By PAUL GOTHAM
The 2024-2025 Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) Boys’ Basketball season opens Tuesday with a trio of league games: Wilson Magnet hosts Padilla High School (Franklin Campus). World of Inquiry welcomes Early College, and McQuaid is the site for a matchup between the Jesuit Knights and Edison Tech.
School of the Arts takes the floor at School No. 33 on Wednesday in a non-league matchup against Gates Chili. East High, the preseason RCAC favorite, opens its season at Hilton on Saturday while Monroe starts the slate next Tuesday when the Red Jackets play host to Wilson Magnet.
A one-division league for 2024-25, teams will face each other once during the regular season.
Monroe and Edison also received first-place vote in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Wilson’s DaSiah White is the league’s career active scoring leader with 1,212 points.
McQuaid has opted to not play an entire regular season league schedule and will not be listed in standings.
EARLY COLLEGE COBRAS
Last season: Finished 1-20, lost in first round of sectionals,
Coach: John Geglia (13th season, 84-171)
Top returners: Josue Oquendo Sr. F
Top newcomers: Tyrell Grant So. G; Cincere Moxley-Studymine So. G; Ethan Benham So. F
First game: December 3rd at World of Inquiry
Outlook: The Cobras are only returning one member from last year’s squad, Josue Oquendo. Jose will be a major contributor this season, and his leadership will be essential. Moving up to varsity is a promising group of sophomores. Grant, Moxley-Studymine, and Benham will be joined by fellow sophomores Demarion Griffin, Nayyir Ortiz, and Zion Shields. Expect some growing pains as this young core acclimates to the varsity level. With hard work, improved fundamentals, and a commitment to each other, this group has the potential to have more success than recent Early College teams.
EAST HIGH EAGLES
Last season: Finished 18-3, lost in A finals to Wayne.
Coach: Darrell Barley (23rd season, 376-120)
Top returners: Keysean Leonard Sr. PG 2nd Team All-League; Micah Johnson-Breedlove Sr. SG 1st Team All-League; Zion Parson Jr. F 1st Team All-League, AGR, Class A All-Tournament Team selection; Markell Kingston-Johnson Sr. G/F; Jhayden Holmes Sr. PG;
Top newcomers: Percy Robinson Sr. G transfer from UPrep; Ladariun Jones Sr G transfer from UPrep; Sha’vion Phillips Jones Sr. F/C transfer from UPrep; Jalen Gray Fr. PG transfer from Bishop Kearney; Norman Simmons So. G/F leading scorer and rebounder on JV; Tyler Benjamin Sr. F transfer from Rochester Prep.
First game: Saturday, December 7th at Hilton.
Outlook: This year the Eagles will play a competitive schedule, including two teams out of Chicago along with Niagara Falls, and Erie as well as local teams such as Hilton, McQuaid, and Victor. These games should prepare the East for sectionals.
EDISON TECH INVENTORS
Last season: Finished 8-12, lost to Franklin in AAA quarterfinals.
Coach: Reggie Simmons (138-93, 11th season)
Top returners: Shamier Hooks Sr. G 10.0 ppg; Isaiah Wonneberg Sr. F-C 5.0 ppg; Javier Medina Jr. G 7.0 ppg;
Top newcomers: Jahmier Birmingham Jr. G; Aden Aden Jr. G; Karron Mack So. G; Anthony Johnson Jr. F; Royal Alexander Jr. G; Felix Vasquez Jr. G; Tyreese Redden Jr. G.
First game: Tuesday, December 3rd at McQuaid Jesuit
Outlook: The Inventors will rely heavily on a bunch of untested former JV players to contribute this season. By mid-January Coach Simmons expects many of the newcomers to feel comfortable in their new roles. This year’s unknown has an optimistic slant to it… the players have been dedicated and committed to getting better and genuinely enjoy playing together.
VIEW MORE JENNIFER LAEMLEIN PHOTOS HERE.
McQUAID JESUIT KNIGHTS
*RCAC non-league member*
Last season: Finished 7-15, lost to Fairport in Class AAA quarterfinals.
Coach: Taylor Roth (first season)
Top returners: Jaiyden Jones Sr.; Lucas Wachter Sr.; Christian Jordan Sr,; Steven Werner Sr,; Quinn Wilson Jr.; Henry Fox Jr,; Andrew Gerenski Jr.
Top newcomers: Nick Fallat Jr; Cameron Caroccio Jr; Gianni Hahn Jr.
First game: December 3rd vs. Edison Tech.
Outlook: The bulk of last year’s team returns which will provide us with experience and depth. McQuaid will rely heavily on upperclassmen and should be able to take advantage of size, athleticism, and positional versatility. The Jesuit Knights have had a good offseason and are excited to get the season started.
MONROE RED JACKETS
Last season: Finished 16-7, lost to East in Class A semis.
Coach: Terrell Cunningham (first season as varsity coach)
Top returners: Marcus Freeman Sr.; Taj Mullins Sr. G; Cam Miller Sr. F; William McKinney Sr. G.
Top newcomers: Gavin Jones Sr. G; Khalil Herring Sr. F; JaRon Shears Jr. G; Kyair Calloway Jr. F.
First game: Tuesday, December 10th vs. Wilson Magnet.
Outlook: Monroe will have a ton of experience at the varsity level. The Red Jackets return four seniors who all started last season as juniors: Taj Mullins, William Mckinney, Marcus Freeman, and Cam Miller. Also returning is 6th man sophomore, Navareon Patton who will be playing major minutes this season. Gavin Jones and Khalil Herring are a few new guys in the program. Monroe is also moving up a
few young guys who will be major contributors to the varsity team this season, JaRon Shears, Jordan Reis, Jermaine Montgomery, and Luis Falu.
PADILLA BULLDOGS
Last season: Finished 15-7, lost in AAA final to UPrep.
Coach: Joseph Jackson Jr. (37-39 5th year)
Top returners: Isaiah Caruthers So. G; Daniel Gay Sr. G/F; Danny Williams Sr. G/F; Hasson Isgowe Jr. G; Khyrese Boose Jr. C; Ja’zeil Ragins Jr. F.
Top newcomers: TeVierre Miranda Jr. G; Jordan Foreman Sr. G/F; Dawon Watson Jr. G/F; Lavar Fields Sr. G.
First game: Tuesday, December 3rd at Wilson.
Outlook: The Bulldogs look to reload the roster after reaching the AAA finals. Isaiah Caruthers and Daniel Gay are taking over the helm with a solid supporting cast. TeVierre Miranda is a player to be watched this season. The Bulldogs will look for Caruthers to run the show.
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SILVERHAWKS
Last season: Finished 10-12, lost to Monroe in A Quarterfinals
Coach: Kyle Crandall (12th season, 122-106)
Top returners: Ishmael Gonzales Sr G (14.1 ppg, 3.4 reb, 2.0 stl); Latrell Ingram Sr. G (16.4 ppg, 5.9 reb); Jordan Jenkins Jr. G; Bennie Laver Jr. G; Zayvier Little Fr. F; Paul Stevens Jr. F.
Top newcomers: Quincy St. Louis Sr. F.
First game: Wednesday, December 4th vs. Gates Chili at School No. 33.
Outlook: The Silverhawks return four starters from a team that went 9-11 during the regular season and upset Newark in sectionals. Ishmael Gonzales, Latrell Ingram, and Bennie Laver are a trio of talented guards who are all returning starters and have improved since last year. Returning forwards Zayvier Little (freshman) and Paul Stevens (junior) look to give the Silverhawks a commanding presence down low. Jordan Jenkins, Quincy St. Louis, Henry Hawkinson and Bruce Newton also return and hope to provide some much-needed depth for SOTA as the Silverhawks look to compete in the RCAC League and Section V Class A bracket.
WILSON WILDCATS
Last season: Finished 5-16, lost to eventual state finalist Wayne in Class A first round.
Coach: Victor (Coach Flee) Norflee II (17-57, third season)
Top returners: DaSiah White Sr. G (recorded his 1000th point last year, 18.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 assists); Ibrahim Hakizimana Sr. G (6.0 ppg); Jesse Lynn Jr. G (scored team-high 14 points in sectional game).
Top newcomers: Corey Faison Jr. G; Messiah Legacy Jr. G; Joshua Ellington Jr. F; Joseph Baldrich Sr. F; Linus Flood Sr. G; Darius Harris Sr. F; Jamair LeMaine Jr. G.
First game: Tuesday, December 3rd vs. Padilla HS.
Outlook: The Wildcats have depth and experience at each position and should be fun to watch. DaSiah White, the team’s leading scorer from a year ago, wants to add to his career mark and become the school’s all-time leading scorer. He will have plenty of help with scoring from Ibrahim Hakizimana. Wilson likes to play fast with an emphasis on defense.
WORLD OF INQUIRY GRIFFINS
Last season: Finished 10-12, lost to Mynderse in B1 semifinals.
Coach: Willie Mason (28-35, 4th season)
Top returners: Jaedon Adams-Griffin Sr. G (four-year starter on varsity, four shy of 1,000 career points).
Top newcomers: Kanaz Linder Sr. F/G; Curtis Bell Jr. G.
First game: December 3rd vs. Early College
Outlook: The Griffins have set their sights on making a strong push in Class B this year after last year’s setback in the semifinals. World of Inquiry will lean on the senior leadership of Kanaz Linder and Jaedon Adams Griffin.
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