2018-19 New York City boys basketball (Final)
The weekly look at the New York City metro area's PSAL, CHSAA and AIS schools for the New York State Sportswriters Association is compiled by Mike Libert:
Class AA
1) Cardinal Hayes (4-0)- It's been a fantastic start to the new season for the
Cardinals, who look to be the early favorite in the CHSAA. They have a deep
backcourt led by Iowa commit Joe Toussaint and junior guard Jaylen Murray, but
also have more size than any Cardinal Hayes team in recent memory. They already
hold wins over defending CHSAA and Federation champ Archbishop Stepinac and
Long Island power Chaminade, with the week ahead seeing them take on Mount St.
Michael and Iona Prep in a pair of league matchups.
2) South Shore (4-1)- Having lost their opening game of the year to a nationally
ranked opponent from Georgia when the Vikings went down to the Peach State just
after Thanksgiving, South Shore has been making quick work of PSAL opposition.
They defeated one of their main competitors in the Brooklyn AA this season in
Brooklyn Collegiate by 15 points this past Tuesday. The tough games just keep on
coming though as the Vikings get Christ the King in a non-league date on Sunday
followed by George Westinghouse and Boys and Girls in league play during the week.
3) Christ the King (1-0)- In the Royals' season opener they were able to go on the
road on Friday and handily defeat Holy Cross 83-59 in a game that saw a lot of the
young guards make statements. led by the 21 points of sophomore Sterling Jones.
The schedule picks up in a major way this week though as they get South Shore of
the PSAL on Sunday at the Barclays Center in a non-league date, and then it's a
trip to defending CHSAA and Federation champions Archbishop Stepinac on Friday
night in a game that should be a good barometer for the Royals' chances in the
league this season.
4) Brooklyn Collegiate (3-1)- Coming off a 61-46 defeat to South Shore on Tuesday,
the Lions really opened a lot of eyes around New York City on Thursday when they
went on the road and knocked off Thomas Jefferson 86-85 in a game that saw guard
Majesty Johnson lead the way with 20 points, while three other players added
double-doubles. On Saturday evening they followed that up with a blowout non-
league win over Eagle Academy from the Bronx by 22. Next up will be Boys and Girls,
Robeson, and Abraham Lincoln on the docket for the week ahead.
5) Wings Academy (4-0)- A perfect start to the season for the Wings as the Bronx AA
power that fell just short of another borough title a year ago looks primed to get
back to the top this time around. They have four league wins to open the year with
big man Marquel Jackson averaging a double-double. A test on Tuesday awaits as
Wings hosts Eagle Academy in a battle of the best in the Bronx this season. Also, a
non-league clash with St. Raymond's of the CHSAA is coming up Saturday to close out
the week.
6) Thomas Jefferson (2-2)- It is nothing short of a tremendous start to the new sea-
son for Kareem Welch as the senior forward already has a 50-point/21-rebound perform-
ance in a win over Eagle Academy II. Though they have lost their last two games to
New York powers Brooklyn Collegiate and Long Island Lutheran by a combined four
points, it shows that the Orange Wave can compete with anyone. It's just a matter of
time until they get over the hump in the close ones and show they are among NYC's
best once again.
7) Bishop Loughlin (1-0)- Opening up the season just over a week ago now, the Lions
went up to the Bronx to take on perennial power St. Raymond's. Loughlin was short-
handed, playing without a pair of usual starters, but it didn't matter as the length
and athleticism of the Lions won out. With Jaheim Young in the backcourt, Loughlin
pulled out a hard-fought 62-59 victory to get the season off on the right foot.
Things should only get harder as Archbishop Stepinac comes to Brooklyn on Sunday in
the Lions' home opener. Also ahead are games vs. St. Francis Prep and Holy Cross.
8) St. Peter's (3-0)- Playing on the night before Thanksgiving against tradional for
Curtis meant a packed house at the College of Staten Island. Jamal Achille would come
out and take the game over in the second half for the Eagles as they pulled away late
for a 64-55 victory. With wins after that over McKee/Staten Island Tech and Monsignor
Farrell, St. Peter's has wins against three of the toughest Staten Island opponents
they will face. A home game with Monsignor Scanlan is on Sunday, and then the Eagles
get New Dorp and St. Joseph by the Sea in two more Island matchups.
9) Xaverian (4-0)- Starting the season down in Maryland playing in the Good Counsel
Xaverian Classic, the Clippers defeated Indian Creek, St. Mary's Ryken, and KIPP,
all three from the Washington, D.C., area to bring the trophy back to Brooklyn. It
was a good start to the season, giving Xaverian momentum heading into league play,
which starts up on Sunday with a home game against St. Raymond's and continues on
Tuesday and Friday against Holy Cross and St. Francis Prep in a pair of Brooklyn/
Queens clashes.
10) Msgr. Scanlan (1-2)- Another team that left the NYC area to begin its season,
the Crusaders went to Texas and lost to Guyer (TX), before going to the Windy City
and losing to Hillcrest (IL). It was two tough losses but it was two losses that may
have prepared them for their CHSAA opener as Scanlan went on the road on Friday and
knocked off Stepinac 86-78 behind the 32 points of Kobe Brea. That result opened the
eyes of many about the potential of the Crusaders this season. They will look to
keep up their fine play when they go on the road to take on St. Peter's on Sunday in
what will be Scanlan's only game of the week.
Class A
1) Brooklyn Law and Tech (6-0)- It's business as usual as the Jets graduated one
Division 1 player and a pair of players now of the Division 2 level and look to not
be missing a beat. Law and Tech has won three of four league games so far by 50-plus
points while also having defeated Class AA James Monroe by 19 at a holiday tourn-
ament a couple weeks back. This week will be the most challenging yet for the Jets
as they will see two other ranked teams in Canarsie and Bedford Academy, which
should tell us a lot about just how good Davonta Cook and the rest of Brooklyn Law
are this season.
2) All Hallows (3-0)- A dream start to the season for All Hallows, which for the
first time has dropped down into the A Division in the CHSAA. It was a bittersweet
and tough decision to make but so far it's paid dividends as the Gaels went to play
Class AA St. Raymond's shocked their Bronx rivals 63-56. Having also defeated new
league opponents LaSalle Academy and Kennedy Catholic, Nick Johnson has carried his
All Hallows team to one of their best starts in recent memory. A big test on the
road at Nazareth awaits on Friday in what should be a good one from Brooklyn.
3) Nazareth (2-0)- Dwayne "Tiny" Morton has come over from Abraham Lincoln in the
PSAL to take charge of the Kingsmen and added a number of transfers led by T.J.
Morris. It has meant that Nazareth isn't just one of the top teams in Class A, but
a team that could compete with just about anybody. The Kingsmen have downed both
Cardinal Spellman and Fordham Prep to open, with dates this week against St. Ed-
mund's Prep on Tuesday and then the big one against All Hallows on Friday in what
will be the only regular-season matchup of the year between the CHSAA favorites.
4) Canarsie (4-0)- He may be one of the top recruits in the country on the football
side, but Adisa Isaac is off to a tremendous start on the hardwood as well. He has
a pair of 30-plus point games, while also grabbing double-digit rebounds in three of
the Chiefs' first four games. They haven't really been tested yet with a late scare
against Midwood the only game that has been within 30 points, though with Brooklyn
Law and Tech on the schedule on Friday evening there will be a lot decided in terms
of the best in the Brooklyn A.
5) Seward Park (5-0)- As another team that seems to be making quick work of opponent
after opponent, the Bears are making an early-season statement that they are the
class of the Manhattan A Division in the PSAL, having won all five of their games so
far by at least 21 points. It's been a fairly balanced attack for Seward Park, which
returns four starters from last year. Travon Mack has been very difficult for the
opposition to contain, averaging over 20 points per game. A road date with Murry
Bergtraum highlights a three-game week for the Bears, who will look to keep mowing
teams down this week.
6) Msgr. Farrell (2-1)- Starting the season off with a blowout victory over St.
Joseph by the Sea, the Lions then took on Curtis and jumped out to the early lead
over the PSAL Staten Island power before falling behind. A late rally though, and a
pair of clutch shots by Justin Zieris saw the Lions climb back and take the 50-49
victory. A loss to St. Peter's on the road did sting a bit to close the week, but by
hanging close and losing just 53-48, Msgr. Farrell is showing to be a team to watch.
Playing host to Kennedy Catholic on Tuesday is the Lions' only game of the week.
7) Lehman (4-0)- In the always tough Bronx A it's been Lehman standing out among
the very best the past coupe of seasons, and this season looks to be no different.
They have already knocked off three playoff teams from a year ago in Roosevelt
Educational, Stevenson, and KIPP NYC College Prep to cement themselves as a league
favorite. And while they did lose a considerable amount of talent from a year ago,
the Lions have Devonte Cheatham back inside leading the way. Three home games are
coming up this week but each of the three will be tough, especially Monday's match-
up with Evander Childs, which is a battle for first early in the year.
8) Louis Brandeis (6-0)- The second Manhattan A team to make the top 10 so far,
Brandeis has gotten off to a perfect start, including a 67-54 victory Saturday out
on Long Island against a solid Valley Stream North. In league play, Brandeis has
wins over Frederick Douglass Academy and Percy E. Sutton, with both victories coming
on the road and led by the efforts of Jahdiel Wilson-Pimental, who is averaging over
25 points per game. With Beacon, Environmental Studies, and MLK Jr. on the schedule
this week, though, the tests will be on for what does look to be a talented Bulldogs
team.
9) Fordham Prep (1-2)- The Rams are the very definition of an up-and-down team thus
far. They opened by going up to Scarsdale and fell in a heartbreaker 50-46. That was
followed by a home date with AA rivals Iona Prep, and with 6-foot-9 sophomore Matthew
Filipowski leading the way, Fordham Prep shocked the Gaels 67-66. A loss to Nazareth
on Friday night by 15 gave the Rams their second early loss, but they have played as
difficult a schedule as anyone. And with McClancy and two games at the Tappan Zee
tournament upcoming, it's a chance for Fordham Prep to get some good wins in the up-
coming days ahead.
10) Bedford Academy (3-0)- Going up against Frank Macchiarola wasn't easy for the
Panthers, who too a 16-point lead and held on for a 60-58 win behind the 22 points
of Ethan Edwards. But in their other two games against Boerum Hill School & Digital
Tech it was nothing but smooth sailing, winning each game by 50-plus points as Bed-
ford is off to another unbeaten run in league play. Brooklyn Law and Tech, a constant
thorn in the Panthers' side, is next up on Monday before contests with Lafayette and
Tilden finish out what will be a busy few days here for a young but very talented
Bedford Academy group.
Class B
1) South Bronx Prep (4-0)- The cream of the crop early on this season in Class B,
the Cougars' lowest point output to date has been their 89 points in their last game
against Health Opportunities. They've gone for over 100 points twice so far. Jordan
Agyemang will easily be one of the top scorers not just in the PSAL, but in all of
New York this year as he has a pair of 40-plus point outings and is one of the top
overall playmakers you will see. Up next for South Bronx Prep will be Jane Addams at
home on Tuesday before a date with Archimedes/Maleska ends the week on Thursday.
2) Fannie Lou Hamer (5-1)- While the Panthers may have a non-league loss to Lawrence
Woodmere Academy on their resume, Fannie Lou has otherwise been as dominant as could
be to start the season. They have won their five games by an average of 48 points and
have gotten excellent play in the backcourt from Frankie Williams, who is a do-it-all
type. Dalton School in next in a non-league contest on Monday, Morrisania is then
awaiting Fannie Lou in what should be a more competitive league contest on Tuesday,
before another mismatch on paper on Thursday against Bronx United ends their week.
3) Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice (5-0)- Already owning a solid non-
league win over Brooklyn College Academy in November, the Jaguars have been rolling
past league opponents early on as well as they have dominated against the likes of
Frederick Douglas Academy III, Albert Tuitt, and Bronx Leadership. Frantz Jean-Pierre
has been a double-double machine and he will look to keep that up this week when Law,
Government, and Justice faces off with a trio of opponents led by a home date with a
tough Bathgate team.
4) Summit Academy (7-0)- A girls power on the basketball side for some time now,
Summit looks to have put together one of the better boys teams this season and has
non-league wins over a pair of Class A teams in Taft and Erasmus Hall. They have
easily blown past all their league opponents, including a 66-60 victory over Adams
Street Academy, which is always among the best in the Brooklyn B Division. Jeremiah
Hewitt has paced the Eagles and he and his Summit team will look to keep the good
play going this week when they take on Juan Morel Campos Secondary School and EBC/
Bushwick Leaders in a pair of league contests.
5) Dwight School (4-0)- When you are led by a pair of seniors in the backcourt in
Dajuan Piper and Barry Evans, you have to feel comfortable about playing against
anyone. And the Lions look like a team that can thrive against anyone as shown
early on this season with their wins over Collegiate and Staten Island Academy on
the road, along with home victories over Packer and Trinity. The Dwight School also
has a lot of length inside, which should come into play this week when they host a
pair of non-league games against Lawrence Woodmere Academy and The Knox School on
Wednesday and Friday, respectively, in what should be two very tough battles.
6) Uncommon Charter (5-0)- One of the top defensive teams in Class B at the start of
the season, Uncommon Charter has two games where they haven't given up more than 17
points, an impressive number regardless of the competition level. They are an
aggressive team that forces a good number of turnovers, while also getting strong
interior play from Doran Williams around the rim. A big league contest is up next as
the Sabers will face off with Spring Creek Campus on Tuesday before another tough
game against Leon Goldstein comes up on Wednesday to close out what should be a
challenging week.
7) Maspeth (6-1)- Even though the Argonauts have a loss to Portledge, a Long Island
power with a lot of impressive young talent, Maspeth is comfortably rolling over
Queens B PSAL competition, winning all four of their league games by 40-pus points.
They have a blowout win over Taft, a Class A school, and are looking strong on both
sides of the ball, led by Max Egner who is long and athletic and a true dominating
force offensively and defensively. Aviation and John Glenn are non-league foes this
week for the Argonauts, with a league contest also coming up midweek against a solid
Newcomers team.
8) Dalton (4-0)- Getting the season going in style by winning their own tournament
with victories over Grace Church and Packer, the Tigers have continued to step up
the level of play since then. They took down Friends Seminary on Wednesday, and then
most impressively were able to beat Rye Country Day 82-80 in overtime on Friday. As
the regular season champions of the Ivy League, Dalton is once again among the fav-
orites to take home the crown again and will look to stay undefeated when they host
Fannie Lou Hamer in the non-league on Monday, before matchups in league against
Hackley and Horace Mann await to close out a three game week.
9) Bathgate Educational Complex (5-0)- A team that hasn't seen much time in the
top 10 as of late, Bathgate is putting together one of its best starts to the season
in part because of the play of Jeffrey Agyeman, who has been a versatile weapon. He
plays just about every position on the floor and makes a difference anywhere he is
put. It's been a strong start but on Wednesday you can expect Bathgate to be tested
for the first time when they go to Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice in
a matchup of ranked teams before another road game against Info and Network Tech
finishes the week out on Friday.
10) Spring Creek Campus (6-0)- Unlike most of the other teams ranked here, Spring
Creek hasn't necessarily been blowing teams out but has played a quality schedule
with wins over Leon Goldstein and East New York Family a part of their record.
Donovan White has been the Ravens' top scorer in each game so far this season, in-
cluding in a victory over Class A Frank Macchiarola. Uncommon Charter is next up on
Tuesday in a ranked teams battle, before another tough one against Medgar Evers on
Thursday finishes the week out for Spring Creek.
