With the regular season in the rear-view mirror and sectionals ready to start, a look at some of Section Five’s top performers from the 11th-grade class.
Rayshawn Boswell 5-foot-9 Jr. G Monroe Redjackets (A2/RCAC): Shows keen court instincts when it comes to making decisions with the ball. Gets more than his share of paint touches and creates shots for himself and teammates. Knows when to use a ball screen or turn it down and beats defenders with either hand. Comfortable in tight spaces and has uncanny knack for slipping passes through opponents to teammates behind the defense. Can knock down a shot from behind the arc, but also is comfortable using his pull-up in the midrange and goes to a floater in traffic. Disciplined defender who doesn’t get caught making overplays, tough on the ball and a pest off it running down passing lanes and creating turnovers. Seventh-seeded Redjackets host Greece Olympia in the A2 opening round on Wednesday.
Dezmere Ellis 5-foot-11 Jr. G Leadership Academy Lions (A2/RCAC): Fearless off the dribble, can create for himself but appears more comfortable creating for teammates. Always makes the extra pass when it is there. Can get to the rim and finish in traffic with either hand, also has deft touch with a floater if defense reacts. Makes sound decisions in the open court, always looks ahead for open teammate, but can push ball with ease, plays the game at a comfortable pace for himself. Savvy defender who is tough and can defend a variety of positions. At the same time he makes intelligent reads off the ball to get in passing lanes. Top-seeded Lions host the winner of SOTA-Wilson-Magnet in the A2 quarter-finals on Saturday.
Anthony Iglesia 5-foot-6 Jr. G McQuaid Jesuit Knights (AA/RCAC): Daring shooter with range to at least 25 feet, distorts opposing defense which have to adjust to his presence on the floor. Crafty off the dribble in half-court set, picks his spots well to get inside the teeth of the defense, can make plays for himself and teammates in traffic. Underrated ball handler who makes the easy pass. Developing on-the-ball defender. Always in the right spot off the ball. Seventh-seeded Jesuit Knights host Penfield in the AA opening round on Wednesday.
Nigel Scantlebury 6-foot Jr. G Greece Athena (A1/Monroe County): Disruptive defender who routinely forces opposing ballhandlers to turn their back to protect the ball. Gets in passing lanes with active hands but is also wary of backdoor cuts. Can stuff a stat sheet quickly with points, rebounds, assists and steals. Plays in a lineup with several scorers and is patient enough to wait for openings, but pounces when he gets the chance. Comfortable behind the arc and catching while in motion. Second-seeded Trojans take on the Brighton-Eastridge winner in the A1 quarter-finals.
Jeenathan Williams 6-foot-6 So. G/F UPrep Griffins (AA/Private-Independent): Smooth left-handed shooter with an impressive mid-range game; he is a fierce competitor in the lane. Uses either hand to beat defenders for a stop-and-pop buckets; Can attack the basket with long arms and slight frame; Not to be stopped once in motion he finishes with contact using either hand. Tireless on the offensive glass he shows patience getting defenders in the air before going to the rim. Uses long arms and quick feet on the defensive end to disrupt opposing rhythm and flow, makes quick transition to offense. Willing to get on the floor and win loose balls. Eats his Wheaties. Third-seeded Griffins host Churchville-Chili in the AA opening round.
Other 11th-grade student-athletes of note: Tee Sean Ayala/Batavia, Davon Brown/Leadership Academy, Shykell Brown/Bishop Kearney, Felipe Carter/Edison Tech, Manny Cotton/Early College, Jamal Fennell/Bishop Kearney, Tristan Flowers/Edison Tech, Chris Gibson Jr./Monroe, William Green Jr./Greece Olympia, Thomas Jones/McQuaid, Joey Lipani/Hilton, Joe Luconte/Webster-Thomas, Mecca McCollough/Rush-Henrietta, Mike Novitsky/Victor, Matt Powers/Pittsford-Mendon, CeyQuan Salmon/World of Inquiry, Divine Williams/McQuaid, Kailee White/Rush-Henrietta
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