Season wrap-up: Class A
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- March
- 18
Finally, here are is the long-awaited season wrap-up for Class A. Thank you all for your patience.
The Tri-County dinner is tonight. If you’re going, I’ll see you then.
Player of the Year
Mookie Jones, Peekskill. If you don’t think the Syracuse-bound senior had a “great” season than you weren’t watching closely enough. Jones sacrificed his own scoring for the benefit of his teammates, and the Red Devils were one miserable quarter away from winning their fourth straight state title. Jones finishes his career with four sectional, three state and two Federation championships, as well as over 1,800 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocks, assists and steals. He also won over 100 games.
Coach of the Year
Nick Parashis, Yonkers. What other coach won 11 more games than his school’s previous two seasons combined? Maybe nobody ever. Parashis has turned a Yonkers team that was non-competitive for many years into a playoff team. The Bulldogs finished 11-11, highlighted by wins over Rye (twice), Pelham and, most of all, at Nyack in the play-in game in sectionals.
Rookie of the Year
Lavor Morris, Lakeland. Had he not transfered from Stepinac, this probably would have been at least Morris’ second season on varsity. The 6-foot junior made an immediate impact, averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game and helping Lakeland transition from a rough offseason. If Morris was eligible to play in the postseason, Lakeland had a shot to reach the County Center.
Class A All-Stars
First team
Mookie Jones, Sr., Peekskill
Daquan Brickhouse, So., Peekskill
Jordan Henriquez, Sr., Port Chester
Mickey Abbatiello, Sr., Eastchester
Ryan Sheridan, Sr., Tappan Zee
Second team
Michael Pagan, Sr., Panas
Elliot Watson, Sr., Peekskill
Jamal Little, Sr., Spring Valley
Jason Mendell, Sr., Byram Hills
Ralph Watts, Jr., Peekskill
Third team
Lavor Morris, Sr., Lakeland
Eddie McGuiness, Sr., Pearl River
Lou Larizza, Sr., Port Chester
Brian Jones, Sr., Nyack
Alex Meyer, Sr., Lourdes
Fourth team
Shakeem King, Sr., Port Chester
Eddie O’Connell, Sr., Kennedy
Matt Grossbard, Jr., Pearl River
James Bonsall, Sr., Rye
Brian Connolly, Sr., Tappan Zee
All-Defense
Rob Ferriera, Jr., Pearl River
Mookie Jones, Sr., Peekskill
Lou DeMello, Sr., Lakeland
Greg Bratone, Jr., Pelham
Daquan Brickhouse, So., Peekskill
Futures team
Daquan Brickhouse, So., Peekskill
Ralph Watts, Jr., Peekskill
Matt Grossbard, Jr., Pearl River
Lavor Morris, Jr., Lakeland
Darien Thomas, Jr., Peekskill
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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Kev, no Elliot SWATSON (Watson) on the defensive team??
There is no way that Jordan Henriquez is first team. I would have put Elliot Watson there at Center or anyone for that matter. Henriquez is a 6’11” disappointment.
I agree with peekfatdady to an extent, henriquez might not be the player I choose to take off the First Team.
Kevin,
Your picks are fair. Lavor Morris is a tremendous athlete and has alot of potential. As noted from his stats, he was a great asset to Lakeland throughout the regular season. Given the fact that he was ineligible for post-season play-offs, he let down himself and the team. Based on that, I don’t think it’s fair to vote him as Rookie of the Year. A good player takes care of business on and off the court to ensure eligibility is not in jeopardy. Thanks for the great coverage all season. You’re 1st Team Sports Reporter!
I’m glad to see you added a 4th team because the 3rd and 4th teams are pretty close.
As for Henriquez,I would swap him with Pagan or Mendell, but I would also put him on the defensive team because that’s where his game is at.
What time and where is dinner and what about Class AA?
pagan mendell and(swatson) watson are all more deserving than henriquez and sheridan
I think Lou Demello should be on at least the 3rd team due to his leadership and bringing a team with no expectations of making the playoffs to a 14 win season.
Kev,
Your season wrap-up picks are pretty accurate, BUT i think you have to make a couple of adjustments….
Henriquez, tho “6’11”, ins’t too athletic and isn’t that great of a big man. I think you should have replaced him with Elliot “Swatson”. I also think “Swatson” should’ve made the All-Defense. Lastley, I think Darien “Pooh Bear” Thomas DEFINATELY earned the right to be on AT LEAST one of the 4 All-Star Teams…But Great Job, it’s close enough ;^)
Can we get the season stats for Henriquez. I would guess he averaged 11 points, 10 boards and 5 blocks a game. Sure 6’ 11” is a difference maker in HS basketball but the numbers and his struggles to stay out of foul trouble hardly make hm a first teamer. He wasn’t even the best player on his own team.
forget best player, he was awful…he played with a horrible attitude, and i dont think he made one shot the entire season that wasnt an uncontested layup or dunk…he has no offensive skills, no sense of the game, and only blocks shots cuz he’s 6-11
Who looks to be strong next year in class A? Peekskill is losing Mookie, Elliot and i think Baker but Brickhouse Watts and Thomas come back along with Gooding so Peekskill should be competitive. The one problem they will have is they will have no size what so ever. However, i think alot of class A teams are losing alot.
Pelham is only losing 1 player out of the 6 players who started this year.(Volpe) They have Bratone (6’5), little Doucette(6’3), Highland(6’6), Johnson and Eich all coming back. They were one of the top defensive teams in the section this year and next year they will be one of the elite teams in the section.
kevin,where are some of these seniors going to college next yr?what about other kids from west/rockland,i assume there are many college commitments[seniors from mt vernon,nr,wp,etc…]
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i think lavor morris is a great athlete that shows his great effort in his strive for bettering the lakeland boys basketball team . let haters hate