Three Imhotep hoops stars headed for Division I

Gaining the spotlight that Neumann-Goretti enjoyed last year, when the Saints had four Division I signees, Imhotep Charter has a trio of senior boys' basketball players cementing their college destinations.

Lefthanded swingman Ameen Tanksley (Niagara), guard David Appolon (Robert Morris), and 6-foot-8 forward Erik Copes (George Washington) are expected to sign binding letters of intent Wednesday, the first day of the one-week November period for winter and spring sports players to sign a national letter of intent with a Division I or II school.

Last season, Tanksley, Appolon, and Copes helped the Panthers to a 25-6 overall record and 14-2 mark in Public League Division C action.

Tanksley will be joined at Niagara by Archbishop Carroll's Juan'ya Green. Green, a 6-3 combo guard, was an Inquirer second-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection last season for the 24-5 Patriots. He averaged 16.2 points.

From District 1, Penn Wood's Aaron Brown is bound for West Virginia, and Plymouth Whitemarsh's Jaylen Bond for Pittsburgh.

Brown, an athletic 6-5 swingman and first-team all-area pick, averaged 19.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the 27-4 Patriots. Bond, a 6-7 forward and third-team choice, averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds for the 30-2 Colonials, the PIAA Class AAAA state champions.

Headed to Pittsburgh with Bond are quick-footed guard John Johnson, who earned second-team all-area honors with Girard College last season, and Academy of the New Church's 6-11 center, Malcolm Gilbert. Johnson is enrolled at Life Center Academy, in Burlington, N.J.

Decisions, Decisions

These are local basketball players who have made oral commitments to NCAA Division I colleges. The early signing period begins Wednesday.

Boys' Basketball

Player    School    College   

David Appolon    Imhotep Charter    Robert Morris   

Jaylen Bond    Ply. Whitemarsh    Pittsburgh   

Aaron Brown    Penn Wood    West Virginia   

Rakeem Christmas    Acad. New Church    Syracuse   

Erik Copes    Imhotep Charter    G. Washington   

Lamin Fulton    Neumann-Goretti    St. Peter's   

Malcolm Gilbert    Acad. New Church    Pittsburgh   

Juan'ya Green    Archbishop Carroll    Niagara   

Mykel Harris   Phelps   Monmouth   

*-John Johnson    Life Center    Pittsburgh   

Ameen Tanksley    Imhotep Charter    Niagara   

Jabril Trawick    Abington Friends    Georgetown   

Eddie Mitchell    La Salle    Rider   

Kyle Vinales   Phelps   Central Conn. St.   

Jerrell Wright    Dobbins    La Salle   

Aquil Younger   Penn Wood   Drexel   

*-formerly of Girard College

Girls' Basketball

Player    School    College   

Emily Fazzini    Archbishop Carroll    Rider   

Alexa Gallagher    Germantown Acad.    DePaul   

Sheba Hall    Lower Merion    Iona   

Emily Homan    Delco Christian   Lafayette   

Brittany Hrynko    Eng. and Science    DePaul   

Mariah Powell    W. Chester Rustin    Mount St. Mary's   

Steph Smith    Mount St. Joseph   Loyola (Md.).   

- Rick O'Brien