Football: Locals shine at elite camp
Many of the area's top football prospects, including Imhotep Charter wide receiver Denniston "DJ" Moore (Class of 2015) and St. Joseph's Prep running back D'Andre Swift (2017), took part in Saturday's talent-filled Rivals camp at Piscataway High (N.J.). More than 200 players attended the sun-splashed event.
Shining with his running and hands in one-on-one drills, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Moore gained recognition as the camp's top receiver. "I think I did extremely well getting in and out of my routes, and breaking down my defenders," he said.
Moore, who last season helped Imhotep advance to the PIAA Class AA state championship game, impressed against St. Peter's Prep (N.J.) cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, a five-star prospect according to Rivals.com. Fitzpatrick has scholarship offers from top-flight programs from across the country.
Following the 4 1/2-hour camp, the aptly named Swift, part of the Prep's Catholic League and PIAA Class AAAA title squad, left with a signed ball awarded for being the top running back.
Swift recently landed a scholarship offer from Rutgers, with many more certainly to come. He has a pair of Division I-AA offers: Delaware and Villanova.
Moore, a three-star recruit, has scholarship offers from Buffalo, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia, and Western Michigan. He said he plans to visit Temple on Monday, his birthday. That will likely be followed by a spring visit to Virginia.
Also participating in the camp were Frankford defensive end Shareef Miller (Class of 2015), Council Rock North quarterback Brandon McIlwain (2016), Downingtown East tight end Cary Angeline (2016), and Malvern Prep QB Alex Hornibrook (2015).
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Miller, a three-star recruit, said he wanted to "raise my stock. I want to be a four- or five-star player."
Miller has scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Penn State, and Pittsburgh, among others. He said he plans to soon take an unofficial visit to Arizona State, where Imhotep senior defensive back Deandre Scott is headed and ex-West Catholic player Jaelen Strong is a star receiver.
The 6-7, 220-pound Angeline, also a standout basketball player, has scholarship offers in football from Boston College, Miami, Penn State, Temple, and Virginia.
McIlwain, who has garnered numerous Division I scholarship offers since the end of last season, and Hornibrook were joined in passing drills by Bonner-Prendergast's Collin DiGalbo (Class of 2015) and Imhotep's Andre Dreuitt-Parks (2015).
Hornibrook, a southpaw, has an offer from Akron. He said he was going to take an unofficial visit to Rutgers with some 7-on-7 teammates following Saturday's camp. A visit to Kentucky is on the slate for next week. He made a recent stop at Penn.
In addition to Swift, the running backs included Imhotep's Nasir Bonner (Class of 2015), Archbishop Ryan's Samir Bullock (2015), Father Judge's Yeedee Thaenrat (2016), and Imhotep's Tyliek Raynor (2016).
Bullock, who has been timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has yet to draw a scholarship offers, but has received interest from the likes of Purdue and Temple. He said a trip to North Broad Street was planned for early next week.
The corp of defensive backs included Northeast's Asa Manley (Class of 2015) and Roman Catholic's John Chaney III (2015). Chaney is the grandson of legendary Temple hoops coach John Chaney.
Imhotep Charter's Shaquille Jones (Class of 2015) was one of the linebackers on hand.
The Rivals.com coaches included former NFL offensive lineman George Hegamin, who had a brief stay with the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1990s, and ex-NFL wide receiver Wes Chandler, who played for the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints. Peter Vaas, a former head coach in NFL Europe, directed the QBs.
Other area players on hand were Coatesville tight end Amir Ealey (Class of 2015), West Chester East defensive lineman Kevin Murphy (2015), Imhotep Charter tight end Naseir "Pop" Upshur (2016), Northeast defensive end Paul Gladimir (2015), and West Catholic offensive lineman Tymir Oliver (2016).
Camp attendees from the Class of 2015 are eligible to be selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game next January.