By PAUL GOTHAM
With the Section V boys’ basketball season set to tip off, a survey of the 2020 class.
Tony Arnold 6-foot Jr. 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.
Tahjae Hill 6-foot-1, Jr. G Hilton Cadets (Monroe County Division I) – 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, maintains a repetitive motion with his shot; 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.
Andrew Mason 6-foot-2 Jr. 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.
VIEW MORE CHRIS ROACH PHOTOS HERE.
Zachariah Scott 6-foot-4 Jr. F East High Eagles (RCAC) – Long inside presence who plays like he’s on a trampoline, possesses an uncanny nose for the ball and is fearless attacking the basket, runs the floor well and finishes in transition, can also play with his back to the basket, high accuracy level from 10 feet, impressive motor, high basketball IQ; daring defender who anticipates well, moves his feet to get in passing lanes with active hands, high-level shot blocking ability; tireless on the boards, strong hands to go with the ability to read angles on balls coming off the rim, elite level rebound-and-outlet man.
Jermaine Taggart 6-foot-3 Jr. 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 2020 class: Sam Arnts/Bath-Haverling, Kaori Barley/East High, Jahlil Bell/WOI, Kidtrell Blocker/Bishop Kearney, Freddy Brock/East High, Colin Burkis/Hilton, Matt Caggiano/Victor, Cameron Chestnut/Keshequa, Brennan Clark/Wilson Magnet, Andrew Clement/Cuba-Rushford, Luke Cole/Fillmore Melvin Council, Jr./Greece Athena, Riley Danaher/Bolivar-Richburg, Najier Daniels/Hilton, SherRon Davis/Eastridge, Ben DiGiovanni/Pittsford Sutherland, Colton Dillon/Elba, Christian Jefferson-Edwards/UPrep, Challis Farmer/Perry, Noah Fasso/Livonia, Adonis Flagler/NE Douglass, Chase Freeland/Hornell, Michael Gentile/Bishop Kearney, Tremell Hale/C.G. Finney, Logan Hayes/SOTA, Jalen Rose Hannah/Eastridge, Jaden Hartsfield/Greece Odyssey, Michael Hockey/Perry, Nicolas Jeanty/NE Douglass, Justin Johnson/Aquinas, Zachary Johnson/Lyndonville, Daniel Kelly/Geneseo, Benji Kemp/Lyons, Mason Kuhn/Kendall,
Lonnie Logins/Sodus, Kobe Long/McQuaid, Lamar Lovelace/NE Douglass, Ryan Lucey/Fairport, Steven Mahar/Aquinas, Garrett McClurg/Perry, Shamir McCullough/Leadership Academy, Derek McCumiskey/Hornell, Luke Melidona/Irondequoit, Vin Molisani/Cal-Mum, Miles Monchecourt/Bishop Kearney, Austin Musselwhite/Friendship, DeAndre Newsome/Greece Athena, Dannie Palmer/Webster Thomas, Gino Pellett/Spencerport, JoJo Plummer/Webster Schroeder, Marcus Postell/Churchville-Chili, Mason Putnam/Prattsburgh, Ben Reding/Spencerport Gabriel Rosado/Wheatland-Chili, Kayshawn Ross/UPrep, Julian Ruiz/Waterloo, Jack Scanlon/Aquinas, Dyllon Scott/East, Griffen Stella/Churchville-Chili, Devin Stowe/Avoca, Jabez Thompson/Vertus, Ruben Torres/Aquinas, Trevor VanNostrand/Midlakes, Joseph Vazquez/Rochester Academy, Devin Walton/Gates-Chili, Tyler Warner/Aquinas, Antwan Williams/Bishop Kearney, JeVonte Williams/Rush-Henrietta, Turner Wilson/HF-L, Samuel Wright IV/Greece Olympia.
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