2021 CheckRock Summer League Preview
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[player_tooltip player_id="1119147" first="Elmarko" last="Jackson"] (C/O 2023) — Academy of the New Church & WE R1. This week the CheckRock Summer League at the 76ers Fieldhouse, one of the Delaware Valley’s most competitive summer runs, tips off its sixth season. This…
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Continue ReadingThis week the CheckRock Summer League at the 76ers Fieldhouse, one of the Delaware Valley’s most competitive summer runs, tips off its sixth season.
This invite only league features elite 2022 through 2025 prospects from the tristate area. Below is a preview of the 2021 CheckRock Summer League rosters with a focus on players from southeastern Pennsylvania who are participating.
Players Only: Highlighting this roster is elite 2024 guard Robert Wright III Robert Wright III 6'0" | PG Montverde Academy (FL) | 2024 State #35 Nation FL who played simply amazing ball for Team Final EYBL this summer. Wright III is athletic, can stroke it from behind the arc, score off the dribble and distribute to teammates (7 apg. at the Peach Jam). Running with Wright III is scoring guard Jacob Beccles Jacob Beccles 6'3" | CG Constitution | 2022 State PA (2020-21 PIAA 2A 2nd Team All-State selection) who gets buckets in bunches. He is a blur in transition and can finish through traffic. In June at Philly HS Live (Session II) he impressed with his ability to stop on a dime and knock down a jumper. At that event he posted games of 29 points vs. Parkland (PA) as well as 23 points vs. Bensalem (PA). Another prospect to watch on the Players Only roster is Darrien Williams. Williams is a slasher style guard who can also hit threes. He was a major impact player for K-Low Elite 15U this summer.
DCB: Saraj Ali Saraj Ali 6'4" | SG Olympus Prep | 2023 State NJ (1st Team 3A All-State selection) and Saleem Payne, Jr. are the headliners on the 2021 DCB squad. Ali is a long and athletic wing prospect with plenty of energy and bounce. He is a player built for the transition game. Payne owns one of the best “mid-range and in” skill sets in the Philadelphia area. He is a super quick lead guard who can use the dribble to execute a stop and pop from 15-feet or continue all the way to the cup for lay-in. Once he gets into his bag of dribbling tricks, Payne is practically un-guardable. Complimenting that experienced duo is high level combo-guard Ryan Williams Ryan Williams 6'3" | SG Malvern Prep | 2024 State PA . Williams played for Philly Pride National UAA 15U and was one of the most electric 2024s on the circuit.
Soul Snatchers: Big fella Thomas Sorber (6’10”) whose stock skyrocketed during June and July will be the dominant force for this team. A recent addition to the Archbishop Ryan program, Sorber was simply unstoppable on the interior (posted two double-doubles) at the Philly HS Live (Session II) event. In July while running with Team Final EYBL, Sorber also displayed range on his jumper out to 3-point line. Cardinal O’Hara’s Khalid Jenkins (C/O 2024) and Arhcbishop Wood bound Milan Dean Milan Dean 6'3" | SF Archbishop Wood | 2025 State #286 Nation PA , an elite 2025 prospect who killed it for Team Final EYBL this summer, will have Sorber’s back.
Thorough Threads: Anchoring this roster will be Lucas Orchard Lucas Orchard 6'4" | SF Devon Prep | 2023 State PA , one of the most well rounded wing prospects in the PCL. Orchard was already a very good player, but he really picked up his scoring output during an outstanding July period — averaging 18 points and 8 boards per game. Taking the floor with Orchard will be an extremely talented trio of guards from the Philly Pride program — Ty Burton Ty Burton 5'10" | PG Moravian Prep | 2024 State NC , Ron Brown III Ron Brown III 5'11" | CG SCH Academy | 2024 State PA and Fazl Oshodi Fazl Oshodi 6'3" | CG Friends Central | 2024 State PA . Burton can get buckets from anywhere on the floor and was one of the top 2024 guards on the summer circuit. Three level scorer Brown III owns a great frame and the ability to use it effectively, whether it’s creating space on the perimeter for his jumper, or below the foul line to convert in close. Oshodi is an on-ball defensive pit-bull who converts steals into easy lay-ins at the other end. He got better each week this spring/summer.
The Kikback: On paper this roster is loaded with superb talent, so it will be interesting to witness if they can gel quickly and bring home the championship. Anthony “Reese” Purnell is a lightning fast floor general who excels in transition at scoring and/or dropping a dime to a teammate. In the half-court Purnell can blow by defenders for a buckets in the mid-range or at the rim. Chase Coleman Chase Coleman 6'2" | PG Rocktop Academy | 2024 PA is a downhill style of guard. If the defense is somehow able to wall off the paint, Coleman will simply hit jumpers from behind the arc. Spacing the floor for this group is smooth shooter Jake Cummiskey. Cummiskey moves very well without the ball which makes him a very tough cover. Kikback’s roster also boasts high level players Elijah Duval Elijah Duval 6'2" | SG Martin County | 2024 #118 Nation FL , Dior Kennedy and Toby Ojukwu.
1st State Sports: Malik Cook-Stephens Malik Cook-Stephens 6'2" | CG Chester Charter | 2021 State PA has recovered from an injury riddled 2020-21 high school season and posted an outstanding spring/summer. A dynamic athlete, Cook- Stephens frequently plays above the rim and has proven he can score off the bounce. Lefty combo-guard Keon Long-Mtume will also run with 1st State Sports. He was nearly automatic from behind the arc for Team Final EYBL 14U on the grassroots circuit. Long-Mtume can drain every variety of 3PA and is one of LaSalle College HS’s most anticipated incoming recruits.
GBGC: After tearing up the Mid Atlantic Independent School Showcase in June, Keith Gee, Jr. was a force for the K-Low Elite 16U, one of the best 2023 teams on the July circuit. Now he turns his attention to crushing foes at the CheckRock Summer League. Gee, Jr. can drain threes all day or use his perimeter shot making to set up his dribble-drive skills. At the defensive end Gee, Jr. is a plus level defender. Caleb Alston is another Inter-Ac prospect on this roster with significant upside. Alston is a versatile, 6’5” small forward who played excellent basketball for K-Low Elite 15U this summer.
Livin’ Legends: When this group takes the floor, all eyes will be on two SEPA players – Ronny Raphael Ronny Raphael 5'11" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2022 State PA and Tristen Guillouette. Shoats is an isolation phenom who uses his deep bag of tricks (hesis; crossovers; Euro-steps; etc) to score at the cup with either hand. Unless other teams in this league run a double team at him, Shoats will be a scoring machine here in August. Guillouette (St. Joes’ Prep; C/O 2024) is a 6’10” big man who so far this summer has exhibited solid footwork and an ability to finish at the rim with either hand. He is a thick bodied interior player who with some work in the weight room, could be a real force down low. His highlight of the last two months was a 26 points and 11 boards double-double (4 blocks as well) vs. PIAA 6A state champ Reading HS.
Drop Squad: Opponents will want to lock off three point assassin Naji Reid Naji Reid 6'0" | SG Joshua Christian Academy | 2022 State PA (twelve 3PMs across 2 games at Philly HS Live back in June) as he will squeeze off a shot from anywhere on the floor. Setting up Reid and running the show for Drop Squad will be elite floor general Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA (3rd Team 5A All-State). Last month Barno played lights out hoops for Team Final EYBL 16U and the DI offers are now coming in for him. Lastly, keep an eye on 6’5”, athletic wing Khrys Murray (Abraham Lincoln).
Grinders: This roster includes three DI prospects that we like a great deal – wing Daniel Alcantara Daniel Alcantara 6'4" | SG Reading | 2022 State PA , combo-guard Allen Cieslak Allen Cieslak 6'1" | PG Devon Prep | 2022 State PA and extremely long forward prospect Cole Hargrove Cole Hargrove 6'8" | SF Methacton | 2022 State PA . Alcantara (3rd Team 6A All-State selection) is an electric scorer at all three levels (scored 24 points vs. Team Final EYBL 16U). Cieslak is a shooting guard whose profile has risen tremendously thanks to his stellar play this summer. Hargrove is a 6’8” athletic shot blocker who can run rim to rim. His 3-point shot looked much improved while running with K-Low Elite in July.
Built 2 Last: At first glance, this may be the most balanced roster in the league. Leading the way will be all-world guard Kenny Jackson Kenny Jackson 6'3" | PG #23 Nation PA . Arguably the most decorated 2023 player in the region, Jackson holds numerous high DI offers. Point-forward extraordinaire Anthony Finkley Anthony Finkley 6'6" | SF Roman Catholic | 2023 State PA projects as possibly the most unique prospect coming out of southeastern Pennsylvania. Lead guard Adam “Budd” Clark might be the quickest backcourt player we have seen this summer. Additionally, Clark’s creativity is off the charts. Rounding out this group is Khaafiq Myers Khaafiq Myers 5'10" | PG Neumann-Goretti | 2024 State PA , a crafty guard who excels at scoring off the dribble drive and sprinkles in the occasional mid-range jumper. However, it is Myers’ efforts at the other end of the floor that will turn heads in the CheckRock League and help this squad greatly. Myers’ quickness and exceptional lateral movement make him a demon on-ball defender who produces a slew of steals / deflections.