EPC&Colonial 2023’s To Watch

<p>One of the traditional power areas of HS basketball in Pennsylvania has been the Lehigh Valley, specifically the East Penn Conference. Today we look at some of the top players in the Lehigh Valley's Class of 2023—There's also a host of talented underclassmen we'll profile this week from both EPC and Colonial Leagues.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Dylan Darville</strong> | 6'1” | G | Emmaus 2023</p> <p>Darville is a strong and physical lead guard for the Hornets who came into his own as a junior. He runs the fast break well, has good shooting form and hits it from deep. Athletic and active on defense. Confident player at both ends of the floor who can create his own shot. Darville is also a receiver on the football team.  Plays AAU with [program_tooltip program_id='2078690' first='Perkasie' last='Knights']. He had 15 vs Parkland on both occasions and 14 vs Allen. Hoops wise, he could find himself getting looks from D3s in the area given his scoring ability and his physical presence as a bigger guard.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Julian Pagan</strong> | 6'2” | G | Pocono Mountain West 2023</p> <p>Pagan averaged 13 PPG for a good PMW team last winter that featured a major recruit in 6'10” big [player_tooltip player_id="1121756" first="Christian" last="Fermin"]. Good ballhandler who attacks the basket and finishes at the rim with both hands. He's deceptive, crafty and unafraid to attack bigger defenders. Crossed 20 several times and played well against the Lehigh Valley schools, which are a touch more talented than most of the Poconos. Set the school record for assists in a season last winter. A college coach will get him in the weight room and he'll be a solid player at the next level. He's right on the cusp between high level D3 program or a D2 offer. His senior year may determine that.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Justin Love</strong> | 5'9” |G| Pocono Mountain West 2023</p> <p>Love is a quick guard with a shooters touch. He is deadly if he's got a screen to come off of beyond the arc and is also capable of creating his own shot. He broke the school record for three pointers in a season(68)—previously held by his brother. With the graduation of Fermin, the guards will have even more control over the fate of PMW in the coming year. He scored 19 vs Reading and 17 vs Pottsville. Love would be a great fit at a D3 program.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Shamel Gibson</strong> | 6'0” | G | Wilson Area</p> <p>The left handed guard is a good shooter from beyond the arc and also has quick hands on defense to create turnovers. He gets out in transition and finishes well at the basket in spite of his smaller frame that hasn't filled out yet. He had multiple games over 20 points on the season and also held his own in the playoffs against Bethlehem Catholic and Cardinal O'Hara. A strong senior year should see Gibson on the radar of several of the D3 schools in and around the area.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Max Pristas</strong>| 6'5” | F | Southern Lehigh</p> <p>The only big man on the list had an efficient junior year, shooting nearly 50% from the field and a healthy 83% from the foul line, which college coaches should immediately love seeing. A lefty who can extend his range beyond the arc but also get above the rim on offense. High IQ and moves well off the ball. Crossed 20 on four occasions and flirted with it two more times. He should be in line for a big summer and senior year for the Spartans. D3 schools in the area should be taking a long look at Pristas over the next 10 months.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Josh Giaquinto</strong>| 6'1” | G | Bangor Area</p> <p>A good shooter who moves well away from the ball to create open looks for himself. He finishes well at the rim and can get creative against bigger defenders. A double digit guarantee nearly every night, he hit 47 three pointers and had a season high of 30 vs Moravian Academy. Went over 20 points six times and flirted with 20 on four other nights. Another player who the D3s in the area should have interest in following the next year.</p>