So here’s the list of this year’s Super 7 and Second 7 — 14 of the top returning basketball players in the Lower Hudson Valley. Two of the Super 7 were selected for the second season. The others are all new, including three underclassmen who were included in one group or the other.
As always, there were a number of tough choices, so congrats to all of those players who were selected.
THE SUPER 7
• Joe Clarke, New Rochelle (pictured left): The football star is also the Huguenots’ leading returning scorer and rebounder. Clarke’s strength and speed at 6-foot-3 gives him a unique blend of athletic gifts just about unmatched in the section.
• Kevin Degnan, Pearl River: The junior big man has sprouted to 6-foot-7 and is as adept away from the rim as he is near it. Division I schools have begun lining up for his services already. He recently attended Midnight Madness at Iona.
• Josh Doughty, Mount Vernon: Last season, he backed up Mr. Basketball, Isaiah Cousins, who now starts at Oklahoma as a freshman, but he’s been a key cog for the two-time defending Class AA state champs. The electric 5-foot-11 senior is now the Knights’ unquestioned leader.
• Brendan Hynes, Mahopac (pictured above): In his varsity debut, the 6-foot-3 swingman averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds and led a revamped team to the Class AA championship game against Mount Vernon. If the Indians book a third straight trip to the County Center, he’ll be a reason why.
• Josh James, Stepinac: This Super 7 repeat thrived in the CHSAA’s top league as a junior. As the floor general for one of the area’s top teams, the 6-foot-1 senior’s confidence has continued to soar after he signed with Division I Monmouth earlier this month.
• Jeff Lynch, Byram Hills: The other Super 7 repeat, this 5-foot-11 senior led the Bobcats to a gold ball as a sophomore and had them in line for a potential repeat until injuries cut short his season. If healthy after offseason ankle surgery, he’s the area’s best combination of shooting and playmaking in one package.
• Eric Paschall, Dobbs Ferry: The 6-foot-6 junior just began to scratch the surface when he averaged 20 points and nine rebounds last season. He is the area’s top recruit, with standing offers from six Division I schools, including West Virginia, Providence and Northwestern.
• • • • •
THE SECOND 7
• Jack Daly, Eastchester: This 6-foot-2 lefty ranked among the section’s top scorers as a sophomore, earning all-conference honors. He will be even more of a focal point without 1,000-point scorer Dave Solano.
• Brian Daniels, Briarcliff: The 6-foot-4, double-double threat averaged a team-best 16.6 points and grabbed 7.0 rebounds per game to earn touranment MVP honors as Hudson Valley won gold at the BCANY Summer Hoops Festival.
• Joe Letizia, Tappan Zee: This fifth-year starter, two-time Class A champ and football star will try and add scoring to his game. He already ranks as one of the section’s top on-ball defenders and competitors.
• Jamal Lewis, Mount Vernon: The 6-foot-2 senior is the section’s highest riser and a candidate to lead the Knights in scoring. He’ll be a treat to watch catch alley-oops from Doughty and co.
• Umar Singh, North Salem: Expect the bullish 6-foot-5 forward to average a double-double after a strong junior season. His presence alone turns the Tigers — Section 1’s smallest Class B school — into a County Center contender.
• Jack Sullivan, Albertus Magnus (pictured right): The 6-foot guard signed with Division II UMass-Lowell. He earned second-team all-county honors and helped Albertus win the last two Class B titles.
• Ian Thom, Croton-Harmon: The 6-foot-1 senior sharpshooter is on pace to break the program record for points and assists. He’s closing in on 1,000 points for his career.
• • • • •
30 Comments
HRs,
CONGRATS for DEGNAN,I guess the word got out,and that “gold” didn’t hurt,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
I wrote this yesterday:
“Letizia is stronger, can control the pace of a game, plays great D and can knock down a big shot when called on. The kid is a bull.
Sullivan is like a deer on the court, great leaper, good defender and a great scorer. Most teams will key on him but he will still get his points. Always appears to be in excellent shape.
You can’t go wrong with either one. I would take Sullivan.
I hear Degnan has improved his game a lot but from what I have seen over the last year or so, I would take Sullivan over Degnan as well, at this point.”
Josh,I’m sure this list was not easy to make. Good move going with the top 14. Being in the top 7 or 14 in Section 1 is quite an accomplishment.
With all do respect, Danny Behnken from Carmel was absolutely cheated…. He is a 3 year varsity starter!!!!!
All the players on the list are deserving. The only obvious omision is DeMello from White Plains. One of the three pivotal players on the gold winning BCANY team. Ask every player on the list and they will tell you exactly as it is. I will not use this blog to denegrate any of the players on the list. But this is major oversight. IMO
You dont get ranked super seven based upon how you did in bcany. Demello is a nice player but he is absolutely not super seven.
Picks were well deserving.
Nice list. Everyone seems deserving. I think one kid who is not on the pre-season list, but is deserving and will likely be on the post-season list is Naim Thomas from Stepinac. He’s only a junior, but a 3 year varsity player. I’ve read he plays big time AAU basketball and has already gotten a lot of D1 attention. I think he’s poised to have a big year.
What? Are you seeing what you are writing? It is all based on prior performances against top comp. Again, don’t want to get into the other’s faults or non accomplishments but future predictions but the list of 14 should have DeMello on it. IMO
prior high school performances, not in the bcany tourney. and if you think that is top competition then you obviously aren’t familiar with what top competition is.
Mr. Francis,
Since you adamant about DeMello being on there who do you take off to include him? Please provide empirical evidence.
Hyyynnnessssss
If Fatmir Dervishaj wasnt racist he would have won super seven with no problem, got a sweet jumper
Wood you beat me to it! From a talent stand point he without a doubt should have been on this list. Glad Josh chose him.
States better to have 11 players deep than 1 super 7
HRs,
Yes sir!
If You Had a 3rd 7 or Sleeper 7 it would Have to include Brandon Martin Fr Mt Vernon. He’s a Top Jr & Very Well could of been on Any of the Lists of 7. He played a Key Role for the Knights in Their 2nd consecutive NYPHSAA last yr as a Soph. & Will be a Force again this yr. That was MV’s 10th NYPHSAA Title. They’re going for their 8th consecutive Sect.1 Title The Knights are the Measuring Stick for All of Sect.1 for Sure
How about a SUPER 7 for UNDERCLASSMEN??? Here’s the first name on the list…
1. Sean Delaney (soph at Kennedy Catholic). Transfer from Arlington. Long lefty combo guard. Can fill it up. At 6’1 and still growing. Will be a fun player to watch.
Josh James and Brenden Hynes will go against each other at Slam Dunk. Step is scheduled to play Mahopac.
Isiah Ice Iona Prep is no doubt a Top 14 player out of this list!!
Crusaders??
Delaneys not sitting out a year for transferring to a catholic school? Something sounds fishy already.
Ball lifer
Don’t go jumping to conclusions. He didn’t play at Arlington I guess because he knew he was going to transfer. He is good to go.
Spring Valley’s super sophs Kai Mitchell and Ricky McGill should have been in the next 7 over Sullivan, Sullivan is a nice player but these kids will bring the Valley back to where they were a couple of years ago when nobody wanted to play them. Watch out for the Tigers!
Crusaders??
Not true. Delaney played for their JV team last year. Did not sit out.
Statesmen,
I don’t think I will put down others that made the list. It is high school sports. I do feel there are definitely players on the list that were on the list from last year that didn’t perform last year due to various reasons and do not deserve to have their spot back without they themselves earning a spot on this glorius Super 7 list.
Anthony Francis
I agree with your thoughts on DeMello. To my knowledge I am correct about Delaney, however I would rather discuss a player’s game than their eligibility.
Good to see Thom make it too. Great basketball family.
Mr. Francis,
Very fair—I can’t disagree with your mantra. Class act through and through.
In all due respect, I really feel maybe there should be a top 14 large and small schools. without naming names, there are some players in top 14 listed that probably wouldnt start at a MT Vernon or Stepinac. They certainly wouldnt be the star of either program so I struggle with them being in the top 14. Also, when people start placing so much emphasis on the bcany games , I really have to question if they have a good understanding of evaluating achievement. Yes, it is an honor , but the landscape of basketball has changed. Years ago , the empire state games was an elite tournament but now AAU has taken over. The BCANY games pale in comparision to competition of elite AAU programs during the summer. If your gonna start valuing accomplishments outside of HS, then forget the bcany games and see if a player competed nationally on the AAU circuit . That is a better test. Teams like the Hawks, Gauchos (bronx not house of hoops- ), Scan , Frenji, Riverside are better barometers as they have Westchester kids versus the BCany games
hoopsdriven- no offense but im sure some of the players you are talking about are the ones like daly, thom and singh solely because they are class b. just bc they are class b players does not mean they shouldnt be in the next 7. all 3 are good players and well deserving. and all 3 would be in this even if they didnt play well in the bcany games
Bob, not gonna get into specifics about certain players, .without getting into detail, some of the players you mentioned may be worthy of a top 14 status. Maybe , I have a different criteria or opinion of a top 14. My criteria would start with who has excelled at the highest level, and for those who don’t compete at the highest level I would then evaluate them if they had to compete at the levels of the Mt Vernon’s and stepinacs, how would they do. Would the kid contribute more than some of the other guards/forwards at Step, New Ro and Mt vernon or other large schools who quite frankly get hurt in situations like these because of the talent on their team . They also can’t build big time stats bc of the level of competition they play against.
No question many small school players have great HS careers and deserve recognition for that. One way players of small schools can prove themselves in on the AAU circuit. Some of the players from small schools play for elite AAU programs and have proven they can play against elite talent nationally. This makes it easier for me in my opinion to agree they are an elite player . The Bcany games doesnt hold that weight in my eyes , and if a player from a small school has the BCANY as his top outside accomplishment instead of challenging himself by making an elite AAU program who plays nationally then I think its fair to have some doubts.
The BCANY tournament showcased some excellent players and the team that Hudson Valley defeated for the gold had seven scholarship players. Congratulations to all selected!
hoopsdriven- fair enough. our criteria and opinion on the top 14 selections are just a little different. nothing wrong with that
Isaia Ice is omitted from list!!! GREAT job..this kid does not deserve to be on it..he is pompus and has a real bad attitude. Dont think he is a D1 player he is too selfish and he plays very soft.. he also is known as a complainer on the court..watch he should get alot of technical fouls…he was suppose to leave iona perp..i guess where ever he wad headed told him to stay put..i hear coach vic cant wait for him to graduate
Seen Delaney play, him and Matt Ryan from Iona are two very good up and coming players. Delaney did not play JV for arlingon last year due to a coach who thinks “blocked shots and one handed passes have no place in basketball”. Smart move getting out of Arlington, bball program there is in shambles and wont be fixed until some major restructuring is done.