Week 9 SEPA Scouting: 6 Prospects Who Impressed

[caption id="attachment_1382189" align="alignleft" width="254"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Hipps-crop-599x393-1644344104.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1382189" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Hipps-crop-599x393-1644344104-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="167" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991425" first="Moses" last="Hipps"] (C/O 0f 2024) from Archbishop Carroll.[/caption] <p>In this week’s installment of <em>“Prospects Who Impressed”</em> you will notice that southeastern Pennsylvania balllers continue to produce unreal scoring performances.</p> <p>Below is a quick review of six prospects we saw in-person or via online streams in last week who impressed us with their extraordinary level of play. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1189096" first="Jalil" last="Bethea"] </strong><strong>– 6’9” / Sophomore / Archbishop Wood / Philly Revolution / Combo Guard:</strong> During the 2021 spring/summer grassroots circuit Bethea turned heads with his elite 3-point shooting. That trend has continued throughout the 2021-22 high season. Last week Bethea killed Catholic League opponents with his perimeter shooting. First, he dropped 27 points (6 threes) on Bonner-Prendie. Then Bethea’s 3-point barrage continued with 5 made triples (20 points total) against Conwell-Egan. Bethea’s lights out shooting is a huge reason Wood is out to an 8-1 start in the PCL.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991425" first="Moses" last="Hipps"] </strong><strong>– 6’3” / Sophomore / Archbishop Carroll / Team Final EYBL / Point Guard: </strong> The fourth leading scorer (17.8 ppg.) in the Philadelphia Catholic League recorded a week to remember. Hipps tipped off last week by scoring 35 points (8 threes) vs. Neumann-Goretti. That outburst was followed with 17 points vs. Bonner as well as 18 points and 6 rebs vs. Devon Prep. Hipps capped off his latest stretch of all-state level play with 21 points vs Father Judge. If you are doing the math at home, that is 22.7 ppg. over those four runs. Hipps continues to shoot the three at an extremely efficient clip – 48.6% in his last four games. Additionally, Hipps has scored in Carroll’s transition game frequently.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1192711" first="Chas" last="Kelley"] </strong><strong>– 6’4’’ / Senior / Phelps School / Team Durant EYBL / Combo Guard: </strong>Kelley is committed to Boston College and the Eagles are getting a fierce lead guard who once he gets into the paint can score in a number of creative ways. On top of getting buckets in traffic, Kelley can drain threes from all over the court. Kelley plays with a noticeable edge to his game. Last week in the much-anticipated Phelps vs. Hill School game, Kelley dropped 27 of his 37 points in the second half as he brought Phelps back from a 20-point deficit for a 109-101 overtime win. Kelley also recorded 8 rebounds and 9 dimes in that win.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1119114" first="Onyekachi" last="Nzeh"] </strong><strong>– 6’10’’ / Junior / George School / Team Final EYBL / Power Forward: </strong>In his last four games “Kachi” is averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks per contest. His recent stretch of superb play was highlighted by a 35-point (2 threes) performance vs. Abington Friends. With his 7’3” wingspan, athleticism, and soft touch, “Kachi” has been a dominant interior prospect for years. Now this winter he is splashing home the occasional three ball. If his shooting continues to improve at this rate, “Kachi” will make for an amazing stretch-4 college player. He now holds over 15 high major college offers.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1279633" first="Ruben" last="Rodriguez"] </strong><strong>– 6’9” / Junior / Reading / Team Final EYBL / Point Guard:</strong> Earlier this season Rodriguez posted a 50-burger, so we should not be surprised that this past week he piled up 35 points vs. Berks Catholic. Over his last three games Rodriguez is averaging 22.6 ppg. In addition to his elite scoring skills, Rodriquez can operate as a distributing floor general who will not hesitate to move the ball to the one of extremely talented teammates who has a hot hand.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991223" first="Dinero" last="Washington"] </strong><strong>– 5’11” / Senior / Collegium Charter / East Coast Power / Combo Guard:</strong> The slasher style guard with electric handles and a watery jumper began his latest three game stretch of outstanding play by recording 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals against Jenkintown. Washington followed that performance with 11 points (2 threes), 6 boards and 5 dimes vs. MaSt Charter. For the encore, Washington gave Calvary Christian a 42-spot on the strength of six made threes. During that game Washington also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career. Collegium Charter Head Coach Markel Jones tells me Washington (19 ppg.; 4 rpg.; 3.8 apg.; 3 spg.) is hearing from several America East schools.</p>