood), Carl Gibson (2019/Cherry Hill East), Jordan Hall (2020/Middle Township), Coley Holton (2019/Middle Township), Caleb Matthews (2018/Smyrna), Mattia Morini (2019/Bishop Eustace), Andres Mujica (2019/Downingtown East), Seth Pinkney (2018/Archbishop Wood), Chaz Owens (2019/Shipley School), Shemar Robinson (2018/Ewing), Marcellus Ross (2019/St. Joe’s-Hammonton), Sam Sessoms (2018/Shipley School), Malik Slay (2018/Downingtown East), Bryce Spriggs (2019/Friends’ Central), Lance Ware (2020/Camden), Raquan West (2019/Constitution), Jahmir Williams (2018/Constitution


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