Tri-County Dinner
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- March
- 19
As you might have read in today’s Journal News, Kevin Jones of Mount Vernon was honored as Mr. Basketball by the Tri-County Basketball Coaches Association at its annual banquet last night.
The dinner was great. The speeches were short, almost everyone attended and people hung around for a long while afterwards to congratulate each other.
They recognized the 55 All-Conference selections, as well as first and second team Tri-County, which are below. Jones was main honoree, of course, and Peekskill’s Lou Panzanaro was honored as Coach of the Year. He made reference to the blog in his acceptance speech. It was great free advertising.
My favorite part of this event is always the Court of Excellence segment, which recognizes the student-athletes. I love watching the faces of the elite basketball players in the crowd as they’re in total awe hearing the SAT scores and prospective colleges of the recipients.
But the best thing I noticed last night was during the Mr. Basketball ceremony. It’s something that all rivaling parents (and within everyone team, there are plenty) should think about.
When Kevin Jones was announced, the first people to stand up and applaud where the parents of Mookie Jones. They could have a little grip about their son not receiving the award, considering he’s a five-year player and three-time state champ. Yet they were clearly excited for Kevin. There’s absolutely no jealousy or competition between Kevin and Mookie — or their families.
Here’s a list of all the recipients last night:
First team: Kevin Jones, Sr., Mount Vernon; Mookie Jones, Sr., Peekskill; Sean Kilpatrick, Sr., White Plains; Sherrod Wright, Jr., Mount Vernon; David Zaitz, Sr., Scarsdale.
Second team: Simeon Marsalis, Sr., New Rochelle; Jordan Henriquez, Sr., Port Chester; Mickey Abbatiello, Sr., Eastchester; Elliot Watson, Sr., Peekskill; Rashad James, Sr., White Plains; Joe Lombardi, Sr., Briarcliff.
Coach of the year: Lou Panzanaro, Peekskill.
John Martino Service Award: Tom Nelligan, Kennedy
Frank DeMaio Sportsmanship Award: Fred DiCarlo, Eastchester
Court of Excellence awards: Greg Budetti (North Salem); Jonathan Broderick (Pawling); Tyler Davidoff (Ossining); Alex Gulotta (Briarcliff); Devin Hagens (Panas); Simeon Marsalis (New Rochelle); Marc Miller (North Salem); Alex Piperis (Blind Brook); Aaron Sokol (Eastchester); Jordan Zaslav (Blind Brook).
All-conference
Conference I: Ketema Brooks, Sr., Mount Vernon; Mike Cirocco, Jr., Mahopac; Winston Graham, Jr., Roosevelt; Rashad James, Sr., White Plains; Kevin Jones, Sr., Mount Vernon; Sean Kilpatrick, Sr., White Plains; Evan Livingston, Sr., Scarsdale; Simeon Marsalis, Sr., New Rochelle; Kevin McCahey, Jr., Clarkstown South; Taylor Mondshein, Jr., Mamaroneck; Edwin Perez, Sr., North Rockland; Chris Ranglin, Jr., Gorton; A.J. Rasulo, Sr., Mahopac; Markell Rice, Sr., New Rochelle; Eric Slater, Jr., Lincoln; Sherrod Wright, Jr., Mount Vernon; David Zaitz, Sr., Scarsdale. Player of the year: Jones, Mount Vernon. Coach of the year: Jon Feld, Scarsdale.
Conference II: Daquan Brickhouse, So., Peekskill; Brian Connolly, Sr., Tappan Zee; Jordan Henriquez, Sr., Port Chester; David Hughes, Sr., Fox Lane; Anthony Iacomini, Jr., John Jay; Brian Jones, Sr., Nyack; Mookie Jones, Sr., Peekskill; Lou Larizza, Sr., Port Chester; Ryan Markley, Sr., Yorktown; Edmond O’Connell, Sr., Kennedy; Michael Pagan, Sr., Panas; Ryan Sheridan, Sr., Tappan Zee; Elliot Watson, Sr., Peekskill; Ralph Watts, Jr., Peekskill. Player of the year: Mookie Jones, Peekskill. Coach of the year: Tom Nelligan, Kennedy.
Conference III: Mickey Abbatiello, Sr., Eastchester; Kyle Beechum, Sr., Briarcliff; James Bonsall, Sr., Rye; Taj Everly, Sr., Woodlands; Pat Fuchs, Sr., Albertus Magnus; Matt Grossbard, Jr., Pearl River; Alex Gulotta, Sr., Briarcliff; Jamol Johnney, Jr., Lincoln Hall; Joe Lombardi, Sr., Briarcliff; Eddie McGuinness, Sr., Pearl River; Jason Mendell, Sr., Byram Hills; Nick Nedwick, Sr., Irvington; Brittain Purcelle, Sr., Irvington; Ryan Sawyer, Sr., Croton-Harmon; Sir Aaron Taylor, Jr., Lincoln Hall. Player of the year: Brittain Purcelle, Irvington. Coach of the year: Fred DiCarlo, Eastchester.
Conference IV: Jeris Dupree, Sr., Leake & Watts; Erik Gormley, Sr., Dobbs Ferry; Robert Johnson, Sr., Tuckahoe; Marc Miller, Sr., North Salem; Josh O’Neill, Jr., North Salem; Brett Paterno, Sr., Blind Brook; Jonathan Scofield, Jr., Hamilton; Chris Taylor, Sr., Hawthorne-CK; David Williams, Sr., Clark Academy. Player of the year: Marc Miller, North Salem. Coach of the year: Henry Sassone, North Salem.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 10:26 am by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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How could Dequan Brickhouse not make the 1st or 2nd Team? He was the MVP of the Slam Dunk and the A Tournament and maybe the MVP of Peekskill’s team? That is a joke.
>>
Seems strange to me too.
Congratulations Taj Everely (Woodlands).
Was a rough year but you held your head up and played your tail off.
Good luck in the future.
peekfatdaddy
He was put in a position to win those awards by his team, which was a very strong supporting cast. He is also a sophmore and is “NOT” the MVP of his team(hint: every fast break starts with a rebound or a block), albeit a very talented player who had a great year.
He will have an opportunity and should be on the short list to win those accolades in the years to come(we will se how many slam dunks and A tourny’s they win without Mookie). The right players from Peekskill were recogniized appropriately.
Hey kev
Can you post the all star teams
how did purcelle not get second team. it says he won conference 3 player of the year but does not make top 10. 2 kids got it from his conference joe lombardi and mickey abb. from eastchester. i am not taking anything away from those players they both had great careers and seasons and leave as there 2 schools all time leading scorer. to me it seems odd for a conference player of the year like purcelle not make the second team
Kevin Jones was the best player this year.
There should be some sort of recognition for a player that has done so much for the Peekskill program the last four years. Maybe the City of Peekskill should step up and show how much they appreciate what Mookie Jones has accomplished.
I just think that next year, and maybe even much longer, Mookie will be missed much more than anyone can imagine. It was more than points. It was blocked shots, defense, and a will to win. No championship this year, but what a resume.
mike
Brittian won conf player of the year by a fractional percentage from the voting of the coaches in that conf(not taking anything away from Brittian). He and the other players were nominated for All Tri County as was Miller, which is voted on by all the Section 1 coaches(not just that conf).
Its likely a case of not playing in front of coaches from other conferences and bigger schools and being seen by a larger group of coaches, some would argue a weaker schedule hurt in the long run.
Hoops,
Alot of the rebounds that started the fast breaks were made by him. I still believe Mookie was the best player and was probably just edged by Kevin Jones for MVP, but it shouldn’t matter that Dequan is a Sophomore. I also disagree you that Peekskill will suffer in the future. They still have 3 of their starting 5 back next year. Obviously Mookie and Elliot will never be able to be replaced of course they will lose some games next year, but they will always remain competitive. I believe alot of people were saying the same thing after they lost Elton, Derrick Robillard, Gus Egan, James McRae, LaRon Bailey, Rashard, etc. Peekskill will always be good in basketball.
Hey Kevin,
Can you give a little more detail on the “Court of Excellence” segment of the awards dinner? What were some of the highlights?
Mookie is awesome, but Kevin Jones deserved this award.
[...] What I prefer is all-conference teams, like they have in the boys. Kevin went to the dinner last night, so you can get a better understanding of how they divvy up the selections by checking out his post. [...]
peekfatdaddy
I would not dispute that Peek will likely be very good next year..They will likely be the Favorite to win the Section again. There is a difference between being “GOOD” which they will be and winning state/Fed titles. I’m sure you would agree. I recognize who is returning, a PG a wing player and a very quich athletic 6’1” athlete with tremendous upside. Just who will be rebounding and blocking shots and establishing inside play? You know the things that allow you to dominate? I will give you time to think about a rresponse.
Daquan is great his time will come he was surely among the best PG’s but his supporting cast and the greatness of his team in this case work against him.
Where is the AA info?
what does court of excellence mean?
I’ll post the All-Star teams once they’re finalized. They read them out at the dinner but immediately some kids said they couldn’t participate. However, Mookie and Kevin Jones will, which is special.
The Court of Excellence is an academic honor given to elite student-athletes. If you’re on this list, you’re gifted. North Salem had two recipients, which is astounding considering there’s only 10 players on the roster and it’s limited to seniors (since it’s scholarship). I was most impressed with Jordan Zaslav of Blind Brook, who spent time in Louisiana rebuilding houses after Hurricane Katrina. It made me actually feel a little guilty. I don’t think I’ve ever done something that generous in my life. We all probably should.
My AA season wrap-up will be posted tomorrow.
If the selection was limited to seniors how did Josh O’neill get it cause he is a junior.
Josh O’Neill of North Salem did not get the Court of Excellence, Greg Budetti and Miller did. O’Neill simply got All-Conference.
Also, I heard theres talk around Kennedy that Eddie O’Connell is going to Duke to play basketball. Is this possible? I don’t want a tirade on O’Connell to follow, its just something I heard that I was curious about, regardless of how outlandish it may seem.
Duke? Come on… If JFK had a Duke level kid they would have went a lot further. He is a good player but Duke? What were his other offers? UNC? lol
Congrats to former Section 1 players participating in the NCAAs. Benjamin, Biggs, Ubiles (poughkepsie). Anyothers?
Taj Finger – Fox Lane – Stanford
Always great when people lead by example and not words. We are, after all, constantly reminded of those who want us to do as they say, but not as they do! I tip my hat to the Mookie Jones’ family for demonstrating such graciousness in their response to Kevin Jones being named Mr. Basketball. Regrettably, as has been shown on this blog numerous times, it happens all too often where people through jealousy or whatever, just can’t stand the accomplishments of others especially when it’s perceived to be at the expense of them, their team or their son/daughter, and react accordingly. May the example of Mr. and Mrs. Jones be one of Mookie’s lasting contributions to this area.
Now Kevin, my Man, since when do you need advertising, free or otherwise, to get the word out about your blog, numerous talents and contributions to high school sports and basketball in particular? You don’t need any, as people will always be attracted to excellence. Thanks for another great year of coverage of hs hoops and keep up the great work!
Why would u even ask if O’Connell is playing at duke. That just shows your stupidity.
I would have to agree with that as well. O’Connell going to Duke is a complete joke. As for people curious to know if he has any offers im not too sure, however i dont plan on seeing him playing for a college team. He doesnt have the skill nor near the ability as oppossed to some of these other players in the section yet alone county. He was a good high school basketball player. Thats all.