By PAUL GOTHAM
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 10th-grade class.
Tony Arnold 6-foot So. G Eastridge Lancers (Monroe County Division IV) – Fearlessly attacks the rim from any where on the floor; at his best pushing the offense in transition, but is willing to be patient in the half court set and allow the ball to move from side to side before going to the basket; finishes well in traffic; still young and once he develops consistency from the perimeter, the floor will open for him; a riverboat gambler on defense, he makes aggressive decisions to create turnovers.
Brennan Clark 6-foot-3, So. F Wilson-Magnet Wildcats (RCAC) – Wiry inside player who keeps moving when the ball is in the air, sheds contact, slips through tight spaces, ball getter with sure hands, uses soft touch to finish with either hand at the rim, runs the floor well and catches the ball while in full stride; plays responsibly on the defensive end, works well off the ball, uses active, long arms as an asset, conscientious rebounder.
Tah-jae Hill 6-foot-1, So. G Hilton Cadets (Monroe County Division I) – Hill grabbed a spot in the Starting Five a year ago, puts pressure on opposing defenses through a variety of means, foot speed and quickness set up his pull-up jumper that consistently keeps defenders on their heels, but his ability to blow by perplexes defenses who look to double team Hill, he has seamlessly infused a back-to-the-basket game, deft passer who reads well in pick-and-roll situations, repetitive motion to his shot which is uncanny considering he is still a 10th grader; defends in the post and defends on the perimeter, can contain opposing ball handler and mark opponent’s best perimeter scorer; tireless rebounder who resists first contact made in box-out situations.
VIEW MORE CHRIS ROACH PHOTOS HERE.
Andrew Mason 6-foot-2 So. G Webster Thomas Titans (Monroe County Division II) – Inside/outside threat who can create for himself and teammates, has to be guarded beyond the arc, quick release on catch-and-shoot opportunities, length makes it difficult to defend him for smaller perimeter players, uses height to see over opponents and finds teammates in spots where they can score, flashes a hesitation dribble to get to the rim, combine that with an impressive pull-up jumper, possesses the innate quality of letting the game come to him, does not shoot team out of game; crafty defender who moves well on the flight of the ball, patient on the ball, closes the gate on the baseline drive; impressive rebounder with strong hands, keeps ball high, outlet passes create transition chances for teammates.
Jermaine Taggart 6-foot-3 So. G McQuaid Jesuit Knights (RCAC) – Slashing wing who can knock down an open 3-pointer, but is at his best best going to the rim where he can finish with either hand in traffic, sees leak-out opportunities and takes advantage, catches the ball well in transition and finishes, quick first step in the half-court set, can go either direction, learning how to use his length against smaller opponents; active rebounder, keeps moving after initial contact in block-out situations, strong hands, alert to transition opportunities; responsible defender, plays well off the ball, potential to be an elite on-the-ball guard.
Names to know of other student-athletes from the sophomore class: Kidtrell Blocker/Aquinas, Tory Bradley/Wilson Magnet, Shaheem Britt/Leadership Academy, Freddie Brock/East High, Colin Burkis/Hilton, Matt Caggiano/Victor, Cameron Chestnut/Keshequa, Andrew Clement/Cuba-Rushford, Rueben Daniel/McQuaid, Najier Daniels/Hilton, Sharon Davis/Eastridge, Ben DiGiovanni/Pittsford Sutherland, Challis Farmer/Perry, Adonis Flagler/NE Douglass, Dylon Foster/Edison Tech, Chase Freeland/Hornell, Michael Gentile/Bishop Kearney, Tremell Hale/C.G. Finney, Zaire Halmond/East High, Jalen Rose Hannah/Eastridge, Jaden Hartsfield/Greece Odyssey, Michael Hockey/Perry, Justin Johnson/Aquinas, Benji Kemp/Lyons, Lonnie Logins/Sodus, Kobe Long/McQuaid, Lamar Lovelace/NE Douglass, Ryan Lucey/Fairport, Shamir Mccullough/Leadership Academy, Luke Melidona/Irondequoit, Vin Molisani/Cal-Mum, DeAndre Newsome/Greece Athena, Dannie Palmer/Webster Thomas, JoJo Plummer/Webster Schroeder, Marcus Postell/Churchville-Chili, Mason Putnam/Prattsburgh, Gabriel Rosado/Wheatland-Chili, KayShawn Ross/UPrep, Julian Ruiz/Waterloo, Jack Scanlon/Aquinas, Zach Harris Scott/UPrep, Griffen Stella/Churchville-Chili, Jabez Thompson/Vertus, Ruben Torres/Aquinas, Trevor VanNostrand/Midlakes, Joseph Vazquez/Rochester Academy, Tyler Warner/Aquinas and JeVonte Williams/Rush-Henrietta.
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