St. John's Fights Through Adversity for a win over Long Beach State and their Best Start Since '90-'91

              In any special season good teams face a time or two where they have to fight through adversity. St. John's faced some before the season began when they lost potential frontcourt help as Keith Thomas and Adonis Delarosa were ruled ineligible because of academic issues.

              Yesterday as they beat a tough Long Beach State squad 66-49 two more potential obstacles presented themselves. First, the team learned before the game that Rysheed Jordan would miss the game because of a stomach virus. The second obstacle showed itself during the game when star guard D'angelo Harrison, who entered the game as the Big East's leading scorer at 18 ppg, struggled for the first time all year finishing with just 9 points.

              No problem for St. John's. The senior laden team which has been praised all year by their coach Steve Lavin for their resourcefulness found several ways to negotiate those obstacles successfully. Their defense, which held Long Beach State to 1-13 three point shooting in the first half. "Our defense sustained us and allowed us to forge a lead until our offense caught up to the level of our defense," Lavin said.

              It's understandable that the offense catching up took a while with Jordan missing and Harrison struggling but once again the veteran Red Storm found some answers. In the backcourt Jamal Branch, whose offense normally takes a back seat as he runs the team chipped in with 11 points. Up front, Chris Obekpa had perhaps his best offensive game of the season, finishing with 16 points on 7-8 shooting.  The offensive outburst came with his usual good defense as he finished with 6 blocks.

              Long Beach State briefly grabbed leads in the second half but St. John's answered quickly each time first with an Obekpa  jumper  and next with a jumper from Phil Greene, who tied Obekpa for game high scoring honors with 16 points. Guard Mike Caffey lead Long Beach State while Tyler Lamb added 10 points.

              The win raises St. John's record to 10-1, giving them their best start since the 1990-91 season when they reached the elite 8.

Jefferson Beats St. Ray's in a Great Game at Legends Classic

              One of many things that can be taken from Saturday's fantastic game between visiting Thomas  Jefferson and home standing St. Ray's is that there should be more games like this played in New York City. There should be more games where two of the city's top teams step outside of league play with nothing on the line except that game's result.

              The 3rd annual Basketball  Legends Classic provided that game and many other good things came from it. The game itself, which ended in a 97-92 win for Jefferson was terrific and kept the fans who jammed the gym at St. Ray's involved from start to finish.

              And the college coaches present , from schools such as St. John's Niagara, Fordham and others at all levels of college basketball got to see young players in an environment made more competitive by the number of good players on the floor for both sides  which helps them make accurate scouting evaluations of perspective recruits.

                             Last but certainly not least, the teams themselves benefit most of all because they get an early indication of how they need to get better to make deep league playoff runs. Jefferson coach Lawrence Pollard has taken full advantage of this playing five of New York's top six clubs regardless of league affiliation.

              This game also had one well reported sub plot in the person of point guard Jaquan McKennon, the speedy point guard who played Saturday for Jefferson but began his high school career at St. Ray's. All the things that made him a talented young prospect in those early days make him a talented young player now. He plays with an extremely low to the ground dribble, keeps it alive against pressure and can make every kind of pass. He finished with 13 points , a boatload of great assists and very few turnovers in what coach Pollard called his best all around game of the season.

              He combined with junior guard Shomarie Ponds  who took many of McKennon's passes for baskets and helped the Orange Wave take advantage of some early Ravens' jitters. Ponds finished with a game high 32 points and demonstrated his trademark mid-range game and slashing ability along with improved accuracy from beyond the arc. Jefferson also received key contributions from talented forwards  Isaiah Deas and Davere Creighton each made critical baskets to help Jefferson  navigate a stet of the second half where Ponds was limited with 4 fouls.  Deas and McKennon hit consecutive 3's in the third period  that gave Jefferson a 60-57 lead that they would never relinquish.

              The Ravens, and in particular talented sophomore point guard Isaiah  Washington regrouped from those early jitters to play very well. Junior shooting guard Casim Brown finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds while uber talented sophomore Sidney Wilson added 22 points 8 boards and 7 blocks.  They nearly helped the Ravens mount a winning rally with the help of late game pressure. Jefferson  earned a hard fought win but make no mistake both teams are better for having played each other.

Fast and Furious 2nd Half Lifts #20 St. John's Past St. Mary's 53-47

                             The ice bags on D'angelo Harrison's arm and Joey Delarosa's wrist were indicative of the basketball battle two very good teams, St. John's and St. Mary's waged at Carnesseca Arena last night. Both teams like to establish physical play each team likes to do so at a very different pace.

              For the first 20 minutes the visitors from northern California had the pace they wanted and slowly  built their lead thanks to a dominant first half effort on the boards (28-12) terrific half court defense and precise offensive execution that helped the Gaels make sure that Brad Waldow, their awkward looking but effective center got touches. He was equally good in pick and roll as well as post up situations as he provided the offensive spark for a 33-18 halftime advantage for St. Mary's. The wide margin plus early foul trouble for both Harrison and center Chris Obekpa spelled trouble for St. John's

              According to Harrison, coach Steve Lavin's message was simple to the point. "Coach just emphasized cutting down on Waldow he had 19 (of his game high 26 points) in the first half."

              Lavin did more than just ask his team to limit Waldow's touches, he helped his team make an adjustment that in turn helped his team accomplish just that. Sir'Dominic Pointer, the team's best defender fronted Waldow which not only limited his catches but, as Pointer explained "I'm quicker so I can get around in front and they have to lob the ball over me and Chris can look to block shots rather than be on Waldow.  It made it a lot easier for me and Chris."

              The effect was almost immediate. St. John's pulled to within 39-33 with just under 13 minutes left and finally taking the lead with 8:04 left on two Pointer free throws. He and Harrison provided much of the offensive spark. Harrison scored a team high 21 points while Pointer did a terrific job exploiting quickness mismatches  for a double double (11 points and 10 boards. St. John's defensive pressure was the key as they scored 17 points off turnovers and forced  Waldow to commit 7 without an assist. St. Mary's dominated the first half with physicality in the paint but St. John's won the second, and ultimately the game, with physical play on the perimeter; trapping St. Mary's  guards and diving for every loose ball and, as Harrison put it succinctly, "playing St. John's basketball".

              The win was St. John's 5th straight and raised their season mark to 9-1. Waldow was the only double figure scorer for St. Mary's which dropped to 6-3

Alkins and the Royals Make a Strong Statement with a Big Win

              With yesterday's convincing 71-52 win at Xaverian, the two time defending CHSAA "AA" champs let fans and foes alike know that they're ready to make a strong  defense of their title and go for a third straight championship at Fordham in March.

              To be sure some of the key players have moved on.  Adonis Delarosa, the skilled center who was a key part of both title teams has moved on to St. John's. And Travis Atson, the MVP of last season's playoffs has moved on to South Kent Prep.

              If the Royals are to get their third straight title the player who will have been a key contributor on all of those teams will be Rawlie Alkins, the 6'4" junior perimeter star who has seen his name climb steadily up the prospect lists. In today's win he filled the stat sheet with 16 points 7 rebounds 4 assists and 3 blocks. Those numbers not withstanding  they don't even begin to tell the story of how well  he played  or what he could  mean for a team filled with young players trying to fill key roles on a team with championship expectations for the first time.

             

              Alkins had just 6 points in the first half as he helped the Royals to a modest 28-22 halftime advantage but throughout this game and in particular during the first 16 minutes that perhaps the most underrated part of  his game was on display. As he tried to navigate a Xaverian defense that was tough early his floor game was impeccable. He threw the ball ahead, kept it moving with good passes and made asses that helped some of those new guys in key roles have early scoring success and gain early confidence.

              Sophomore  Jose Alvarado, who played point guard on last year's freshman team gladly accepted the role of shooting guard for this game scoring a game high 21 points for the Royals several of which came on drive and kick treys on perfectly delivered passes from Alkins. Junior Yashawn Bright also scored well early wile fellow junior Tyrone Cohen  contributed 12 points and 5 boards of his own again with a bit of help from Alkins. Cohen and Alkins also provided much of the lane coverage and rim protection tat thwarted Xaverian's effort. Both Dorian Isaac and Nyotay Wisseh got into the lane at times but every attempted finish was contested, and on the Royals fast breaks that often followed those plays  Alkins showed why he's one of the best transition passers our region has seen in some time.

              Xaverian's defense kept them even at 12 after one quarter. Though they trailed by just six at the half they had sabotaged their own effort by missing free throws including three front ends of one and one opportunities. While big man Najee Larcher and Wisseh  had decent games for the Clippers, the home team showed they still have some work to do before they're ready to take on the champs. For now Rawlie Alkins and the Royals still stand strong, like champions indeed.

 for the first time.

Sir'Dominic Points the way to win for Johnnies

                             A spectacular all-around effort from Sir'Dominic Pointer and a strong defensive effort in the second half  helped lift St. John's past a stubborn LIU-Brooklyn squad 66-53 at Carnesecca Arena last night.  The senior forward finished with a career high 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting while adding 8 rebounds and 6 blocks as he helped the Johnnies beat a local foe determined to give them their best effort.

              "They came in with purpose", coach Steve Lavin said of the visitors from  Flatbush. "I was impressed with their cohesive approach."

              That cohesiveness was even more impressive considering that coach Jack Perri and the Blackbirds begin this season without their 4-year floor general Jason Brickman who led them to 3 Northeast Conference titles while smashing the league's career assist record.

In his absence a pair of freshman guards from Iceland Elvar Fridriksson and Martin Hermannsson

helped facilitate terrific ball movement for the Blackbirds with 5 assists each. LIU took an early 5 point lead that would have been greater were it not for the efforts of Pointer and Chris Obekpa who combined for 14 blocks on the day and altered countless others; Obekpa with his length and timing and Pointer with his quick leaping ability. Obekpa's 10 rebound 8 block effort was even more impressive than those numbers indicate  since, he is still clearly limited by an injury he suffered during practice on Staten Island a few weeks ago.

              The Red Storm rallied behind that defensive effort to take a 32-26 halftime advantage. Pointer sparked the rally with two steals he took home for slams and a pretty cross court assist  that freshman Myles Stewart drained for a three pointer.

              LIU had a bit more fight in them though as they started the second half with a 7-0 run that briefly gave them the lead at 33-32 but Pointer scored again, this time converting an offensive board to give his team the lead back. From that point sophomore Rysheed Jordan did his best work finishing with 15 points primarily on pull up jumpers from middle  distance. D'angelo Harrison added 14 for the Johnnies while senior and former  Wings Academy player Gerrell Martin added a team high 14 points for the Blackbirds.

News and Notes: The win capped a very good day for the Johnnies who also announced the signing of guard Samir Doughty of Philadelphia Math, Civics and Sciences School as the first member of their 2015 recruiting class. He is a physical  attacking off guard with good size (6'3") strength and passing ability. St. John's takes a week off before playing Big Ten rival Minnesota at MSG on Wednesday.

Local Big Man Delarosa Helps St. John's Take a Step Forward

St. John's ended a two week period of turmoil with a commitment from a local star. Christ the King's 6'11" center Adonis Delarosa becomes St. John's first recruit in the 2014 class when his letter of intent becomes official next week. The Bronx native also becomes coach Steve Lavin's first New York recruit since Queens native Mo Harkless arrived 3 years ago for what was a productive but brief stop on his way to the league and guaranteed first round money. Delarosa has NBA ready  size but his stay in college figures to be a bit longer thanks primarily to conditioning issues. Make no mistake though, he brings a few things, size being just one, that St, John's needs.

     Before discussing those things it must be noted that he arrives at a time when the program has experienced some turmoil. Sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson declared for the draft despite a complete lack of  buzz on draft sites, limited shooting range and a non-functioning left hand finishing plays around the basket. Chris Obekpa, who was the nation's leading shot blocker two years ago transferred after  reportedly refusing to re-enter his team's Big East tournament loss to Providence. The team then suffered a dismal home loss to Robert Morris in the N.I.T. which has been followed by speculation of other defections.  Their coach Steve Lavin spent a week during this time testing his TV muscle memory at Fox in Los Angeles. Unfairly or not that has fueled internet chatter questioning his long term commitment to coaching in New York at St. John's. With all this in mind, I don't envy the position that my young friend with great hands passing acumen size and strength has put himself in. I worry that people looking for a guy who can carry the Red Storm to an N.C.A.A. tournament will not be happy with a guy who's a great complimentary piece. And for those who use the term "role player" to imply that a guy is less important to a team's ability to win games I say no sir. Those players are also essential to winning. And the skill set that Adonis brings to the table includes lots of winning things.

              Like any young player moving to the proverbial  next level he will need time for the game to slow down for him. But once that happens his coaches and teammates will be able to trust him to do two things; catch the ball and make good decisions once he gets his hands on it. In fact, his passing might be his most college ready skill as his passes to both cutters and spot up shooters are almost always on time and on target.  And his willingness to use that skill brings a needed dose of unselfishness to the team.

              His size and girth may help in another way that's a bit less noticeable but still important. Beginning with their  season opening loss to national semi-finalist Wisconsin. St. John's was hurt repeatedly  by teams that had wide bodies as well as long ones. Nowhere was that more evident than in the team's second loss to Xavier at Madison Square Garden on Feb 25th where Muskies' freshman Jalen Reynolds chewed up the Red Storm and their vaunted lineup of shot blockers for 17 points and 16 boards. Delarosa may not be as athletic as the departed Sampson and Obekpa  but he's long and wide and reads the game well  defensively. St. John's will need to continue their re-tooling with some  run and jump athletes but Delarosa's combination of a wide low post presence and skill compliments those players, and could ultimately help them be better prepared for a new league that carries basketball ethos that is familiar to urban Catholic  schools; one that emphasizes rugged play under the basket. Just as the speed of the game will take some adjusting so will its physical play.

              Adonis is not the kind of star recruit that could force local sports talkers to discuss St. John's basketball on a semi daily basis. He can however be an essential part of a team that gets back to the tournament  and helps St. John's regain a place in New York's sports consciousness that goes beyond its fiercely loyal fan base. The recruitment of this talented big man is a small but essential step forward for the program as it seeks to regain its footing both on and off the floor.

NCAA Regional Breakdown With Notes of Local Interest

              As I start writing this I am keeping in mind that any and everyone who fills out a tournament  bracket, whether they be a gym rat like yours truly or a person participating in an office pool because everyone else is doing it, is engaging in a certain amount of guess work. Even a guy like me who's more than a little informed about all these teams can't know for certain how two teams will play against each other. With all that in mind if you are inclined to read this, I hope you enjoy it. But remember it's intended to entertain and not to be *ahem* investment advice. Here without further ado is a brief synopsis of each of the 4 regions with explanations of some of my choices.

South Region: Like most of the experts I expect Florida  to survive in this region because of a combination of depth, experience and inside-outside scoring balance that's  unprecedented at a time when top level players don't stay in school long enough for teams to develop those winning attributes. I also like New Mexico to get to the regional final with a win over Syracuse before falling to the Gators because the length and physicality of forward Cameron Bairstow, Center Alex Kirk and guard Kendall Williams means that the Lobos will probably be less bothered by the length of the Kansas and Syracuse than any team those two faced in recent memory. Plus the fact that the Lobos are still smarting from their early exit to Harvard last year. Talent plus a chip on their shoulder could prove to be the spark for a deep tournament  run.

Also Worth Noting in the South Region In the 8-9 game Colorado will miss injured star Spencer Dinwidde to an even greater degree than they have already against a team that can shrink the court like the Panthers. UCLA will survive against Tulsa but that game will be much closer than a 4-13 game should be. Last but certainly not least I did pick the 5-12 upset with Stephen F. Austin beating VCU. In my mind I know that the Rams will miss their hot shooting sixth man and former Rice H.S. standout Melvin Johnson. Even with that in mind my heart pulled me in this direction because one of the Lumberjacks' assistant coaches is none other than former South Carolina and Bishop Loughlin star Mike Boyton, who's now there after a brief stint coaching at his college alma mater. Good luck to the 'jeacks and to  Mike who was one of the best kids I knew as a player and is now a great guy.

East Region: I have Villanova surviving  until the regional final against my pick Michigan State for two reasons. First I think the new Big East's decision to return to a home & home format in conference play will help the teams that did get into the big dance because they've been forced to use counters and make adjustments  by seeing 9 teams twice. Second, while teams such as Iowa State, whom the 'cats would see in a regional semi-final may be stronger at a position or two the difference is not so wide that Villanova can't take advantage of their ability to spread the floor and penetrate. Sparty on the other hand has length and toughness inside  and super sophomore Gary Harris on the outside who, to an old-timer like myself, looks more and more like former Milwaukee Bucks' star Ricky Pierce because of his length, defensive energy and absolutely pure shooting stroke.

Also Worth Noting in the East Region: For the record I am probably one of the few people who stayed away from the most chic of 5-12 upset picks and took Cincinnati over Harvard.  And in case you're wondering yes I am completely aware that the Crimson essentially have an Atlantic 10 level roster while playing in the ivy league. That said I just can't see Tommy Amaker's team sneaking up on people in back to back NCAA's. I also think that it helps the Bearcats that they play and have played a heavy dose of eastern basketball so they know what to expect more so than last year's upset victims out west. I like 10th seeded St. Joe's over UConn because I think St. Joe's guards, Chris Jones and Langston Galloway to contain the penetration of the Huskies' two outstanding  PT boats Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatwright. If that happens and the game becomes a battle in the paint it's a battle that two local products, Halil Kanacevic of Curtis High on Staten Island and Ron Roberts of St. Peter's (NJ) Prep can win against a UConn front line that is talented but still developing. Last but not least congratulations go out to two local players who took the junior college route to get there and have helped their teams to the big dance and are in this region. Rugged forward Dustin Hogue of Yonkers' Lincoln high has provided a tough inside presence for the Cyclones despite being undersized at 6'6". And Jordan Aaron, who starred in the PSAL's "A" division before a terrific senior year for coach Billy Turnage  at Wings Academy. Jordan's scoring and play making ability helped Milwaukee to a surprise win in the Horizon League tournament. Well done guys and good luck to both of you.

Midwest Bracket: The so-called bracket of death where the committee in its decidedly finite wisdom has seen fit to make unbeaten Wichita State a top seed but present the Shockers with a gauntlet of traditional college powers that includes Duke, Louisville,  Kentucky and Michigan. Those of you who've read my news and notes from early last season know that the Shockers have one of my favorite local stars in forward Cleanthony Early who attended Pine Bush High School in Orange County. The versatile 6'8" forward combines with guards Fred Van Fleet and Ron Baker to give WSU as good a core group as there is in the tournament. I have the Shockers losing in a regional semi final to my eventual pick Louisville. Former Molloy star Russ Smith has once again taken his game to another level for tournament time as he did last year for the defending national champs. Despite a key y mid season loss in forward Chane Behanen the Cardinals will get enough of what they need inside to win this bracket and advance to the final.

Also Worth Noting in the Midwest Regional am not on board with the notion that Kentucky has experienced some sort of basketball epiphany following the SEC tournament. And K-State not only has a veteran roster with former Rice star Shane Southwell and former St. Ray's star Omari Lawrence as role players but they have a talented freshman of their own in power guard Marcus Foster who averaged 15.4 points per game as a rookie. I'd feel better about this pick of old friend and point guard  Jevon Thomas were further along in his development because his defense and speed could give UK fits.  That said he hasn't shown the ability to run a team and make solid decisions at this level and probably needs a full summer and early practice time next season to be ready to be the kind of player his talent says he should be. Manhattan, with its roster of local stars and Pitino pupil Steve Mssiello as head coach will play the Cardinals tough for a while before losing  and Duke, whom I have losing in a regional final rematch to the Cardinals better be careful of getting into a track meet with UMass in that region. Former Bishop Ford star Chazz Williams creates a fast pace as well as anyone and former St. Pat's star Derrick Gordon is a physical scoring off guard but what makes UMass a potential threat to Duke is a long experienced group of bigs that will not outplay Jabari Parker and the rest of Duke's frontline but may do just enough to give those guards a chance to lead them to an upset win.

West Region: I have top seeded Arizona escaping what will be a difficult bracket and I do so with only a slight nod to Wildcat assistant and former St. Ray's player Book Richardson. They get the nod primarily because  they're big and talented and they found the right fit at point guard when T.J. McConnell arrived from Duquesne. His ability to run the team has allowed Nick Johnson to play as a true off guard and score attacking the basket or shooting from deep. Even though the injury to freshman Brandon Ashley takes away a dynamic and versatile forward they have a enough up front t to advance from this bracket.

I like North Dakota State to be this season's Cinderella 12 seed and post upsets over Oklahoma n round2 and 4th seeded San Diego State. They have terrific inside outside balance as 6'7" forward Taylor Braun and 6'8" forward Marshall Bjorklund key an attack that shoots over 50% from the floor and a shade under 37% from beyond  the arc. I look for Creighton and Doug McDermott to beat Wisconsin in a regional semi before losing to AZ because the Badgers normally reliable defense will struggle against a team that can spread them like the Blue Jays can.

Also Worth Noting in the West Region: Iowa, with former Siena coach Fran McCaffery will play tonight's game with a heavy heart because the coach's 13 year old son  Patrick will have undergone surgery to remove  a thyroid tumor. It is a blessing that, according to reports the surgery went well. The tumor will be tested to determine whether or not it is malignant. My thoughts and prayers are with Patrick and his family.

The game marks Iowa's first NCAA appearance in 8 years and the Hawkeyes have Glen Cove native Melsahn Basabe, who has become a key role player as the team has transitioned into the kind that can space the floor and shoot the way McCaffrey's Siena teams did when they scored tourney upsets. Good luck also to Oklahoma soph and former Mt. Vernon guard Isaiah Cousins.

Royals Take Second Straight Title Over Loughlin 72-61

              Christ the King's 72-61 win over Bishop Loughlin at Fordham that gave the Royals their second straight CHSAA title and was very much a reflection of what would become a  great year.

              Christ the King's season was not without its struggles. Seniors Andre Walker and Adonis Delarosa, who had played complimentary roles last year were going through the process of assuming leading roles. Junior wingman Travis Atson and sophomore Rawlie Alkins struggled to fit in as well. Alkins, who's the team's most talented player and a top national recruit would often move through games cautiously in an effort to fit in with teammates. Even though there were difficult losses along the way to Hayes, and Molloy and at Loughlin the Royals found their way to familiar ground in the Diocesan championship game where they lost again to the Lions.

              There were moments of struggle in the game also even as the Royals maintained a slight advantage. Loughlin was ready for the new and improved version of Delarosa. They varied the timing and direction of their double teams. And he did not score his first field goal until a short corner pop in the third quarter. Even Alkins who finished with a game high 24 points had some early miscues.

              The Royals built a 4 point advantage and maintained it through to even quarters in the second and third. Their transition defense improved markedly from their Diocesan title loss and while Loughlin torched the Royals from beyond the arc in that game shot a combined 3-21 in this one.

              Williams and Carrington fought through their three point shooting woes to trim the deficit to one in the closing moments of the third quarter but when Delarosa got a rebound and made a quick pass to Walker, the senior guard made a half court shot to keep the margin at four 51-47.

              From there a back and forth struggle was taken to another level in the final stanza. Alkins, who scored the bulk of his 24 points closer to the basket, scored his most important hoop on a triple with 2:32 left in the game. Delarosa made a terrific defensive play to deflect a pass, got to the loose ball and again made a terrific outlet pass to Walker in a play that began similar to the one that ended the third quarter. This time, Walker snapped a perfect diagonal pass to Alkins who rose up and drained a right wing triple with the confidence of an elite level player.

              From there it was left to the Royals, and in particular Delarosa to clinch the game from the free throw line. Travis Atson, the Royals' high flying 6'5" junior finished with 21 points and earned  tournament MVP honors. His first basket came on a beautiful pass and cut combination with Walker for a dunk and was indicative of the energy he gave his team and  ability to score and finish within the flow of the offense. Delarosa overcame that slow beginning with 10 points and 15 boards while Walker added 13 points 8 boards and 6 assists. For the Lions Carrington had 22 points while Williams added 17. Loughlin had a tremendous year of their own and like the Royals deserve congratulations on a great season. Christ the King won the day and became the first team since Chick Keegan's St. Francis Prep team s of the mid and late 1950's to win 4 titles in 5 years. In a season that many thought would be a down year for the Royals they drew from previous success and found familiar championship ground. Congratulations to the Royals on a job well done.

               

Round Three for Royals and Lions to Decide CHSAA Title Sunday

              Christ the King and Bishop Loughlin each scored impressive wins in last night's CHSAA "AA" semifinals at Fordham's Rose Hill gym last night. The results set up what should be a fantastic rematch of last season's final between these two traditional powers.  On Sunday at 3:00 pm two teams that faced difficult tests last night will meet for the championship after splitting two games in the regular season. Round three figures to be an epic struggle and the champion will have to win decisively because both teams will play with a champion's effort and heart Here are recaps of the two games that set  the stage for what should be an amazing game.

Bishop Loughlin 89 St. Peter's 77 Since his arrival on Loughlin's varsity three years ago Mike Williams has been the guy to give a talented Lions' squad a dose of physical toughness that is as essential to winning as the stuff that shows up on the stat sheet. Mike scored a game high 30 points in helping his team hold off  a stubborn and talented St. Peter's squad bit the way he scored was what mattered most.  Simply put he gave his team whatever it needed; a trademark corner three, a key rebound for a basket, and a mid range jumper were all part of the arsenal. And they needed every last ounce of Williams' effort plus help from his teammates to beat the Eagles from Staten Island who proved individually and as a team that they belonged with the city's top teams.

              Point guard Glenn Sanabria continued to demonstrate why he should have been a D-1 recruit long ago. After an early time out by  coach Charlie Driscoll perhaps to settle his team down, St. Peter's played as they have all season against what was likely the most  active and athletic defense they've seen. Sanabria handled the ball beautifully  against heavy pressure. His 17 points included several treys including one of the contested step back variety, and a beautiful cross over lefty finish for a "hoop and ham" three point play. And when he wasn't scoring, Sanabria was delivering on time and on target passes to shooters such as junior  Riley Walsh who finished with a team high 25 points. Senior Latrell Curtis who had 15 points and senior reserve David Adesco who added 10 and gave the Eagles a huge boost.

              Loughlin ultimately prevailed because in addition to Williams' great effort they got 22 from Khadeem Carrington including a back breaking three from the top of the circle from a distance where you  just don't guard players, even great ones. Javian Delacruz added 16 while shooting specialist Isak Boden had 11 off the bench.

              In a game of streaks St. Peter's was able to rally each time Loughlin seemed on the verge of pulling away. A 7-0 spurt by the Lions that countered a 5-0 spurt by St. Peter's to open the 4th period ultimately proved decisive for the Lions and propelled them into the championship round.

Christ the King 49 Cardinal Hayes 47  Hayes had posted a convincing season opening win against the Royals in December and in more ways than just the final score this game was the polar opposite of the first between the two teams. Hayes not only encountered a better team in Christ the King but a better player in Adonis Delarosa, who ultimately provided the margin for the Royals. W              hen Shavar Newkirk scored on a difficult drive and converted the free throw with 1:07 left to give Hayes a 47-44 lead it appeared that Hayes had done just enough to overcome what I suspect they'd admit was a sloppy effort offensively. The Royals and Delarosa had other ideas. First Delarosa drew a foul on a post up and made one of two free throws to bring CK to within 47-45. On Hayes' next possession Delarosa drew an offensive foul on Ekwu that would be his 5th. As the Royals got ready to inbound the ball you could see Adonis talking and pointing to his teammates. He knew where he wanted to go, to the low block. And he wanted to make sure his teammates got the ball to him there. And when they did Delarosa executed perfectly using a drop step move that likely wasn't in his repertoire when he faced Ekwu and Hayes in December. he powered the ball through contact scored the goal and made the free through with 14.3 seconds left to give the Royals. Travis Atson then took down a Hayes air ball and made one of two free throws to provide the final margin. Atson finished with 7 points 9 rebounds and a momentum changing dunk over Ekwu that helped the Royals bounce back from  an early 4th quarter deficit. Rawlie Alkins led the scoring with 18 points and had a terrific all around game while Andre Walker  continued what was been a great playoff run for him with 11 points and 5 rebounds .

              Delarosa's numbers may look modest to those who did not see the game but his 12 points and 9 boards may seem modest to those who did not see the game or follow the league. But the numbers and his success against Ekwu, who outplayed him in December are indicative of a player who's improved his game by adding a hook shot and doing his work early in establishing post position. This game may not have  been an artistic success but it was a great slugfest between two very good teams. The Royals, earned a great win and a chance to defend their title Sunday.

Xavier Pounds Way to Big Win vs. St. John's

              On paper Xavier is one of three new teams in the realigned Big East. But in last night's impressive 65-53 win over St. John's they looked about as old school Big East as it gets.

              The Muskie's half court defense and patient offense created a tempo that suited them perfectly. And while it may be a slow pace in terms of possessions Xavier was quick and active as well as physical. After a first half where neither team led by more than 5 points Xavier did not pull away with the help of a quick spurt. Instead they built a lead that grew to as much as 10 points by methodically pounding the ball inside.

              Center Matt Staibrook got Xavier going early and finished with 13 points before fouling out. He was one of three Xavier bigs who hit for double figures. Fellow starter Isaiah Philmore matched Stainbrook's total  but the guy who Muskie coach Chris Mack called  "the best player on the floor" , freshman forward Jalen Reynolds, finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Many of them came on simple post up plays that led to point blank shots against a defense that St. John's coach Steve Lavin admitted offered a "lack of resistance"

              Defensively Xavier effectively bottled up St. John's penetration. And their patient and potent offense helped on the defensive end as Xavier held the Red Storm  without a fast break point.

              St. John's was coming off what can be gently described as a topsy turvy week that Lavin called "the most challenging" of his career. St. John's players and coaches alike refused to make the week that saw a new baby for Orlando Sanchez and a terrible family tragedy for Rysheed Jordan into an excuse. But Lavin admitted that the team's preparation  was affected negatively by those events. Jordan played well in the second half, scoring 11 points, but Xavier's defense limited the Johnnies to 31% shooting and 0-9 from 3 point range.

              The loss comes at a critical time as St. John's battles with Xavier and other teams for an NCAA tourney birth. Their conference record at 8-8 and their 1-5 record against RPI top 50 teams makes their position tenuous at best.

              JaKarr Sampson was St. John's only double figure scorer with 14 points. Xavier limited St. John's leading scorer D'angelo Harrison to just 4 points on 1-11 shooting. For Xavier star guard Samaj Christon complimented his teammates great work inside  with 15 points 7 boards and 6 assists.

Carrington's 42 Lift Loughlin to B-Q Title

              Ironically Khadeem Carrington. the star of Bishop Loughlin's 90-71 Diocesan Title win, did not make two of  his team's most back breaking shots.  In a twist that captured how good a night it was for the champion Lions fellow seniors Mike Williams and Darius James  combined for 7 points on buzzer beating shots to end each of the first 2 quarters. Williams buried his signature shot, a deep right corner trey, was knocked down on the play and converted the free throw to give Loughlin a 23-18 first quarter lead. Then James connected on a left side three pointer as the second quarter buzzer sounded. His basket pushed Loughlin's margin to a robust 16 points.

              In between those two plays,  and for the entire game ,Carrington was flawless connecting for 23 of his game high 42 points in those first two quarters. He scored with his patented lefty jumper from the right elbow and on an assortment of tough drives to the basket.  Surprisingly he did not make a three pointer, but he more than compensated  up for it with great decisions and athleticism that got him to the line for 14 free throws. He made every one of them.

              Darius James' three to end the second quarter came at a time when Christ the King was beginning to find its stride on offense. Adonis Delarosa scored 8 of his 23 points in the first half and Travis Aston connected on two left corner triple on his way to 16 points when before that basket. Carrington then had his own signature moment , a beautiful baseline drive from right to left for a reverse layup to open the third period and seemingly take away any hope of a Royals' comeback. Williams added 19 points for the  Lions and Javian Delacruz chipped in nicely with 16.

              Thanks to this convincing win Loughlin earns the top seed from Brooklyn-Queens in next week's intersectional playoffs. Christ the King will enter the playoffs as the second seed.

             

Sampson And St. John's Use Strong 2nd Half for win vs. Butler

              To get where you want to go, sometimes you need to remember where you've been.

At game's end, St. John's 77-52 win over Butler was decisive, but not easy. The Bulldogs succeeded in slow playing St. John's to a 33-30 halftime advantage. While the tempo they set was a key part of Butler's early success the lead was also forged in the paint where senior forward Khyle Marshall pounded the glass for what JaKarr Sampson called "a game's worth of stats " that included 16 points and 7 boards.

              While St. John's coach Steve Lavin was quick to give Butler credit, he also lamented , "I didn't  think the team played with an appropriate sense of urgency in the first half". And while that may be true the lack of energy can also be attributed partially to the absence of Chris Obekpa since the energy his shot blocking and defense had provided was missing.

              The Red Storm found that sense of urgency, according to Sampson, by remembering where they'd been."At halftime we said we'd worked too hard to get into this position to let it slip.  We came out more aggressive."

              For the game, St. John's turned that three point deficit into a lead that stretched to 29. For the team it was their 9th win in 10 tries. And for Sampson, he not only scored a career high 23 points but helped St. John's defense hold Marshall scoreless and without a rebound for the entire second half. And while the improved energy and urgency was key to the win, so was the calming influence of guard Jamal Branch was also essential.  The numbers will say 10 points and 5 assists but his poise, which shows in the box score in the form of just one turnover combined with his ability to get Samson touches provided a needed offensive spark.

              With games coming at Villanova on Saturday and against Xavier Tuesday they will need that sense of urgency from start to finish. If they can remain in the top 3 of the league standings an NCAA tourney bid is well within their grasp.

Backcourt Lifts Johnnies Past Georgetown 82-60

            St. John's  82-60 win over Georgetown at Madison Square Garden last night was both important and impressive on a few different levels.

            It was impressive because they held and maintained a double digit margin from nearly start to finish after starting the game with a 15-0 run. It was impressive also because they avenged a 77-60 New Year's Eve loss to open league play . And perhaps the most impressive aspect was that they were able to attack the Hoyas right at their strength; in the backcourt.

            Freshman  Rysheed Jordan and junior D'angelo Harrison shared game high scoring honors with 24 points apiece and thoroughly dominated  a Hoyas' backcourt that many consider the league's most explosive.  Markel Starkes mad D'vonte Smith-Rivera combined for just 29 [points and hit just 10 of 25 shots.

            Jordan kicked off what would become a festive evening for St. John's fans. He was the catalyst for the 15-0 spurt that opened and may have ultimately decided the game. He scored the game's first 7 points,  assisted on a JaKarr Sampson basket and, following a Harrison triple, finished the rally with a steal and layup.

            The Hoyas would make a couple of runs thanks to Jabril Trawick who finished with 13 points. They pulled to within 56-49 with 10:45 when Harrison stepped into and buried a straight away trey to give help St. John's regain a double digit advantage. And when Georgetown made a second run the two guards were money from the free throw stripe. Harrison shat a perfect 8-8 for the game.

All those elements made the win impressive but it was also  important. It lifted the Johnnies to 7-6 in league play, and let them begin in the best way possible a home stretch that will break a logjam of 5 teams in the middle of the Big East standings of teams that are battling for two or perhaps three spots in the NCAA tournament. Games against Xavier and at Marquette, like tonight's win, afford the Red Storm an opportunity for wins against teams in front of them in the standings and it was perhaps with that in mind that coach Steve Lavin had this reminder for his team. "We haven't accomplished anything yet." And while that may be true, the team has won 7 of its last 8 and finds itself nearly out of the 0-6 hole they dug for themselves to start the season. The play of the two guards was indeed the most impressive aspect of this win, and perhaps this stretch of games. It may prove to be the most important aspect heading into tournament play because those games, are controlled by guards and the pair wearing red and white are playing as well as any in the conference, and perhaps the country.

Harrison's Clutch Play Gives Defensive St. John's just enough for a win Vs. Creighton

You could almost hear the frustration in Creighton coach Greg McDermott's voice when the subject of post game questioning  turned to D'angelo Harrison's go-ahead basket with 2:09 left in St. John's 70-65 win over the 12th ranked Blue Jays at MSG.  The Jays had taken a 63-62 lead when Austin Chatman converted the second of two free throws. A moment later, as coach McDermott said with just a hint of consternation,"....Harrison makes a three off of one pass".

              Coach McDermott's apparent testiness was understandable because Harrison's basket seemed an anomaly in a game that had been a defensive struggle in the second half. It was also a game where Creighton seemed to be at the end of their playbook finding ways to get playbook finding ways to get consensus national player of the year candidate  Doug McDermott the ball in scoring position.

              McDermott had gotten off to a quick first half start thanks to great movement without the ball on his part and great movement of the ball by his teammates. But according to coach McDermott the quick start on offense may have had a negative affect because as he said "it may have made us a little lax defensively". Again the coach's frustration was well placed as St. John's led 40-36 at intermission.

              From there the game was more typical of the old school Big East games For the game there were 11 ties and 9 lead changes. And St. John's held McDermott in check not by lowering his shooting percentage (10-18 from the floor) but by limiting his touches in scoring position. Dougie McBuckets did not get a shot off for a bit more than 8:30 minutes to end the game.  The combination of Sir'Dominic Pointer, who challenged him with diligence and JaKar Sampson, who challenged him with length did a superb job against McDermott and, as Pointer suggested gave  someone besides McDermott a chance to beat them.
              Harrison's clutch shot was part  of a 19 point effort that included that clutch shot and 9-10 from the free throw line. As coach Lavin spoke about how Harrison thrives in those clutch moments one could not help but think that a great college basketball game simply came down to one team's ability to take a star away and one star's ability to escape the game's ebb and flow to get and make a clutch shot.

              With the win, St. John's first against a ranked opponent this season, they're now 5-6 in league play with a game Thursday at Seton Hall and a rematch against another Big East bubble team Georgetown. It's been a long climb out of the hole they dug for themselves but for St. John's  last night's win could mark a turning point that lifts them to an NCAA bid. Welcome to "pre March Madness" it will be a blast.

Royals' Big Man Returns in a Big Way to Lift CK Past Loughlin 67-49

              It took Christ the King's 6'10" cemter Adonis Delarosa  a while to shake the rust off. Coming off a two game suspension following a flagrant foul in Christ the King's loss at Bishop Loughlin on Jan. 31 Delarosa was a factor at the rim and on the boards but everything seemed just a little off. A normally reliable free throw shooter, he missed some early in the game. And a couple of passes and rebounds went off his normally reliable hands.

              Fortunately for the Royals and Adonis, his teammates and in particular Travis Alston helped the Royals  start quickly. Alston's 8 first quarter points included a powerful fast break finishing dunk and a long three pointer from the wing. Scoring from he and  Rawlie Alkins combined with poor shooting by Bishop Loughlin  gave the Royals a 27-18 halftime advantage.

              Loughlin tried to counter the Royals size and length by moving the ball quickly but even when they succeeded getting good shots they had an uncharacteristically hard time finishing them. Though they missed  a many layups a late rally punctuated by a vicious left handed dunk by Khadeem Carrington kept the Lions within striking distance.

              With a surprising assist from their own big man, 6'8" senior center AJ Vernon the Lions finally slowed down a bit and began to find the range on offense. Vernon's good work inside which included a nice spinning one handed bank shot combined with Javian Delacruz' outside shooting brought the Lions back. They trailed by just 34-29 after 3 quarters and pulled to within one on a Delacruz triple early in the final stanza. Mike Williams had a right wing three point attempt that bounced off the rim that would have given the Lions the lead and that's when Delarosa really went to work.

              Perhaps not surprisingly the first skill of Delarosa's to show itself after a rusty beginning was his best skill; his passing.  On one play he got the ball at the elbow and quick passed it down to Alston on the opposite side block for a basket. The impressive thing about the play was to see his eyes looking for the next pass as he caught the "hockey assist" from Andre Walker. His 14 point final quarter explosion included several tough catch and finish plays, and rebounds where he had to get from one side of the rim to the other. His size might mean he's not fast but he's exceptionally quick, not only with his feet but in the way he sees the game. He put an exclamation point on a 23 point 11 rebound effort with a spinning baseline drive that included effective use of a lefty dribble, and a block at the other end.

              His work combined with Alston's 21 points and 11 rebounds helped the Royals even the regular season score  against the Lions. Both teams have held serve at home and if form holds in the Brooklyn Diocesan playoffs it will set up a great final next week. While a lot can happen in the playoffs and Hayes remains the team to beat in the New York Archdiocese "AA" these two teams may be  headed towards a rematch of last year's intersectional  final. New York's own "March Madness" is almost here. And some great hoops is on its way.

Davis Comes up Big as Molloy Beats CK in OT 71-68

              Archbishop Molloy's senior guard C.J. Davis capped a terrific 21 point performance with clutch  plays  that helped the Stanners to a second straight upset; this time at Christ the King 71-68.

              C.J. was exceptional from start to finish but saved his best work for the game's closing moments; the part of the game coaches often refer to as "winning time". With his team trailing 65-62 Davis buried a left side triple to tie the  game with 2.5 seconds left in regulation. After CK scored the first three points of overtime and Molloy crept to within one,  Davis  found a crease in the Royals' defense and drew a foul. The first one needed a little assist from the rim to drop in and tie the game at 68. After a time out by Coach Joe Arbitello to ice him Davis promptly swished the next one. The Columbia University recruit then sealed the win by stealing CK's inbounding pass. With .1 seconds left he made two window dressing free throws that provided the final margin.

              Davis and the Stanners  a masterful job controlling  tempo in the first half.  Time and again he used his change of pace dribble and ability to play through contact to get to the rim. And when he wasn't scoring himself he was getting teammates involved. With the help of contributions from fellow senior Jason Cethoute  and sophomores Aaron Walker and Isaac Grant, Molloy  took a 36-31 advantage into halftime.

              Christ the King used a terrific transition game to lift themselves back into the game in the third quarter. Travis Alston, who scored 21 of his game high 23 points in the second half and sophomore Tyrone Cohen were terrific.  They helped the Royals fight through adversity created by an uncharacteristically poor shooting night from star Rawile  Alkins  and the absence of Adonis Delarosa, who served the balance of his two game suspension for a flagrant foul during the Royals' loss at Loughlin a week ago.   Alkins finished with just 13 points. And Delarosa's absence meant that the Royals did not have his sure hands and passing ability to be the hub of a normally productive half court offense.  Take nothing away from Molloy however who earned a terrific road win and have now won consecutive games over two teams ahead of them in the Brooklyn Queens  "AA" standings; Loughlin and Christ the King. They seem to be hitting their stride coming down the stretch and could spring another upset or two in the playoffs

              The Royals will have their return match with Bishop Loughlin on Sunday at CK. These are two very good teams and the game deserves better than the extracurricular nonsense that marked last week's game. If the nonsense is absent it should be as good a game as any played in our region this season.

Xaverian and Wadleigh Continue Super Sunday Tradition

 A different kind of sports tradition continued on Super Sunday  in Brooklyn. Some years ago two of New York City's most well respected high school basketball coaches ; Jack Alesi of Xaverian and the late great Mike Crump of Wadleigh High began what would become an annual game between two schools that would not normally play each other in the midst of hotly contested league competition in the CHSAA and PSAL.

              "We got a call from Mike in '06 when he needed a game and since then it's been a yearly tradition that  we play each other, Xaverian assistant Chris Alesi said.  Sometimes, the Clippers would visit Wadleigh as part of the annual Rucker Classic held there but as Chris explained, "....mostly it  was Super Sunday at Mike's request".

              This Super Sunday marked Wadleigh's first visit to Xaverian since Coach Crump's sudden passing on January 11th. Before the game Joe Hunter, Crump's friend and long time assistant coach who is now charged with the daunting task of succeeding  Mike under the most tragic of circumstances captured the real significance of the day when he said simply, "We have to keep the spirit of this game alive".

              Through the years the "spirit of the game" had become an intense but friendly rivalry.  In conversations with Coach Crump through the years he would often say that the value of the game for his  team was to help them get ready for a playoff  run by facing a tough well schooled CHSAA team. Both Coach Crump and Coach Alesi viewed the game as a unique  opportunity to face a good team while stepping away from the rigors of league play. The competition between the players was always intense but at the end of the day both teams got what they needed  because they got better having played each other. This Wadleigh team, like all those he coached reflected Mike's intensity.

              For Mike, the game was  one of many opportunities he used to first build a program at Wadleigh and then sustain a its success. With that in mind, it must be remembered that the most important reason for Mike's  success was the force of his personality. His unique combination of intensity, good humor and kindness drew people of all shapes sizes and stripes to him.

              In the stories and tributes that followed Coach Crump's passing much was made of his success with what were referred to as "second chance kids". While I suspect that's a part of his legacy that meant a great deal to him, two other aspects of his success should be remembered as well.

              Mike not only built his program with second chance kids, he did it almost exclusively with kids from the Harlem neighborhood that he served so well, and that he loved so much. Perhaps Mike's greatest of many great gifts was his ability to get into his kids lives and his passion that their lives be better because of the time he had teaching them.

              It also should be remembered that the challenge of building a basketball program at Wadleigh was unique in part because of the history of the school and building  on West 114th street. It had only been re-chartered as a co-educational high school in 1993 and by the turn of the century the building had  been split into its current two unique schools Wadleigh and Frederick Douglas Academy.

              In his own unique way Mike persevered and essentially built a program from scratch when he arrived  at Wadleigh 14 years ago. His success, which included 5 PSAL Manhattan titles and regular season titles in each of his 9 full seasons, is even more impressive considering that he, unlike many other coaches, did not have a history upon which to draw. His challenge was unique and he succeeded I think largely because he embraced it with the same zeal that he embraced teaching and changing his kids lives. Coach Hunter, his players and future generations of Wadleigh students will continue what has become a great program but Mike's place as the program's "founding coach" if you will, will be remembered always. And the program will always reflect his values of putting kids first and doing things the right way

              Yesterday's game resulted in a win for Xaverian but the outcome was secondary. what mattered  was that an annual game, between two programs and coaches had continued. I'm sure, as coach Hunter said, Mike's spirit was with us. I'm also sure that Mike's life and passion will always be a part of Wadleigh, New York basketball and the lives he touched.

BAB Invitational Player Evaluations: Posts and Wings

Goodluck Okonoboh 6'10" C Wilbraham and Monson (MA) (2014)

My intention is to order these profiles by class and that's why Okonboh is at the top of this list but if I were ordering it by who played the best  Okonoboh would occupy the top position as well. He put together an impressive 10 point 15 rebound double double while adding 6 assists and 3 blocks. All of that was accomplished against a Phelps team that did not have a center who could match his length but had two exceptionally quick and active forwards in Terry Larrier and Mustapha Traore.  He has exceptional timing rebounding and shot blocking and his lateral movement allows him to cover the entire basket area. The UNLV's body type is similar to a healthy Amare Stoudemire  but he's a less polished offensive player and a more diligent defender at this stage of his development.

Terry Larrier 6'6" PF/SF Phelps School (PA) (2014) The former Bronx JFK standout came home for the Martin Luther King holiday and gave the fans at Baruch a virtuoso performance. And he did it in a way that fans who follow local basketball are familiar with. His game has always been marked by toughness and hustle and he did that Monday to the tune of 30 points and 11 rebounds. I've given him both forward positions here because I think his quickness and athleticism will allow him to defend both positions but offensively he's still an inside guy and his best offensive skill remains rebounding. Terry also wins this blog's unofficial award for "best fit between a player and system " because he'll fit nicely into VCU's pressing and transition style. If he can become a 3 point shooting threat in that system look out, he'll be an all league performer in the Atlantic 10.

Rpbyn Missa 6'9" C Long Island Lutheran (2014) Don't be fooled by Missa's modest numbers in LuHi's two wins this weekend. Missa, a native of Germany who spent last season at Montverde (FL) Academy did good work first against Luis Santos of St. Ray's and Quadri Moore of Linden High. He proved to be a very good low post defender using footwork to "three quarter" or front opposing centers and make it difficult to enter the ball to them. His playing time was limited by fouls mostly because the refs had a hard time officiating bigs. Trust me that happens a lot at the high school level. He's wide and doesn't jump high and has a pretty good but not great hands. He's a solid mid-major prospect as a center.

Nathan Ekwu 6'7" PF Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (2014)  Foul problems limited him in Saturday's win over Pope John XXIII but he still began the game by hitting a contested free throw line jumper over 6'9" Mustapha Diagne and get a couple of terrific in traffic rebounds among the 6 he collected in just 18 minutes. His foul problems in this game and a few others speak more to his learning curve than his ability as he must learn to make better decisions going for shot blocks. His feet and lateral movement are however quick enough to make him a switch defender against face up PF's and some SF's. That plus his great nose for the ball running ability and skill set make him recruitable at the highest level.

Mustafa Jones 6'7" PF Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (21014) I have already written in this blog how I think Mr. Jones' early commitment to Central Connecticut is one is a great recruiting coup for an NEC program.  In last Monday's game vs. Pope John XXIII he showed not only the speed hustle and finishing ability that make him a terrific prospect but he and the other Hayes seniors showed a tremendous will to win. He finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds but the rebounding numbers are even more impressive than they look because many of them came with both of Hayes' other bigs, Nathan Ekwu and Akintoye OJo on the bench with fouls. Jones did a terrific job competing on the glass against 6'9" junior center Mustapha Diagne and 6'7" Florida State football recruit Ryan Izzo.  Jones captured game MVP honors by coming through when his team was on the ropes and helping preserve an unbeaten season.

Quadri Moore 6'8" PF Linden (NJ) (2014) The Cincinnati commit finished with 16 points on 6-12 shooting so the numbers were OK here but Lutheran had some success limiting him because they were physical with him and their center Robyn Missa did a nice job denying him the ball and getting him off his spot. He showed a good shooting touch and decent hands but was limited to just 4 rebounds in 30 minutes. He'll need to get stronger for college basketball but being physical is about attitude as much as ability and while he's demonstrated that edge in other games it wasn't present in this game.

Mustapha Diagne 6'9" C Pope John XXIII (NJ) (2015) Mustapha is already one of the top big men in his class nationally  and in an intense and physical game against Hayes he showed why many college coaching staffs, including Tony Chiles from St. John's were there to see him. He scored 21 points in a variety of ways including a lefty jump hook move. He snared 16 rebounds, 12 on the defensive end, and showed not only a quick second jump but an ability to jump straight up in the air which may not always carry him to the rim for dunks but really helps him rebound in traffic. His game still has plenty of growth in it thanks to good tools and work ethic but he's already recruitable at the highest levels of college basketball.

Marvin Prochet 6'6" SF Long Island Lutheran (2015) The Boys & Girls transfer was very good in both games here  particularly with a 17 point 12 rebound 4 assists effort against Linden. Perhaps the most surprising thing though  was just one 3 point shot attempted in two games. That may still become a part of his game  but for now it's good to see Marvin, whose length and quickness are excellent play with energy and around the basket. When the triple becomes a consistent part of his game it will be the last piece of a very good all around game.

Luis Santos 6'8" PF/C St. Ray's (Bronx) (2015) Although the Ravens' struggled at times trying to get him the ball in good scoring spots he was solid in two games here, especially in a 15 point 10 rebound effort against  St. Maria Goretti (MD) and 6'8" Notre Dame recruit Marty Geben. On Saturday he struggled shooting the ball against LuHi and Robyn Missa he still managed 12 boards. He's a big bodied player with a terrific motor and soft touch who should continue to get better.

 Mustapha Traore 6'6" PF Phelps School (PA) I2015) Traore had a 10 point 13 rebound double double against Wilbraham and Munson. He's a versatile energy guy who is recruitable primarily by CAA and MAAC programs. He's a great rebounder and pretty good finisher and switch defenders who struggles to shoot the ball. If he can improve that area his stock will rise.

Jesse Govan 6'9" C Wings Academy (Bronx) (2015) Unfortunately I did not get to see all of Wings' 69-67 win over Gonzaga High (DC) but based on what I did see and the numbers Jesse played as  well as any big man here. The numbers say 38 points 15 rebounds 6 blocks and no turnovers. What the eye test says is that he's improved in every area a big man needs to for success at the next level. He's catching the ball better and learning how to play in pick and roll situations with speedy point man and 2015 classmate Desure Buie. He goes hard to the rim and finishes hard. His rebounding and shot blocking are better because improved quickness has made him an out of area rebounder and given him the ability to cover the whole basket area at the rim. To me even as he struggled as a freshman and soph there were signs of progress and now he's put everything together and become an elite prospect . And he'll only get better as he gets stronger and better conditioned.

Akintoye Ojo 6'9" C Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) (2015) While he showed good tools and athleticism the game against Pope John XXIII got a little fast for Ojo who will likely make a big jump in production in his senior year once he has a full summer to work and more court time created by the graduations of Ekwu and Jones. Even though he struggled here he should stay on the radars of D-I schools at all levels  because his size and athleticism are things no one can teach.

Rojaye Campbell 6'10" C Long Island Lutheran (2016)  The report for Campbell is essentially the same as for Ojo. He's a kid with great size who can run but needs skill development. In the game against Linden he was brought in essentially to give Missa a rest and use 5 fouls and he used them quickly. It's great that he's not afraid to mix things up but he needs lots of work. With his height, girth and length skill work could take him a long way.

Chris Coalman 6'6" F St. Mary's (LI) (2017)  Chris played varsity basketball last season as an 8th grader for North Babylon High School and showed flashes of skill and quickness. He showed those things here for St. Mary's also in a loss to Boys & Girls on Saturday but he shot just 2-7 from the floor in part because he did not have the strength to finish plays against a Kangaroo team that did not have much height but had plenty of strength and toughness. There are few players in any high school class with better skills and feel for the game than Chris but strength and agility work are more important for him than playing games this summer.

Nicholas Richards 6'10" C St. Mary's (LI) (2017)  Clearly Mr. Richards' best attributes are his size and length but he already has one essential skill for basketball success; he pursues the ball. He had 15 rebounds and three blocks doing just that in that loss to Boys & Girls and unlike many kids his age who grow early he fearlessly threw his body around even though he lost his footing a few times.  He's got lots of work to do in the gym but limitless potential if he gets there and works hard.

 I

Alkins' Clutch play Leads Balanced Royals Past Xaverian 66-56

Christ the King used balanced scoring and a few key buckets from their ace, junior forward Rawle Alkins to earn a 66-56 win at Xaverian yesterday.

              Just as they were during the game at CK on January 12th the Clippers were competitive against a Royals team that can get some scoring at every position. In the early going Tyrone Cohen, who finished with 11 points and Bryler Paige who finished with 12 points. Adonis Delarosa did not have big numbers scoring with 9 points but added 11 boards 3 blocks and one spectacular outlet pass,, after he hustled to retrieve a loose ball, to  Alkins for a thunderous dunk.

              Alkins' numbers, 15 points and 11 rebounds,  may look modest to some given his outstanding athleticism and strength that have drawn comparison to former Lincoln High and current Indiana Pacers star Lance Stephenson. But anyone who looks only at the numbers is missing an unmistakably clutch element  to his performance yesterday.  Xaverian used strong games from junior Sayon Charles (13 points) sophomore Nyonty  Wisseh and freshman Zach Bruno (10 points each)  to keep close but each time the Clippers appeared poised to take a lead and perhaps spring an upset the Royals got a basket and it came courtesy of Mr. Alkins. Need a three pointer from the right off the catch?? Alkins got it. Need a tough two pointer  curling off a screen from the top of the key?? Alkins can do that too  with seemingly effortless lift on his jumper. Need a tip in basket where one player's hand is a foot above everyone else's to make the play?? Alkins did that too. And oh by the way there's that dunk off Delarosa's  pass  which was not quite so clutch but great to watch.

              The Royals continue to improve as they prepare for the post season and a possible championship game rematch in March. When they met earlier this season Hayes won decisively in part because with seniors Shavar Newkirk and Chris Robinson, Hayes knew where they could go for key baskets. Now as his first season as a key part of the Royals' attack draws to a close, Alkins is establishing himself as CK's go to guy and that may be the single most important factor that has closed the gap between the two preseason favorites. The CHSAA"s "AA" division may be top heavy this year  with Loughlin  joining Hayes and CK as title contenders.   Alkins emergence as not just a scorer but a clutch scorer puts  the Royals right there with the Lions from Brooklyn and the Cardinal from the Bronx and gives the reigning champs from Queens a great chance to defend their title.

Recap of Monday's BAB Invitational Action

Island Lutheran 64 Linden (NJ) 58 Coach John Buck's LuHi squad finished off a terrific weekend with a win over Phil Colicchio's Linden squad. As they did on Saturday the Crusaders used a quick start to propel them to a win. And while Deonte Green's shooting was again a part of it, the main impetus for the rally came from up front where Marvin Prochet sparked the offense and  Robyn Missa, a 6'9" senior center had a terrific half defensively. He battled Linden's highly regarded forward Quadri Moore very well; using quick to three quarter and front him, and a nice wide frame to move him off his spot. The battle between the established star (Moore) and the emerging player from Germany was a good one to watch but it was short lived in part because the referee's had  a difficult time officiating big kids. Moore who's  headed to Cincinnati next fall won the statistical battle but Missa's great work on defense was a huge reasons for LuHi's win.

              While Missa anchored LuHi's Prochet sparked the offense and attacked the basket aggressively. He would finish the game with a team high 17 points and 12 boards. And his early good work helped the Crusaders to a 28-24 halftime edge. In the second half quarter Greene and junior reserve Elijah Bailey augmented LuHi's effort and helped them hold off a late charge by Linden. Greene added 16 points and Bailey added 10 for LuHi. Guard Juwan Jones whose hustle and scoring led Linden's late rally tied Moore for team high scoring honors with 16 points.

St.Ray's 58 St. Maria Goretti (MD) 50 St. Ray's coaching staff borrowed a page from baseball's superstitions. They put aside their usual suits and ties for coaches shirts in an effort to break a losing streak. It's likely that the Ravens' success doing so had less to do with the wardrobe change and more to do with the good work of game MVP Luis Santos who finished with 15 points and 10 boards; an impressive double double against Notre Dame-bound Martin Geben. Troy Ferguson added 11 points for the Ravens while freshman Sidney Wilson struggled to score shooting just 1-7 from the floor but added 3 assists and 4 steals. Guard Donovan Walker had a game high 19 points for Goretti while Geben added 10 points.

Phelps School (PA) 79 Wilbraham and Monson (MA) 76  One of the best things Jason Curry does as part of this tournament  is to invite prep programs to participate in what are technically exhibition games but they're  played as "sub college" games with 20 minute halves rather than 8 minute quarters. Often the teams competing have local players  who return to the city for this special event. That was the case for The Phelps School which featured two local stars, forward Terry Larrier who began his career at John F. Kennedy High in the Bronx and guard Quincy McKnight who began his career at Trinity (CT) Catholic. Both of those guys played key roles in helping Phelps get a win in a game that was played at an extraordinarily  high level that see-sawed from start to finish. Larrier, who will attend VCU next fall was dominant as he earned game MVP honors scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. McKnight added 17 and 7 assists. They helped Phelps overcome a balanced scoring effort from W&M.  Goodluuck Okonoboh, the UNLV bound 6'10" center had a spectacular all around game with 10 points 15 rebounds 6 assists and 3 blocks. Taylor Fortin a heady smooth shooting guard who played previously at Tolland (CT) High  had a team high 18 points and 7 assists for W&M.

Cardinal Hayes 61 Pope John XXIII 57 Like the prep game that preceded it this game was a nip and tuck struggle from start to finish.  Pope John's 6'10" junior Mustapha Diagne dominated inside posting game highs of 21 points and 16 boards. He also got Hayes' senior big man Nathan Ekwu into early foul trouble limiting him to just 11 minutes of playing time. But that was long enough for the 6'7" senior to connect on a tough face up jumper and get several in traffic rebounds against a front line that teamed 6'7" Ryan Izzo with Diagne. The two power guys up front combined with shooting guard Matt Zigorski to give Pope John a 5 point lead as the 4th quarter began. Hayes kept its unbeaten record intact as Chris Robinson (18 points) connected on a long 2 point basket and then made 2 free throws after he was fouled on a three point try. Underrated guard Jamar Smith bounced back from some sloppy play to make a tough runner in the lane  that gave Hayes the lead for good. He would then add free throws to help ice the game for the Cardinal. Hayes' best player from start to finish was game MVP Mustapha Jones who tied Robinson with 18 points and added 9 crucial rebounds to help Hayes compete on the glass despite Ekwu's absence. For Pope John Izzo added 18 points and 12 boards while Zigorski added 12 and 7 boards.

Recap of Saturday's BAB Invitational Action

Each year Jason Curry and his staff at Big Apple Basketball put on a great event featuring top teams and players from our region and around the country.  This year's event took on an additional significance because the event and the coaches award were dedicated to the memory of Wadleigh High School coach Mike Crump who passed away suddenly at the age of 44. Before I post recaps and player evaluations I'd like to join everyone in offering condolences to Mike's immediate family and the extended basketball family he gave so much to. When I think of Mike the first thing I'll remember is his voice and the way it carried. When I first heard it I thought it was perfect  for a teacher, whose voice needs to get past the buzz of a school or a classroom. As I got to know Mike, especially when his team visited Xaverian, I found that his voice was also one of passionate advocacy for his kids, humor which I think  made people let their guard down and listen, and reason that ALWAYS put the kids first. Farewell Mike, I'm sorry our contact was so brief. Rest easy you've lived a great life.

Saturday Game Recaps

     Boys & Girls 61 St. Mary's 55 Ruth Lovelace and the Kangaroos won a tight game thanks to their tough perimeter trio of senior Shaliek Ulysse, junior Jamie Killings, and sophomore Gianni Ford led a balanced attack that first  helped them sprint to a 17-10 lead and then made enough plays to hold off a young Gales team that find it's bearings after that first period. They seemed caught off guard by Ulysse and Killings' ability to slash to the basket and finish against the length of 6'10" freshman center Nick Richards and 6'6"  freshman forward Chris Coleman. But the strength and experience of the Kangaroos was the difference. Ulysse finished with 17 points and 10 board while Killings added 16 points  and Ford added 15 with 5 assists.

              St. Mary's was much better after that first period primarily because they did a better job of making sure their best players, junior guard Patrick Jackson  and forward Steve Milhaven got shots and touches. Milhaven finished with a game high 19 points and 9 boards while Jackson added 16 but struggled shooting just 6-25. Richards did not score much but snared 15 rebounds and had 3 blocks in defeat.

Cardozo 38 Iona Prep 31 The visitors from New Rochelle played just their second game without star forward Matt Ryan, who will have surgery for what is reported to be a hip impingement injury. Cardozo held the Gaels to just 7-45 shooting. Talented sophomore Ty Jerome was the focus of the Judges' attention and he shot just 1-13.

              It's not often that a guy wins game MVP honors but senior forward Carl Balthazer did just that and it was more than well deserved. His ability to anchor the defense down low helped his team's strong perimeter work and many of his 17 rebounds helped the Judges overcome poor shooting of their own by getting them additional possessions. Those extra chances proved to be the difference in the game as the Judges did just enough against an Iona team that, despite Ryan's absence played their usual terrific "pack line" defense. The shooting on both sides left something to be desired but Cardozo grinded out a good win.

Long Island Lutheran 69 St. Raymond's 58 Saturday proved to be the start of a good weekend for the visitors from Long Island as the hot outside shooting of sophomore Devonte Green to an 16 point half time advantage. Green had plenty of help as junior point guard Chris Atkinson added 12 to go with 6 assists and his usual good pressure on the ball defensively. Brooklyn native Marvin Prochet had 10 points and 9 boards. The game also featured two of our area's big men with St. Ray's junior Luis Santos playing LuHi's Robyn Missa. Both guys struggled to score early in the game. St. Ray's in particular had difficulty getting the ball to Santos in his scoring spot on the low right block thanks mainly to good pressure by Lutheran on St. Ray's guards.  To his credit Santos kept working hard and finished with 12 rebounds. Missa came on strong in the second half finishing with 13 points and 7 boards. The game also provided a first look for me at St. Ray's talented freshman Sidney Wilson. He finished with 13 points and 7 boards and showed  a great ability at an early age to slow the game down and play in traffic. Of course continued hard work and the luck of staying healthy will determine what the future holds for him.  But to see a freshman look so comfortable at this level was indeed impressive.

Strong 3rd Quarter From Their Seniors Lifts Loughlin Past Xaverian

              Bishop Loughlin's trio of talented seniors triggered a 3rd quarter barrage that saw the Lions build on a 31-29 halftime edge to take a 55-41 lead after three quarters. From there the Lions cruised to a 61-50 road win in Bay Ridge Friday night.

              The Clippers are a team with just one senior Rob Rossiter and save for a blowout loss at Cardinal Hayes they have been competitive in every league game including loses to the  CHSAA AA's other two top teams; Christ the King on Sunday and Loughlin last night. Rossiter and junior Bard Featherston provided the  scoring spark while improving sophomore Nyonty Wisseh created opportunities for his teammates and hit a nice pull up jumper of his own as Xaverian garnered an early 5 point advantage. At that point Loughlin used a quick transition basket by Khalik Howe to regain their footing and from there a nip and tuck first half ensued. Xaverian stayed close in the opening 16 minutes despite the absence of talented junior forward Sayon Charles who left the game with severe leg cramps. He returned to the game briefly after receiving treatment but he was clearly in severe pain and could not play through it. The Clippers go

              Rossiter's rebound basket sent the Clippers into the locker room trailing by just two and with needed momentum. But the Lions went to work quickly as Rutgers bound Mike Williams and fellow senior Javian Delacruz scored consecutive baskets. Williams nailed two three point baskets during the decisive rally while Delacruz and Seton Hall recruit Khadeem Carrington nailed one each. Delacruz finished with a game high 19 points while Williams added 18 and Carrington 15. Williams and Carrington have been the Lions' most consistent players in each of the past three seasons but it's the emergence of Delacruz as a consistent scoring threat that puts Loughlin alongside Hayes as the two teams to beat in the CHSAA "AA"  this season.

              For the Clippers  Rossiter finished with 18 points while Featherston added 15. Junior forward Najee Larcher had 12 filling in for Charles.