While the regular season hasn't begun, there were quite a few chances to see players from different NYC schools against each other. As a result, our distinguished panel was able to come up with the Pre-Season NYCHoops Top Ten Team Rankings.
1. Abraham Lincoln HS (Brooklyn/ PSAL) - The Railsplitters seemed to have done it again. After finishing last season in the #7 spot, Coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton has fortified his line-up with a few transfers. The injection of Elijah Davis, Taquan Givens along with up n' comer lefty, Desi Rodriguez has added a solid supporting cast to their go-to-guy Isaiah Whitehead making them an instant contender this year and next.
2. Christ the King Regional HS (Queens/CHSAA) - The Royals of Middle Village, NY ended last season in a disappointing 9th place in the rankings, mostly due to interior dissonance. With NYCHoops #3 ranked Jon Severe's high octane offense, # 7 ranked Jordan Fuchs battling inside, Coach Joe Arbitello has more harmonious senior leadership. Add to that a better conditioned 6'10" Adonis Delarosa in the paint along with crafty point guard Malik Harmon plus a good supporting cast and you have a recipe for success.
3. Wings Academy (Bronx/PSAL) - Wings has all the pieces to be scary good if they get consistent play from Jaequan Brown who's ranked #6 by NYCHoops. Coach Billy Turnage also has a potential under the radar star in sophomore PG Desure Buie who proved his worth recently. In a head to head tournament match-up against Cardinal Hayes, Buie came up big, giving Wings a one-point victory. .
4. South Shore HS (Brooklyn/PSAL) - The Vikings fell out the ranking last year as lack of maturity reared its ugly head once again. This season, Coach Mike Beckles has one of the few senior laden squads on the circuit and has added a beast in the paint with David Tait. Led by NYCHoops #1 and # 9 players, Terrence Samuel and Shamiek Sheppard, expectations are high and excuses unacceptable this season.
5. Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx/CHSAA) - The Cardinals have a squad. No doubt about it. With Shavar Newkirk, Chris Robinson and left handed front court duo of bigs Mustafa Jones and Ramiel Coleman, Coach Joe Lods also has more than enough pieces to work with. Hayes and Wings don't play each other during the regular season but did have at it during the preseason; Hayes lost
6. Boys & Girls HS (Brooklyn/PSAL) - At season, the Kangaroos finished at the top of the food chain in the number one spot but the defending champions have lost a lot of their leadership. The Roos are in rebuilding mode with the centerpiece being NYCHoops #8 ranked Wesley Myers. Coach Ruth Lovelace also has talent in Jamie Killings and young hybrid Marvin Prochet. With their patented swarming and relentless defensive pressure, "the high" is always dangerous.
7. Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn/PSAL) - As always, Jefferson gets at it. The crew from Bed Stuy is led by NYCHoops #10 player Jaquan "Sun Sun" Lynch. Along with the always rough n' tough Jermoine "Flirt" Faison and feisty guard, Nazi Stokes, Jeff is propelled by the hardcore style of Coach Lawrence "Bud" Pollard. Without multiple stars on their team, the Orange Wave must win by committee. Last season, that style got Jefferson to the #3 spot.
8. Bishop Loughlin HS (Brooklyn/CHSAA) - Last season, the Lions made noise but when the dust settled were only a bubble team. Loughlin returns this season intact with a year's worth of seasoning. Led by Khadeen Carrington, Elisha Boone and Mike Williams, Coach Ed Gonzales' team is poised to do damage this season.
9. Holy Cross HS (Queens/CHSAA) - The Knights of Flushing, NY ended their season ranked #4 but lost many of their senior players but still have a solid senior in Terrell Williams. For them to remain relevant, Coach Paul Gilvary must quickly develop a cohesive young team in a short period of time. Bright spots are sophomores 6'0" Jermaine Bishop and 5'10" point guard Cheyenne Nettleton .
10. Benjamin Cardozo HS (Queens/PSAL) - The academic woes of Bayside have catapulted the Judges from unranked last season into final spot of the top ten. With the recent transfer in of point guard, Travis Flagg, Dozo is once again a ship with a rudder. With the addition of Flagg and seniors Daniel Janel, Omar Williams, Darnell Holmes and Kendall Brown , Coach Ron Naclerio could possibly will his team into making some noise.
On the Bubble: Curtis, Archbishop Molloy, St. Raymond, Monsignor Scanlon, Mt. St. Michael, Xaverian.
This post was edited on 10/26 12:08 AM by mwingate
1. Abraham Lincoln HS (Brooklyn/ PSAL) - The Railsplitters seemed to have done it again. After finishing last season in the #7 spot, Coach Dwayne "Tiny" Morton has fortified his line-up with a few transfers. The injection of Elijah Davis, Taquan Givens along with up n' comer lefty, Desi Rodriguez has added a solid supporting cast to their go-to-guy Isaiah Whitehead making them an instant contender this year and next.
2. Christ the King Regional HS (Queens/CHSAA) - The Royals of Middle Village, NY ended last season in a disappointing 9th place in the rankings, mostly due to interior dissonance. With NYCHoops #3 ranked Jon Severe's high octane offense, # 7 ranked Jordan Fuchs battling inside, Coach Joe Arbitello has more harmonious senior leadership. Add to that a better conditioned 6'10" Adonis Delarosa in the paint along with crafty point guard Malik Harmon plus a good supporting cast and you have a recipe for success.
3. Wings Academy (Bronx/PSAL) - Wings has all the pieces to be scary good if they get consistent play from Jaequan Brown who's ranked #6 by NYCHoops. Coach Billy Turnage also has a potential under the radar star in sophomore PG Desure Buie who proved his worth recently. In a head to head tournament match-up against Cardinal Hayes, Buie came up big, giving Wings a one-point victory. .
4. South Shore HS (Brooklyn/PSAL) - The Vikings fell out the ranking last year as lack of maturity reared its ugly head once again. This season, Coach Mike Beckles has one of the few senior laden squads on the circuit and has added a beast in the paint with David Tait. Led by NYCHoops #1 and # 9 players, Terrence Samuel and Shamiek Sheppard, expectations are high and excuses unacceptable this season.
5. Cardinal Hayes HS (Bronx/CHSAA) - The Cardinals have a squad. No doubt about it. With Shavar Newkirk, Chris Robinson and left handed front court duo of bigs Mustafa Jones and Ramiel Coleman, Coach Joe Lods also has more than enough pieces to work with. Hayes and Wings don't play each other during the regular season but did have at it during the preseason; Hayes lost
6. Boys & Girls HS (Brooklyn/PSAL) - At season, the Kangaroos finished at the top of the food chain in the number one spot but the defending champions have lost a lot of their leadership. The Roos are in rebuilding mode with the centerpiece being NYCHoops #8 ranked Wesley Myers. Coach Ruth Lovelace also has talent in Jamie Killings and young hybrid Marvin Prochet. With their patented swarming and relentless defensive pressure, "the high" is always dangerous.
7. Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn/PSAL) - As always, Jefferson gets at it. The crew from Bed Stuy is led by NYCHoops #10 player Jaquan "Sun Sun" Lynch. Along with the always rough n' tough Jermoine "Flirt" Faison and feisty guard, Nazi Stokes, Jeff is propelled by the hardcore style of Coach Lawrence "Bud" Pollard. Without multiple stars on their team, the Orange Wave must win by committee. Last season, that style got Jefferson to the #3 spot.
8. Bishop Loughlin HS (Brooklyn/CHSAA) - Last season, the Lions made noise but when the dust settled were only a bubble team. Loughlin returns this season intact with a year's worth of seasoning. Led by Khadeen Carrington, Elisha Boone and Mike Williams, Coach Ed Gonzales' team is poised to do damage this season.
9. Holy Cross HS (Queens/CHSAA) - The Knights of Flushing, NY ended their season ranked #4 but lost many of their senior players but still have a solid senior in Terrell Williams. For them to remain relevant, Coach Paul Gilvary must quickly develop a cohesive young team in a short period of time. Bright spots are sophomores 6'0" Jermaine Bishop and 5'10" point guard Cheyenne Nettleton .
10. Benjamin Cardozo HS (Queens/PSAL) - The academic woes of Bayside have catapulted the Judges from unranked last season into final spot of the top ten. With the recent transfer in of point guard, Travis Flagg, Dozo is once again a ship with a rudder. With the addition of Flagg and seniors Daniel Janel, Omar Williams, Darnell Holmes and Kendall Brown , Coach Ron Naclerio could possibly will his team into making some noise.
On the Bubble: Curtis, Archbishop Molloy, St. Raymond, Monsignor Scanlon, Mt. St. Michael, Xaverian.
This post was edited on 10/26 12:08 AM by mwingate
