The 2022 All-CBL 14U team is peppered with talented hoopers who are already starting to make waves on both sides of the Atlantic. Keep on eye on these ballers, they’ve got next…
Christian Coley. 28 points per game. Officially the 14U regular season Most Valuable Player. The best iso scorer in the league, bar none. If you never got to see it, you missed out. It’s a Cole World. With the departure of his backcourt brother Zaire Colbert (who returned to the US and is currently ripping up courts all across the AAU circuit in America) Coley was left unprotected against swarming defences all season long who got the scouting report that all buckets run through him for OWE. It didn’t matter. The epitome of a ‘walking bucket’, Coley’s 1-on-1 shot making ability was unrivalled across the league. With range out to deep space, defenders had to pick him up at half court, or else… With the ability to create his own shot certified, Coley was ‘box office’ for the CBL. Always ready to show and prove in the big moments, he never disappointed. He has now moved back to the US this season and will be missed by the entire league, but we’re glad he raised the bar and we’ll always cherish the memories. Baller.
Axel Thibault has been ‘on the come up’ for a few years now. A true point guard with ‘a pocket full of dimes’ that he’s ready to spend on creating buckets – this prodigious talent knows how to pass and has ‘the eye’ many covet but few actually get. In addition to his passing ability, he’s developed into a superior defender, able to play at the top of a press, with major impact. Just like Coley, Thibault is at his best in the clutch where he’s proven he thrives. He’s not fully ‘there’ yet, but write it down and keep the note, he’s coming and when all elements of his game finally arrive, he’s going to be a major problem for anyone in his way.
Jad Kobongo was the most consistent player for the best team in the league in 2022, putting in solid performances on both ends of the floor all season long. Often obscured by his more illustrious teammates, Kobongo’s impact did not go unnoticed by us. He was the ‘backbone’ of the Elite 14U season and always on the frontline on the glass, on the break and on the defensive end. He plays hard, all the time, while continuing to be coachable, competitive and team-first every second he’s on the floor. Coaches know it’s rare players like Kobongo that make the ‘unseen’ difference between winning and losing on championship teams, as they make plays that don’t always show on the stats sheet and play selflessly, doing whatever it takes to win. His 16ppg/8rpg averages are more than respectable for a First Team All-League player, but his true impact is beyond the numbers. Excellent season by a versatile, team-first type player. Well deserved.
Solomon King was the most athletic ‘force of nature’ in the league last season. No player dunked more, caught more bodies or turned more heads than the 6’3, long-armed athlete from West London. King has the ability to be a 1 man fast break, skying high for rebounds on the defensive end and hurtling down court on coast-to-coast, handling the ball through traffic, leading to whirlwind finishes with ferocity above the rim. A monstrous ‘double/double’ average of 27ppg along with 11 rpg perhaps don’t do the rising star’s impact full justice. He and Nathaniel Djagonaly were, without doubt, the two most outstanding players in the division throughout the season and provided the 2 of the top 3 games of the season when they matched up against one another. A future star.
Nathaniel Djagonaly is a future pro. Book it. Already standing 6’7 with comfortable shooting range out to beyond 3, his ‘bag’ was just too big for the league last season. The best player on the best team and he ‘showed up’ every single game he played in. The points came easy for ‘The Dragon’, thanks to a fundamentally advanced skill set, excellent shooting touch and the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to his spots at will. However, what broke the backs of all the teams he matched up with across the season was his ability to rebound, especially on the offensive end. A league leading 15.2 rebounds per game, alongside a league leading 28.5 points per game and a 100% win record tell you all you need to know about his dominance in the division. We say the CBL is where you find tomorrow’s stars playing today, Nathaniel Djagonaly is exactly that and headed towards prime time, sooner rather than later. Class on class.
