by Brian Crownover
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NYC’s premier league took center stage over the weekend as the top 8 teams battled it out in the playoffs. Some outstanding individual play as well as several excellent match-ups of teams took place at the iS8 league in Queens. Here is a look at some of the top players.

Team Odom

Ryan Pearson (2008, 6-7 SF/PF)

Future Patriot Ryan Pearson

The talented lefty’s game didn’t stop in the paint though. He is a very capable ball handler and perhaps his best play of the day was a drive towards the hoop and spin move around the defender for a kiss off the glass. Ryan is a long strider who can get to the hoop quickly. He is also great at using head fakes around the three point line to freeze the defender before driving. Ryan did get into trouble when he tried to handle the ball too much, particularly on the break. He had several turnovers because of this. He is capable of pushing the ball, but the Playaz have talented and aggressive guards that applied a lot of pressure. If left open, Ryan is capable of shooting the three point shot too. He doesn’t have the best form and it led to a couple of airballs as well as being able to hit on several perimeter attempts. If he can add more consistency to his jumper, that’ll make him even more difficult to stop. 

Not only is Ryan talented, but he’s a joy to watch with his effort. He was seen hustling after a number of loose balls and was visibly frustrated after fouling out at the end of this heartbreaking loss. Ryan is a very talented player if this weekend was any indication; the Patriots got themselves a real steal.

Ryan Davis (2008, 5-11 PG)
Ryan is a pretty steady point guard who has played well all AAU season. He was solid on the offensive end again on this day. He is a very capable ball handler who had several impressive drive and dish plays for assists. He can drive in either direction and spot open teammates. Ryan also showed some outside shooting ability as he knocked down a couple three pointers. He does need to improve on the defense though as the Playaz guards beat him off the dribble a number of times. 

Sean Johnson (2009, 6-1 SG)
Sean is yet another talented Christ the King player on Team Odom. He scored early on a three pointer and later banked in a floater down the lane. Sean also scored on an old fashioned three point play after some heavy contact. He drew contact a number of times throughout and thus found himself at the foul line quite often. Sean can attack off the dribble and also runs the floor well. He proved to be a very nice compliment to Ryan Pearson.

Greg Edwards (2009, 6-4 SG/SF)
Greg loves to shoot the ball and he hit a pair of threes in the first half. In the second portion of the game, he played more aggressive as he drove to the basket several times. He had a nice looking runner in the lane, but failed to convert. He managed a layup on another occasion. Greg lost his cool though late in the game and drew a technical foul for it. The talented guard should make some noise in Pennsylvania this upcoming season.

Playaz

Jiovanny Fontan (2008, 5-11 PG) Committed to Fordham
Jio was solid in the morning session. As usual, the quick ball handling guard was out on the break scoring a number of transition buckets. It is what he and his Playaz backcourt mates do best. Jio made a few nice plays in the halfcourt set as well. He had a beautiful drive and dish to one of his big men as well as a tough finish in traffic. He also buried a three point shot for good measure. Jio wasn’t as dominant as we had witnessed the last few times out, but he still played well for the balanced Playaz attack.

Chris Gaston (2008, 6-7 210 PF)
Chris had a strong outing in the Playaz victory. The high energy forward is very good moving without the ball and thus he freed himself up several times for his talented guards to find him. His most impressive play was a high degree of difficulty spin move and fade away jumper. Chris just seems to have a nose for the ball. He’s very active on the inside around the basket. He also rebounds quite well. Chris blocked a pair of shots too. He even stepped outside and hit a deep jumper. He was very effective in helping the Playaz advance.

Connecticut Basketball Club

Chris Prescott (2008, 6-2 175 PG/SG) Committed to St. Joe's
Chris started off slow, but the smooth and talented scoring guard got it going as the game wore on. He’s an outstanding jump shooter who buried a number of threes. He can spot up or shoot off the dribble from out there. He is also very quick off the bounce and got into the lane several times. He had a tough left handed finish in traffic. Chris also converted on a difficult three pointer while floating to the left. He had a couple nice assists to his teammates. Chris was solid on defense as well and even blocked a shot. He had a strong outing and is a great pick up for St. Joe’s.

David Gibbs (2008, 6-3 165 SG) Committed to UMASS
David is a very smooth guard who can put the ball in the basket. He has a good stroke on his jumper and can get up the court in a hurry off the bounce. He did dribble too much on one play and was called for 5 seconds. David also grabbed a couple rebounds and blocked a shot too.

B.J. Monteiro (2008, 6-5 SG)
This athletic forward put together a nice game. He ran the floor well and scored a couple transition baskets. B.J. made several difficult shots including a deep jumper and a putback on an offensive rebound. He did miss badly on another jumper though.

Stanford Dulaire (2008, 6-4 SF) Committed to Sacred Heart
Stanford is a pretty athletic forward. He didn’t have a huge game, but was able to do a number of things. He had a rebound and lay-in as well as a steal. He scored on a transition dunk after being fouled. He also hauled in an offensive rebound and took a charge on the defensive end. Stanford tied the game up late with a free throw as well. His touches were limited due to CBC’s great guard play, but Stanford still had an impact.

Nick Greenbacker (2008, 6-8 PF/C) Committed to Sacred Heart
Nick has good size and is a fairly skilled post player. The lefty’s touches were limited, but he still showed a nice short post jumper. He also rebounded the ball well. He did turn the ball over though and could benefit by getting quicker.

Mt. Vernon High School

Sherrod Wright (2009, 6-4 190 SG/SF)
Without talented forward Kevin Jones, Sherrod made it his time to shine. He seems to be the master of the difficult shot. Early on, one of those difficult shots was after a spin move and with a defender right in his face. He had an offensive rebound and pull up jumper. He has an excellent pull up game is very good scoring after contact. Sherrod took over the game late and scored a couple of go ahead buckets in this back and forth game, but it wasn’t enough. While he had a fantastic game, he did settle for a lot of jumpers and does play too much one on one. Nearly everytime he was stopped after driving, he’d take the shot rather than dish to open teammates. He’s an outstanding scorer, but needs to work on getting others involved. Overall, it’s hard to complain about Sherrod’s play though as he really kept this game close for Mt. Vernon.

Ketema Brooks (2008, 5-9 PG)
Ketema had a strong drive and finish early on. He then struggled as he missed a couple jumpers. He came with a strong crossover move and drive to the left. He also had a drive and dish play and followed that with a steal. Ketema was solid, but could’ve played a more consistent game. 

Jordan Lessane (2009, 5-10 PG)
This young lefty is a good jump shooter. He also drove to the basket and drew several fouls. He ran the floor well and had a nice drive and pass in transition. He did rush too much on a late possession with plenty of time left and it resulted in a turnover.

Boys & Girls High School

David Imes (2008, 6-6 210 SF/PF)
David couldn’t quite match the fantastic game we saw from him back in July, but he was still solid. The strength of his game is definitely rebounding the ball. He pulled down board after board after board in this contest (on both ends of the floor). He has very good hands and really goes after the ball. He scored on a nice short floater, but most of his points came from lay-ups and offensive rebounds. In July, he was on fire from the perimeter, but he couldn’t find his jumper on this day. David does need to be more consistent in that area. He is a very talented player though who was solid in the victory. 

Brandon Romain (2008, 6-2 SG)
Brandon is a slick guard who can get into the lane off the bounce. He opened with a transition lay-up and then finished on another lay-up after a strong crossover move. The lefty sandwiched a three pointer in between a pair of runners in the lane. He later hit another three as well as scoring on an old fashioned three point play. Brandon finished up his scoring with the game clinching free throw. He’s a very talented scorer on a deep Boys & Girls team.

C.J. Reid (2008, 6-4 200 SF)
C.J. really battled on the glass on both ends of the court. He has good hands and snatches the ball out of the air. He scored mostly on lay-ups and put backs in this game. C.J. had a nice pass too and blocked several shots. He’s also a pretty good free throw shooter. 

Anton Dickson (2008, 6-1 SG)
Boys & Girls might have the deepest team in NYC and it shows when a player we’ve never heard of comes off the bench and puts together a strong game. The young guard caught everyone’s attention early by draining 4 three pointers. He has a smooth jumper and is a solid ball handler too. He hit a runner in the lane and knocked down a couple free throws as well. Anton slowed down as the game wore on, but did manage to hit another three pointer in the second half. He was one of the surprise players of the day.

St. Raymond's High School

Omari Lawrence (2009, 6-3 SG/SF)
With St. Ray’s missing a talented guard, the already explosive Lawrence took his game to another level. He opened with a steal and an eye popping throw down over a defender. He’s very smooth with the ball in his hands and slices through traffic. He hit a runner, had a fantastic up and under move and followed those up with a reverse lay-up for a three point play. Omari has long arms and is a terrific finisher in traffic. He is quick off the bounce and can drive in either direction. He also knocked down a three pointer. Omari’s strong fourth quarter kept the Ravens in the game. He looks to be another in the long line of talented St. Raymond’s players.

Kevin Parrom (2009, 6-5 SF)
Kevin played a nice complimentary role to Omari. He opened with a deep jumper, but then airballed a three. Following that, he really got it going though. Kevin has a smooth stroke and a pretty solid mid range game. He hit a couple pull up jumpers from that area. He also hit a runner in the lane and a short turn around jumper near the basket. Kevin has good size and can put the ball on the floor too. He will be a strong third scoring option for St. Ray’s this season.

Gauchos

Chris Fouch (2008, 6-1 SG)
This spot up shooter was strong from the perimeter for the Gauchos. He has a very smooth stroke and he knocked down four of those shots in this contest. He also added in a few transition lay-ups, including one after picking up a steal. Chris is a very nice compliment to an already talented Gauchos backcourt.

Dorvelle Carter (2008, 6-5 SF)
Dorvell was solid from the mid range area through out the game. He doesn’t get many touches on this talented team, but he does a pretty good job of making the most of them.