Ali Dibba, Central Pointe Christian Academy: The 6-foot-4 guard from Sweden provided an additional leg of scoring alongside Ramses Melendez, now one of the most hotly pursued 6-foot-7 scorers in the country, as a true senior. As a post graduate, Dibba is flushed into a prominent role as a veteran who has played on some big stages. A drive first attacker, Dibba can get above the rim and really finish in the open court. He’s a confrontational defender who guards multiple positions. With his athleticism and ability to handle the changing of the speeds, he has the potential to erupt on the mid major Division 1 market.
Solomon Ball, St. James: A Class of 2022 prospect, the 6-foot-2 ball showed promise as a sophomore at Scotland Campus Sports (PA). A high level outside shooter and lefty, Ball had several games of 30+ points. He enters St. James as a battle tested combo guard, having played a national schedule that included the likes of No.1 Montverde Academy (FL) and then no.10 St. Frances of Baltimore. Ball wears size 14 sneakers and likely is not done growing. He recently received an offer from Howard, which has ramped up its recruiting with recent noteworthy signings this off season. With his crafty left handed scoring and concepts of the game, Ball has a tremendous future.
Dillon Hod, Scotland Campus: The 6-foot-3 guard is an adept passer with an IQ and feel for the game. He knows how to finish on the drive and finish through contact, as he showed with a 15-point performance at CPCA and a 19-point performance against Olympus Prep (NJ). He’s become a confident outside shooter and has the work ethic that projects at a high level.
Hod can play at different speeds and knows how to employ a workmanlike mentality and keep plays alive. His toughness and experience (he played at national powers Putnam Science in Connecticut and St. Mary’s on Long Island) are translatable to a lofty role as a post graduate this year at Scotland, which has had a top-4 and no.1 national team the last few years.
Anthony AJ Lopez, Mount Zion: The acrobatic guard pulls off freakishly athletic displays only a special core of athletes are capable of. Lopez averaged 20.8 PPG for Florida power Schoolhouse Prep in Miami this past season, showing a deft shooting touch and the ability to play big inside. He will play for a Mount Zion Prep team that has nurtured numerous top shelf Division 1 players over the past years, including Woody Newton (Syracuse) and projected NBA lottery pick Obi Toppin (Dayton).
Chris Rotiroti, Hastings: The 6-foot point guard has a purity of vision that is very rare at the high school level. A high end passer who makes his teammates beneficiaries of his presence, Rotiroti was an instrumental piece in leading Hastings to the program’s first Section 1 championship in 21 years as a junior. He’s a competitor and applies blanketing defense all across the floor.
With his bullish frame and ability to neutralize scorers, the Class of 2021 Rotiroti has the attributes translatable to the collegiate level. Big games have extra juice for Rotiroti, who out-dueled some other high caliber point guards while spearheading Hastings to a title, a 23-win season, and one of the best seasons in the small school’s history.
Josh Thigpen, Hastings: The incoming junior has been a natural scoring threat since he arrived at the doorstep as an unassuming and quiet freshman. He has posted multiple games of 25+ points throughout his career and can hit the outside shot with consistency.
He feeds off the presence of Rotiroti, who knows how to create for him and call his own number and score during crucial junctures. Thigpen is an athletic presence on both sides of the floors and knows how to instigate turnovers and turn them into transition leakout buckets. His spurt-ability is as impactful as any scorer in the Section.
Veteran head coach Bob Delle Bovi had seasoned, battle tested talent in previous years. He coached a memorable Pleasantville team with supreme athletes in Jack Bramswig, Nolan Robinson and deadeye 3-point shooter Rob Delle Bovi. This 2020 title team was unique because they thrived with young talent, including outside shooter (and rising sophomore) Rob Kennedy and incoming freshman Keith Capuano.
