Excel Basketball Training Session Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday we dropped in on the Excel Basketball (@excelbasketballpa) training session at the Ellis Athletic Center in Delaware County. Led by head trainer Josh Etheridge (holding ball in above pic), the Excel Basketball workouts bring together overseas pros, notable college players and elite high school prospects for skill improvement drills and controlled scrimmages. The intensity, work ethic and competitive nature exhibited at these sessions is extremely impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of the high school prospects who grabbed our attention at yesterday's Excel Basketball training session.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116019' first='Dylan' last='Blair'] </strong><strong>– 5'11” / Senior / Downingtown West / East Coast Cyclones / Point Guard: </strong>This elite floor general plays with poise and is always under control. Still, with his speed and filthy handles, Blair can explode past a defender in the blink of an eye. Once he is in the paint, Blair can score at the rim or distribute via a kick out to the arc. He is tremendous in the transition game. Lastly, Blair shoots triples at a high clip. He holds an offer from Army.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991335' first='Dean' last='Coleman-Newsome'] </strong><strong>– 6'4” / Senior / Archbishop Carroll / Gibbs Elite / Combo Guard:</strong> During the spring/summer circuit “DCN” was one of the biggest stock risers in the region. His ability to score the rock at all three levels was on display again yesterday. “DCN” plays a downhill, attacking style that is complimented by his high percentage three-point shooting. It also appears “DCN” has added muscle to his frame of late. Coleman-Newsome holds offers from Fairfield, East Stroudsburg (DII), and West Chester (DII).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Muhammad </strong><strong>– 6'4” / Sophomore / West Catholic / Gibbs Elite / Wing:</strong> Muhammad is a thick and physical prospect who will not hesitate to pop the three-ball. He runs the floor well and can score off the dribble some. Muhammad also displayed decent touch from the mid-range. He possesses a high motor and rebounds well too. Muhammad will be a 2025 prospect to watch this fall/winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Price </strong><strong>– 6'3” / Junior / West Chester East / Combo Guard:</strong> A solidly built athlete (guessing 190 lbs.), Price can drain threes from anywhere along the arc. His ability to splash step backs and shoot on the move really caught our attention. He possesses respectable dribbling skills that he uses to generate scoring opportunities for himself. Price distributed the ball creatively on several possessions and put in work on the glass too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicholas Skeszeli </strong><strong>– 6'0” / Senior / Haverford School / Philly Pride 302 / Combo Guard:</strong> College coaches seeking a backcourt prospect with a superb mid-range game, high basketball IQ and elusive handles should take a hard look at Skeszeli. He is maestro on the fast break. In the half court, he can direct set plays and splash spot up triples. The intensity Skeszeli plays with is next level. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sawyer Smith </strong><strong>– 6'2” / Sophomore / Radnor / H-Pride / Combo Guard:</strong> Smith is a versatile and extremely athletic prospect who can play either backcourt spot as well as some small forward. He impressed with his ability to score the ball at all three levels. Smith drained threes and in transition he scored by taking the ball to the rack. His quickness, instincts and court vision are noteworthy assets as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Notes</u>: </strong>Former WC Rustin standout Griffin Barrouk (Hofstra) was among the college ballers who participated in the Excel Basketball training session yesterday. You may recall that in March of 2021 Barrouk suffered a catastrophic leg injury in his final high school game for Rustin. That initial injury, plus a minor setback in his recovery, caused Barrouk to redshirt during his freshman season at Hofstra. Yesterday Barrouk informed me that he is now fully cleared to play. During this Excel session Barrouk participated in drills only, but he looked outstanding. He flashed the automatic jump shot and quickness that made him a dominant high school player prior to the injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->