cl2005

Class for 2005 Updates & Additions

11/3/04 John P Miciotta: Additions and Updates for the Class of 2005.

Theo Davis 6'9" PF/C Cardozo HS (Queens) He had an outstanding first season of high school hoops in our region, helping Cardozo to a berth in the PSAL final. He's a long big man who runs the floor very well. He showed gradual but steady improvement throughout the year and, early this spring played very well in leading the NYC Bounce to an upset win at the Basketball City Classic. His performance there was particularly impressive since, in the finals, he was able to score consistently both posting up and facing the hoop against one of our region's best shot blockers Vernon Goodridge. He'll need to get stronger and tougher to compete at an elite level in college but clearly he's getting better and his best days are ahead.

Andrew Bynum 6'10" PF/C St. Joseph's HS (NJ) He is one of two big men in our region who saw his stock soar nationally this summer. I have seen him play mainly in spring and summer tournaments and from he's a kid who has come along slowly but steadily. He was blessed with good size early and now his coordination and balance are beginning to catch up. He's a capable rebounder, though not a leaper so his potential as a shot blocker may be limited. He doesn't have bread and butter move offensively yet, he's getting better mainly because he's learning not to rush. He uses both the jump hook and turnaround jumper and needs only to gain consistency with those moves to become a better offensive player. Also his conditioning must get better because he struggles to get up and down the floor at times. Committed to UConn.

John Garcia 6'9" PF/C Brentwood HS (LI) He burst on the national recruiting scene with a strong performance at ABCD Camp this summer. He has been well known to those who follow local hoops for some time. He's not the typical "run and jump athlete" that coaches crave these days but his subtle skills are outstanding. He has timing, a long reach and good hands that allow him to get to rebounds against players who jump higher than he does. His big body lets him carve out space inside but he is light enough on his feet to be able to pivot effectively to both his left and right. He's got a soft touch around the basket and never rushes. Will get better and better as his conditioning improves as well as with normal physical maturity and hard work. Has verbally committed to Seton Hall.

Greg Washington 6'9" C Central Islip (LI) He is almost the antithesis of fellow Long Islander John Garcia. He runs beautifully, jumps well and quickly enough to have shot blocking potential at the next level, but is not as polished with footwork or poise to score in traffic as Garcia is. At just a shade over 200lbs he'll need to get stronger. His size and quickness make him an outstanding early commitment for Tom Pecora and his staff at Hofstra. With continued hard work he should develop into a fine player.

Herbie Allen 5'9" PG Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn) His improvement spearheaded a terrific turnaround for Coach Khalid Greene's Lions this season. Although he plays point guard and is a heady playmaker, his shooting is his most outstanding attribute. He shoots with both outstanding range and accuracy. His slight frame has kept high majors away, and while mid-major may ultimately be the level where he fits best, it's important to note that he rarely gets caught in a position where he can't make a play because he lacks strength. That's partly because his shooting keeps defenses honest and partly because his judgment is outstanding.

Chris Bethel 6'5" SF St. Ray's (Bronx) He used his tremendous hustle and energy to carve out an important niche on the CHSAA champion Ravens this season. He might be the league's quickest leaper, and the second most athletic player in the city behind Lincoln's Nyan Boatang. He's likely recruitable by mid majors because while his bread and butter as a scorer is around the basket, he has shown he can defend small forwards and his jumper is improving. The chance to see him in shooting drills at Eastern Invitational Camp showed me another important attribute. He listens to and takes instruction well, and will keep working on what coaches show him. He's a great early commit for Fordham

Craig Austrie 6'1" PG/SG Trinity Catholic (CT) He makes our list because of his affiliation with the NYC Bounce program. He's a very good scorer both with his drive and with his jumper. His three point shooting isn't consistent but he can make the trey and is also accurate from middle distance. He's a scorer first and a playmaker second so he's probably more of a "lead guard" than a traditional point man. He guards the ball very well, and can make good things happen with his quickness defensively. Solid mid major prospect.

Drew Gladstone 6'5" SG/SF Cardozo HS (Queens) He has one important skill that he performs at a very high level and that's shooting, more off the catch than off the dribble. He moves well without the ball and really understands the idea that the best way to get open is to set a screen. He's not quick or strong but his shooting and smarts will draw low-major looks.

Jason Walsh 6'8" C Mt. St. Michael's Academy (Bronx) He's a big kid who runs fairly well and is long enough to provide a shot blocking presence inside. In the time I watched him last year it appeared he was just learning how to play. His minutes were limited, in part I suspect because of stamina and in part to keep him out of foul trouble. He shoots well from close range but doesn't get his own shot either with his back to or facing the hoop. He's a project and likely a safe D-II recruit. Keep in mind though that big kids develop slowly so there might be some upside.

Geoff McDermott 6'5" SF New Rochelle (NY) HS He is a throwback to a time when forwards were often called "baseliners" because that's where he does most of his damage. He scores in traffic on baseline drives and on offensive rebounds. He's got great hands, never stops hustling and gives up his sturdy body to draw charges. He's one of several recruits in this class whose college destination may be determined by football, and he brings that kind of competitiveness to the hardwood also. For basketball he's a solid mid major prospect who could help a high major program as a role player thanks to all the smart things he does.

Terrence Grier 5'11" PG Cranford (NJ) HS Strong guard who is a great scorer with the drive and his outside shooting. He's a scorer first and passer second which makes him a better fit for some systems than others. Also he's a terrific pressure defender. Solid mid-to-high level major prospect

Kyle McAlarney 6' PG Moore Catholic HS (Staten Island) He has been the top scorer in the CHSAA's "A" division for two seasons and committed early to attend Notre Dame next season. I thought he made a great jump physically from his sophomore to his junior year physically by getting stronger. And it allowed his skills to show themselves against tough competition at ABCD camp and on the summer circuit. He's a scorer first and foremost with a great pure shooting stroke but his playmaking and decision making are outstanding also.

James Tchana 6'8" PF/C Our Savior New American School (LI) James was one of several OSNA players injured in the tragic New Year's Eve accident which claimed the life of promising center Kevin Mormin . His recovery has been truly remarkable. Physically, he is running with more and more confidence and jumping in a way that shows surprising quickness off his feet for a kid who carries 270 lbs. Prior to the accident, his low post footwork was progressing. And it was very tentative early in the spring. At ABCD camp it was beginning to look a bit better. His size, strength and quickness have drawn looks from mid and high majors, and if he can continue to improve he's certainly recruitable at mid and some high major program. Any coach that gets him knows they're getting a tough kid because of how he's bounced back physically and emotionally, and an unselfish kid because of how he goes after the ball and will kick it back out rather than force a poor shot in traffic. He's a nice get from this region for Fresno State.

Mike Davis 6'7" PF/C All Hallows HS (Bronx) Not to be confused with Brooklyn's Mike Davis who previously attended Xaverian. He has developed into a rock solid presence under the basket at 230 pounds. He carves out space and has good hands. Although he's not a strong leaper he rebounds well in traffic. At the end of last season he became a more consistent scorer for the Gaels, and he played well for them in this summer's Super Hoop Jam Fest at Holy Cross. He is a perfect inside compliment for an outstanding group of perimeter players at All Hallows. He'll draw interest from a wide range of schools. Where he fits best will depend on how he continues to improve.

Mike Johnson 5'10" PG Holy Cross HS (Queens) He is one of a number of tough small point guards in this class and he's likely the fastest with the dribble from baseline to baseline. I am updating his profile because I think he's made considerable progress in his decision making. Playing for Holy Cross at the Jam Fest and for "the Knights" at IS8 (which is a team made up mainly of Holy Cross kids as well as some others from Queens), he's gotten better at making the right pass and being more aware of time and score situations. He has drawn interest from programs at various levels and what will determine where he fits best is how he improves his shooting.

Mike Johnson 5'9" PG South Kent Prep (CT) I have purposely grouped the two Mike Johnson's together to avoid any confusion. This one is a native of Manhattan who begins his third season at South Kent. He is primarily an excellent playmaker and leader who distributes the ball to a talented group of teammates. He's a decent shooter and a good pressure defender on the ball.

Owen Brow 6'3" SG/SF Morris HS (Bronx) Owen is one of the city's hidden gems in New York's senior class because he plays in the PSAL's "B" division. He posted impressive averages of 18 pts and 10 rebounds and 3 assists in leading the Bulldogs to the "B" division finals. He's quick and athletic and plays every possession hard. Offensively he's primarily a slasher who can finish at the rim. He'll also make outside shots and keep defenses honest. Owen has also been impressive this fall playing for LPAC in the IS8 tournaments. Facing many of the city's best players he's held his own athletically and put up very good numbers. It's difficult to gauge what kind of interest he'll receive because he does not play for a traditional power either at school or on the club circuit. Perhaps his best attribute though is that in a situation where he could look to score more aggressively, he plays within a team concept and while doing so still manages to lead the team emotionally. All local programs, even the low and mid D-I's should check in at Morris to look at him. They will find themselves a talented player who will work hard and play unselfishly.

Jonathan Rosado 5'11" PG Morris HS (Bronx) He's slightly built at just 145 pounds but his heart is big and his leadership skills combine with those of teammate Owen Brow to form the core of a fine team. He's a dead eye open shooter, an energetic defender and a good playmaker. As with Brow it's hard to gauge what kind of interest he'll receive. He does not play against strong competition in school and plays little if at all on the summer circuit. A D-II local program may latch on to him early and have itself a steal.

Ryan Ayers 6'5" SG/SF Germantown Academy (PA) Ryan makes our list because of his affiliation with Jimmy Salmon's Playaz Club of New Jersey. Even before you recognize his last name, you can see that he's a coach's son. And dad Randy, the former Sixers and Ohio State coach should be proud. His son plays with poise and confidence, is an outstanding shooter and a smart defender. He also has a good idea how to move without the ball, but doesn't always use it. At times he'll drift on the perimeter and settle for his three point shot but he's a much better player when he compliments his shooting by scoring with good cuts without the ball and drives to the hoop. He's part of the great recruiting class at Notre Dame that includes Kyle McAlarney and he should have an outstanding college career.

Alvin Mofunanya 6'8" SF/PF Dwight-Englewood HS (NJ) Alvin is a long and active forward with good quickness off his feet and a good nose for the ball. While some scouts project him as strictly a small forward I position him at both spots for two reasons. First, his scoring ability is primarily around the basket, on put backs and quick turnaround jumpers in the lane. Secondly, I suspect that's where his college team will use him at least early in his career since they like to create mismatches using quickness rather than size, and as a 6'8" power forward, few if any in the A-10 will be as quick as he is. As his college career progresses, look for him to extend his shooting range and become a good small forward because he has the quickness to defend that position.

Gerald "JR." Inman 6'8" PF/SF St. Joseph's HS (NJ) Gerald is a power forward with good facing skills long arms and potential as a rebounder and finisher around the basket. He's another player whom many feel will play the wing in college but he'll need to improve his lateral movement before doing so. His potential as a scorer makes him an important in state recruit for Gary Waters and his staff at Rutgers.

Amuary Fermin 6'1" PG John F. Kennedy HS (Bronx) Strong lefty point guard who can get to the basket, finish with both pass and shot. And make the open jumper. He's a good defender both on the ball and getting through screens which indicates he's been well prepared by Kennedy's fine coach Johnny Mathis. Amuary and several talented underclassmen could make the Knights one of the surprise teams in the PSAL. He'll draw initial looks from D-II's and low majors. To get better he'll have to develop a stronger right hand to keep defenders honest. His shot, strength and court sense are D-I caliber.

Richard Thomas 6'4" SG/SF St. John's Prep (Queens) Long and thin with a great wingspan and a long first step. He's deceptively athletic and can rebound and push the ball up court quickly. Pretty good passer and shooter who rushes at times. OK defender who needs to play every possession, he does basket hang on occasion. Last season he played very well in a support role on a senior lead SJP team. He has the skill to play a leading role this year and should emerge as one of the best players in the CHSAA's "A" division. Recruitable for now by low and mid majors, he's got lots of upside.

Vernon Teel 6'3" SF Flushing HS (Queens) Athletic slasher who finishes around the rim and in traffic. He was one of the PSAL's top scorers and rebounders last year. (27.5 ppg. 11.2 rpg.) He's also a very tough defender. Recruitable by D-II's his stock could rise if he improves his floor game and outside shooting.

Hashim Bailey 6'10" C Passaic County Tech (NJ) Wide bodied post player with a soft touch from in close. He's very strong and while he's not a powerful leaper, he's quick off his feet and aggressive. Although he's a senior he's reportedly headed to prep school next season. He's drawn mid and high major looks and with the extra year to get smoother around the basket, he'll be able to contribute more quickly at higher levels.

Tyson Johnson 6'5" SF/PF St. Mary's HS (LI) He has opened scouts eyes this summer mainly by improving his outside shooting to beyond three point distance. He's also beginning to improve guarding small forwards. The best part is he's done so without falling into the trap that many high school seniors do of trying to show scouts they can play their college position (small forward in Tyson's case) while forgetting to do what they do best (which in Tyson's case is rebound and score in the baseline. He's improving while continuing to do what his team needs from him to win. Rock solid mid major recruit who has begun to draw looks from high majors.

Chris Andrews 5'9" PG Seton Hall Prep (NJ) He's always been an outstanding leader and pressure defender for Bob Farrell's fine program. This fall at IS8 he's shown significantly better outside shooter. He's a great early recruit for James Jones and his staff at Yale.

Codi Oliver 5'10" PG All Hallows HS (Bronx) He has improved steadily during his career at All Hallows and has become a very good all-around guard. He's a good lefty shooter who defends hard on the ball, anticipates well and creates steals. He's a pretty good playmaker too although at times he will try and do too much. When he plays under control however, he's very good. He'll draw interest from schools at different levels and where he fits best will be determined by his ability to shoot more consistently and, hand in hand with that, show better shot selection. The feeling here is that he's recruitable certainly by low and perhaps some mid majors.

Terrell Elliston 5'10" PG All Hallows HS (Bronx) The outstanding improvement he showed two years ago as a sophomore on varsity was side tracked a bit last year by academic problems. To his credit though he sat out the time he needed to, took advantage of the outstanding support available at All Hallows, did the work and has now regained his eligibility. Keep in mind that he could have taken an easier route and transferred from AH so the fact that he did not do so indicates he has courage. He has also shown some courage on the court with his willingness to take and make big shots. When he's played during the past two seasons as well as in the summer he has shown his usual knack for scoring and improvement as a playmaker. Recruitable by low and perhaps some mid majors.

Anthony Clarke 5'10" PG/SG Holy Cross (Queens) He is one of a quartet of speedy guards who make Paul Gilvary's Knights scary for any of the elite teams in the CHSAA's "AA" division. He is both a tremendous shooter and scorer with deep range and very good accuracy from middle distance. Defensively he's a bit limited because he lacks strength but he's quick with both his hands and feet and always around the ball. He played very well at this summer's Super Jam Fest but soon after was forced out of action for the remainder of the summer by illness. D-II's should visit Holy Cross for a look at him once he's healthy. They will find a talented player, a tough competitor and a really good kid.

Andre Davis 6'5" PF St. Patrick HS (NJ) On a team filled with star underclassmen, Davis provides much needed senior leadership and toughness. He's an undersized but rugged power forward who gets tough rebounds and points inside. He has good quick leaping ability and gets maximum results by playing full blast all the time. Recruitable by low majors.

Joe Edwards 6'3" SG/SF Manhattan Center for Science and Math (Manhattan) It's fitting that Joe should go to school in the building that was once Ben Franklin High, and was home to players like Walter Berry, Kenny Hutchinson, Gary Springer, Billy Rieser and many others whose games were marked by creativity. Joe is simply a kid who finds a way to score, and he did so to the tune of 22ppg for the Rams last season. He then continued his excellent play for the Bingo All-Stars at IS8 this fall. He's very good at getting in the lane and finishing because of his tremendous body control. His range is consistent to 18' and less so to the three point line although he is a clutch shooter. He plays more like a small forward than a guard so he should draw interest primarily from low and mid majors. He's got long arms, quick hands and plays very hard on defense.

Bougari Konate 6'7" SF Our Savior New American HS (LI) He's a kid who's always been an outstanding shooter. At IS8 this fall he was more aggressive getting to rebounds, getting out on the break and finishing in transition. Recruitable by low and mid majors.

Melvin Clarida 6'5" SF/PF Springfield Gardens HS (Queens) Playing for "Team Underrated" at IS8 this fall he showed why he is one of the more underrated and under appreciated seniors in the city this year. He's a terrific outside shooter who battles bigger and stronger opponents on the boards. Right now he's a solid D-II recruit whose shooting may earn him looks from low D-I's. To improve he must work on his ball handling, slashing ability and defensive footwork

Corey Lyons 6'4" SF Frederick Douglas Academy (Manhattan) Strong wing player who shoots with good range and scores on the baseline also. He's a hard worker who gets tough points and whose competitiveness is contagious. Will draw heavy interest from D-II's and some from low majors.

Stephen McKoy 6'4" SF/PF Frederick Douglas Academy (Manhattan) His game is very similar to his teammate Lyons in that he rebounds hard and finds ways to score inside. His perimeter skills are not as polished however. Together they form an outstanding 1-2 punch for FDA and coach Pat Magnan to make them one of the top programs in the PSAL. Recruitable by D-II's

Tyrone Hansen 6'5" SG/SF St. Mary's HS (LI) Last year when we saw him play for the Panthers we thought his length and outside shooting made him an intriguing prospect. This year, playing with St. Mary's own entry at IS8 he looked much more effective and comfortable with the complete game of basketball. Please note that I do not mean to imply that he played better simply by playing with his St. Mary's teammates. He's simply gotten better at other parts of the game besides shooting. Not only was he shooting the ball effectively but moving with more confidence, getting to rebounds with hustle and quickness, and looking to drive when the opportunity was there. His shooting and a strong connection to St. Mary's is likely what drew Monmouth College to him. The Hawks may well find that they got a lot more than just a shooter. They got a solid all around player as well.

Aleek Pauline 5'9" PG St. Mary's HS (LI) He's another member of Tim Cleuss' fine team who showed great improvement this fall at IS8. Particularly in a playoff game versus the Panthers where the Gaels hung in against a team loaded with players from many programs and had nearly a complete roster of D-I prospects. He's improved his strength and that's helped him shoot the ball, defend better and be stronger with the ball against pressure. He'll draw lots of D-II interest and perhaps some from low majors also

Kaheem Seawright 6'7" PF Uniondale HS (LI) He is almost certainly one of our region's most improved players. He's gotten better in every faze of his game. He's running better, both posting and facing up more effectively and playing harder at both ends. He's a great get for Jim Baron and his staff at Rhode Island.

Marques Johnson 5'10 PG Raritan HS (NJ) Solid point guard who provided a steady compliment to fellow point man Derek Mercer as the Playaz "senior" team won the IS8 title. He makes good decisions with the ball and can hit open shots.

Jamel Jackson 6'2" SG Lincoln HS (Brooklyn) He became the "designated outside shooter" if you will for Lincoln's city champs last year. He's a pretty good defender as well whose production should increase with more playing time.

Brian Williams 6'8" C Christopher Columbus HS (Bronx) Brian is the kid who Pete Edwards dubbed "Big Baby" while he played for Bingo All Stars at IS8, likely because he looks to be close to 300 lbs. He does have good hands and a nice shooting touch, and if he ever got to work getting in shape he could turn into a really nice player. For now though he's a kid with good tools whose lack of stamina severely limits his effectiveness.

Tom Lysczynski 6'10" C St. Anthony's HS (LI) Tom's size makes him an intriguing prospect. He can catch the ball, shoot the jumper and pass from a high post position. He runs hard but is limited athletically, and not fluid pivoting. It's likely that interest will come from low and perhaps mid major programs, where his height will get him a chance to play and develop slowly

Adam Walker 6'8" PF/C Christ the King (Queens) As mentioned when we wrote about him last year he has outstanding tools; good size and athletic quickness. However those tools did not translate into the kind of production the Royals need from him. When he's active and working hard he can be very good, but it's worth noting that even at his best Adam is not comfortable playing with his back to the basket. What he does do well is rebound at both ends and score on stick backs and a mid rage jumper that has a nice touch. Those athletic tools have gotten Adam lots of interest from mid-majors and even some from a high major or two. As these schools look more closely they will want to see production match those tools.

Brandon Brock 6'2" G/F Newburgh Free Academy (Newburgh NY) For the past two summers Brandon has been an important part of the Riverside/Metro Hawks team where he's served as a basketball version of a baseball utility man. Throughout games Hawks coaches have played him at both wing spots and at power forward where he uses his 230 pounds and great hands to clear space and rebound effectively. When he's on the perimeter he guards effectively with long arms and quick hands and shoots well out to 18 feet. All of this said the thing that makes him a great get for St. Peter's is that his competitiveness elevates both his own game and his teammates.

Scott Weisenfeld 5'10" PG Horace Greeley HS (Mt Kisco NY) Scott was a last minute invite to the Reebok ABCD camp and to his credit he more than held his own despite the short notice. He is a pure point guard who may not be the quickest guy out there, but he moves the ball, plays hard on defense will knock down shots and never takes a bad one. Most impressive the day I saw him at ABCD was that in both sessions he played nearly mistake free which is difficult playing with teammates for the first time. At 170lbs he's sturdy and strong with the ball