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Camera eyes Upper Darby High School (PA) Basketball player Elie Daniel

Monday February 21, 2007

He made big leaps in high school - also hits jumpers for the Central League hoop champions

Elie Daniel, a 6-12, 179-pound Upper Darby High senior basketball forward, enjoys his feature role in WCAU-TV's "Upper Darby Project."

"They're following 10 people from our senior class," he said. "They show us every other week on Channel 10 and on their Web site. I talked about how I struggled at first in high school, then found my support group.

"They had a basketball show. I dunked a lot for the camera."

Daniel is a leader on a small and quick team that last week won the school's first Central League boys' basketball championship since 1979.

"What I do best is shoot the ball and play defense," Elie said. "I have a good jump shot from the corner. It doesn't matter which corner. I'm more consistent this year and playing better defense. This year's team is very athletic and we harass people on defense. I have become a vocal leader.

"I scored 21 points against Strawberry Mansion. Against Ridley, I scored 10 points, including a dunk which fired up the team."

Coach Bob Miller says, "Elie is a three-year starter. He's got a real nice jump shot and he goes to the basket a lot. His all-around game is better this year.''

Shooting guard Clinton Cole says, "Elie is a scorer. When we have trouble scoring, he can fill the void. I've played with him four years. He's a good friend. He's good to hang out with.''

Daniel and Cole played for the Eddie Jones team in the Sonny Hill League last summer.

"It was more aggressive,'' Elie said, "and there were more good players than we see in the regular season. We got a better look for college. I played well. I played more defensively.''

Daniel, a B-student, considers himself "a science geek.'' He wants to work in forensic science, his interest inspired by the CSI television shows.

Daniel said his father, Jean (martial arts), and mother, Suzala (semi-pro soccer in Haiti), have been behind him 100 percent through bad times and good times. They've advised him to be patient.

"Soccer was my first sport,'' Elie said. "I was very good when I played soccer in West Philadelphia. I scored a lot of goals.

"My brother Elijah was a good shooter for the Upper Darby basketball team. He taught me to play defense. We played all the time. He never let me win, but I did win some times. Elijah is playing well for Wilmington College. He is studying sports management.''

Livingstone, Randolph-Macon and West Chester are among college basketball programs, which are interested in Daniel.

"Randolph-Macon (Ashland, Va.) found out about me at Narberth,'' Elie said. "Livingstone is in (Salisbury) N.C. I have no idea how they found out about me.''