Who deserves to make All-Centercourt?

Who are these people calling Taplin overhyped? Was Canisius overhyped? How about Howard Washington? Truehart? Johnathan Lewis? Pannebianco?
Canisius lost to Nichols’ C’mon man!
Washington is supposed to be the next Jonny Flynn? And he didn’t even score 10 points in the Cup final.
Same thing for Truehart.
And what about Pannebianco? Will he play Division 1? Probably not do he’s overhyped, right?!
Gimme a break on this overhyped nonsense. Just say that you think you’re son or nephew is a better player than Taplin and then try and explain it.

Jayhawks

Johnathon Lewis exceeded expectations nobody talks about him that much. He had a great senior season and if I’m not mistaken I believe he wasn’t even on the center court First second third fourth our fifth team last year he just got a honorable mention. Shouldn’t he have a shot to get MVP to it seems like everybody just wrote him off and didn’t even give him a thought for MVP.

hwh

I disagree. With all the spouting you and some others have done you could say he’s overhyped too. And how bout the rest of the guys Jayhawk ? You can say they’re all over hyped too. Personally I think it’s a bunch of trash.

Jayhawks

It’s my opinion do you think I care what you think?

Hoop guy

-HWH
All those players you said was over hype lead their teams to better season’s than will north … They all had big wins when taplin took a early exit ( like always ) johnathon Lewis went into rochester and have aquinas 32 on their home court , its two team playing in glens fall right now that he played extremely well against ( 33 on Mec and a win , 24 pts vs olean in game of the year ) lets not forget tyree Tyson went down in vs qt vs aquinas , johnathon kinley and Rasheed Paul never played this season .. They never was too full strength all season … Timon was no match 27 points MVP of the al pasto tourney … He went into Mack high and had 14 points in 2nd half to bring his team back to win where taplin had 4 points in 2nd half … You gotta call a spade a spade … Johnathon Lewis had more big time moments this season they were 18 -3 each of those 3 losses they also beat each one of those teams !!! Taplin is 1 of the best players around but its players who had better seasons ….. #FACTS

hwh

So you think Washington Truehart Pannebianco and canisius are all overhyped too don’t you?

Jayhawks

Why are you bring other players in it where talking about Taplin not the guys you are naming. And them guys lead there teams some where unlike Taplin, and where did Canisius come from they earned the right to be talked about very highly unlike Taplin they actually won some tough games and there resume proves that. Taplin resume proves nothing but a poor senior year and another early exit

hwh

Just shows you how classy the Taplin s are. They don’t respond to your overhype nonsense. You get challenged and u lose ur cool. Funny

hwh

Guy facts are good. Saying someone is overhyped is BS. Stick to the facts. Promote your son, nephew teammate but don’t bs everyone by saying someone is overhyped. That’s just garbage

Jayhawks

@hoopguy Exactly Johnathon Lewis had a lot of big moments and it’s crazy how nobody is even giving him a thought. He played as good as anyone in WNY and he resume proves that, and he is clutch he shows up in the big games unlike Taplin, but I guess small school kids don’t get the credit they deserve. Johnathon Lewis should be MVP because he went from being a honorable mention for center court to a first team player in my opinion and his resume proves he is a first team player. Nobody expected him to have this good of a season and a better senior year then Taplin and it wasnt like he played against small competition, so I have a question why can’t Johnathon Lewis be MVP?

Jayhawks

@hwh can I ask you something? Coming in to this season and the way people where talking and about how Taplin was going to lead will north to glen falls, did you think he was going to take his team farther then where they finished?

Jayhawks

@hwh Taplin is over hyped, he failed expectations that a lot of people where talking him up to be. I don’t know how much you follow college basketball but I’m a huge fan and a lot of people called Andrew Wiggins Kansas Jayhawks wing over hyped because he didn’t surpass expectations same with Jabari Parker from Duke but the people that where hyping there named up and saying how they where going to do all these great things where right Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker lived up to the expectations reports and analyst placed on there back. So there for the people who said they where over rated where wrong, Andrew Wiggins had 41 points 2 days ago 30 points yesterday, and they win games and step up and lead there teams. Kansas is with out there star center Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins stepped up and lived up to expectations but Taplin failed to reach the heights people where talking him up to be so there for he is over hyped.

VCU

First team :
Johnathon Lewis
Bri ‘an brown
Wil Bathurst
Sterling taplin
Zack panebianco
Second team :
Donte Williams
Quin lee yaw
Ryan funk
Howard Washington
Stafford trueheart
Third team :
Cam Lewis
Kevin Briggs
Percy Bryant
Chris miner
Sam eckstrom
Forth team :
Nick Schmidt
Justin hollins
Jake haight
Billy brooks
Tyler English
Fifth team :
Dylan Meyer
Zak ciezki
Luke Hennessy
Varin Leonard
Dom welch

highschoolfan

i agree with olean high nick schidt is a great 3 point shooterand a great basketball player
a couple of other good 3 point shooters are brandon cox from east aurora,jordan nwora from amherst and jr. Zak Ciezki from cheektowaga
zak had 57 3 pointers this year and saved his best for last as he hit a game winning 3 pointer against amherst to help cheektowaga win its 1st ever sectional basketball championship
he also had an nba turn around 3 pointer with 30 seconds left to help cheektowaga win its 1st playoff game against south park
you have to see it go to marquelsports and watch the reaction of the south park coach
zak also broke the school record for 3 pointers with 123 and hopefully more to come next year
zak plays point guard and helps break the press and defensively will guard point guards and being the 2nd tallest starter for cheektowaga he has to guard the centers at times zak works hard on defense and at just under 6 feet had 190 rebounds to go along with 35 block shoots and 51 steals
offensively he had 88 assits and 338 points
zak can do it all and is one of the best all around players and definitly one of the top 25 players in WNY

Lol

@jayhawk well this summer in the rumble un the bronx he went head to head with Isiah whitehead now Isiah had 37 what a performance. Sterling had 27 he is Mr basketball of nys now what is your argument Isiah is mr basketball, not only he averaged 7assist last season in the EYBL. I REALLY THINK YOU ARE LOST WHICH TELLS ME YOU WERE NOT A POINT GUARD

Jayhawks

Taplin played in the EYBL. He only average 8 points and his EYBL team only went 4-14 some leader he is he can’t handle the big boys. He was a non factor in EYBL. And he played for Albany City Rocks who is that we don’t know, he ain’t play for no Boo Williams, Indy Spiece, CP3 all stars, Team Takeover. And did he play in a Elite 24 game, a McDonald All American Game, and if he went up against Emmanuel Mudiay, Tyus Jones, Joel Berry, Kaleb Joseph, Chris Chiozza, Tyler Ullis, Melo Trimble, JaQuan Newton, Justin Coleman, Jordan McLaughlin, Quentin Snider, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dominic MaGee, Josh Perkins, Alex Robinson, Tadric Jackson, Tum Tum, Tra Holder, Ahmaad Rorie, Shelton Mitchell, Larry Austin, Dominique Collier, Anton Beard, Josh Gray he would get shut down like I said before he can’t hang with the big boys and if you knew anything about high school basketball on a national stage you would know Isaiah Whitehead isn’t a great defender just a excellent scorer.

Jayhawks

@lol and just so you know Isaiah Whitehead never won a state championship in his high school career

Jayhawks

Two years ago when Taplin went head to head with Tyler Ennis (Syracuse player) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes( Florida State Player) in AAU he only had 11 points, when he went up against Jabari Bird( California Player) and Shaqquan Aaron( Louisville Commit) he only had 6 points, when him and Tyler Ulis(Kentucky Commit) went at it he only had 2 points, when he went at it with Anthony Cat Barber (NC State player), When he played Allerik Freeman(Baylor Player) Devon Hall( Virginia player) he had 0 points, Kelly Oubre(Kansas commit) he only had 5, JaQuan Lyle( Miami commit) he had 8 points, He only had only had 5 against James Young(Kentucky player), and now for last summer!!! Stanley Johnson(Arizona commit) he only had 2 points, JaQuan Lyle(Miami Commit) and James Blackmon Jr(Indiana commit) he only had 9, Chris McCulloug(Syracuse commit) he only had 3 points, Kelly Oubre(Kansas Commit) he only had 6 points, Jared Terrell(Oklahoma State commit) and Abdul Malik Abu(NC state commit) he only had 8 points, and against Charles Mathews(Kentucky Commit) he only had 5 points!!! SO YEAH LIKE I SAID HE IS OVER HYPED AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER IF HE PLAYED IN A GOOD AREA THAT HAD GOOD PROSPECTS HE WOULD BE A AVERAGE PLAYER!! IN MY PROOF HERE I PROVED I WAS RIGHT ABOUT HIM NOT BEING GOOD AGAINST GREAT COMPETITION AND YOU STILL THINK HE CAN DO THE THINGS HE DOES IN WNY AGAINST GOOD PLAYERS YOUR WRONG…. !!!! Point proving he can’t hang with the big boys!!

hshoops fan

when did this turn into a put down taplin website… the kid is a great player end of discussion. let’s just enjoy the career he had in WNY and not try to project his future in hoops. what he has done in this area for the past 5 years was fun to watch. the fact that he will be playing D1 ball is a great accomplishment in itself, regardless if it is a mid major or not.

Was reading through all the teams this morning that people have put up. 2 things stood out about Jayhawks teams. 1. Who is Larry Feilds on 5th team? 2. Why would Tyree be on any team, much less 1st team?

Plus you dont have Brian Brown from Middle College on any team.

buffsbest

WNY area bball has been weal for years^^^^And no I never could score 20 points plus ..But I know the game.

hwh

Jayhawk you do so much overhyping you have no idea what you’re talking about. Do yourself and everyone here a favor and get lost!

Jayhawks

I backed my talk up with proof enough said…!! Taplin is Over hyped he failed to reach expectations and he look so good because it is WNY and when he goes up against good players from other states he fails to be a factor. And Larry Fields is Lackawanna Center, he is a good player had 23 against Holland, 22 against Tonawanda, 19 against Cleveland hill, 20 points against Batavia, 33 against Eden, and 20 against Fredonia, and Tyree Tyson was having a great season before he went down with injury, 16 against Cleveland hill while he was still banged up. And to answer your other question that was my bad I had my attention focused on other players.

Hakeem Warrick

Tyson might have played what six games this year? 1st team? Try no team. And any idea how many Larry Fields had against world power Gowanda when Lackawanna lost BEFORE the quarterfinals?

Jayhawks

Larry Fields had 13 points against Gowanda, Lackawanna had a 12 point lead at halftime and in the second half there shots wouldn’t go down. Lackawanna has the hardest rims to shoot on and that’s a FACT! You could ask any player that played against Lackawanna at Lackawanna, Clay Lewis from Holland after the game at Lackawanna which is a kid who drills 4 three pointers a game said Lackawanba was the hardest rims he ever shot on. Maybe come out to a Lackawanna game and you’ll see how Larry Fields and Lackawanna play….

HoopsFollower

This is just ridiculous stop the overhype thing
This website is for you to put up your teams for
All centercourt in your opinion not to say he
Isn’t that good or he is overhyped doesn’t make
Sense to do all the other nonsense if your not
Saying anything to prove a player should be on
A team or putting up your team it’s irrelevant with
That being said I will be posting my top 5 shortly
And if you disagree I’ll back it up

brian

I wish more of the critique on the level of play in WNY directed at coaches, from youth to high school, versus players. What is taught, emphasized and allowed has degraded over the years, We need to raise our standards and eliminate the union stranglehold on filling positions. Many of these game are hard to watch with the lack of basic fundamentals.
…And if the critique on my kid was that he only had 8 to 11 points head to head against high D1 commits, I’d be a proud dad and $100-200,000 less stressed. A full ride to any D2 or D1 is a rare and great accomplishment!

From the North

I will for the last time give my reasons why my son should be on the first team if not the POY and will not bash another player in doing so. He has had 5 coaches in his 6 years of playing high school ball. His first two years playing Varsity the roster had seven kids on it. Hard to have a great practice with that. He stats support his position on the first team. He lead his tem to the only undefeated season in in the league this year and in school history. He is what his coach calls a complete player, plays for the LOVE of the game. When they lost in Jamestown a fan posted on facebook that we were out coached. He no longer will talk to that fan. Said we lost the game not the coach. Now I know it’s an uphill battle because I know most of you have never even seen him play and that’s your lost. Jacob Alexander Haight remember that name it won’t be the last time you hear it. Said High School Basketball is over!!!

HoopsFollower

I’m back with my first team finalist
I thought this out really hard hope
You guys agree for many reasons
1st team :
Wil Bathurst
Z. Panebianco
Johnathan Lewis
Sterling taplin
Bri’an brown
These are the guys who I think
Deserve first team in my opinion

hshoops fan

After Panebiancos performance in state semi final game today I dont know how you cant give him the POY award. 31pts against very strong team. Cant wait to see him play tomorrow for title.

Game

he certainly doesnt look like the player he is!!he looks like a middle linebacker who put on sneakers instead of his cleats!….but i hear he does play football and let me tell you….he is smooth as silk. when you are playing against him no matter who you are he can ruin your party. he plays with alot of all the tools that make a great baller….whats sets him apart…….he plays with more heart that nayone….A-N-Y-O-N-E.

Bill Gretzky

FIRST TEAM
Zack Panebianco (J.TOWN) (POY)
Wil Bathurst (OLEAN)
Jonathan Lewis (EAST)
Bri’an Brown (MEC)
Sterling Taplin (W.NORTH)
Most Deserving kids …. They all have had
Great Seasons I’ve watched all 5 play …
Best talents in wny and I also look at The
Big wins they have on they’re schedules
It was a fun season to watch thanks for
Bringing high school bball joy and
Excitement …Great job boys 🙂

FLY

FIRST TEAM :WILL BATHURST, DONTE WILLIAMS,STERLING TAPLIN, BRI’AN BROWN, ZACK PANEBIANO. TOP FIVE PLAYERS IN WNY

Bill Gretzky

@FLY funny you put donte Williams over Jonathan Lewis
Give me your reasons because I have facts on why Jonathan
Is first team over the kid Williams not taking anything
Away from Williams but to me he’s second team
With a lot of other good players

Bill Gretzky

@FLY should I just go back to the
First game of the season vs timon
27 points 7 Rebs and MVP of the
Pastor cooper showcase in a
74-51 victory over bishop timon

Hoop guy

Johnathon Lewis and donte willams faced off this year and east beat timon by 25 points and johnathon got the MVP of that game

FLY

East High played extremely well on their opening day against Timon. Johnathan Lewis was MVP that day, and he is considered a top player in WNY. Donte Williams is my choice for first team.

Game

with respect to the criteria set forth by CC…im not quailified to put up a list but based on massive info and talks with some good hoops people…i rate my guys alittle differentlt which is why im not doing a list because how much heart a kid plays with shows so many things about his desire to play the game…..and in the frist night of games at buff st I came to see a certain player and if i didnt know who he was and listened to all said about him i would call you all nuts!!!BUT..you guys have seen him far more than eye but in what i would say was the biggest game of his life he was “forgetable” and i also know one game dont make or break a guy….who they play agaist is another thing…..and to me…and if you know me…you can win my vote with quaility play….diving for loose balls no matter the score and be the guy to keep your team in the game…to be a first teamer you got to have that….I dont care if you score 25 a game and do no look passes all night….get on the floor, take a charge, play with heart and desire no matter if your up or down…a good player plays the same all the time, he has to his team looks to him. If your having a bad game dont give up because you missed a bunch of layups and put backs…dont play your last game like you wrapped up a first team all wny if your teams down….keep proving to them and all watching who you are….dont show your disappointment in being beaten by a team who was a bit better that night….some of the powers that be will over look that and one game cant erase all you have done,provided youve done so much you can cost across the finishline without making it to the crossover game. The young man from Jamestown who i have watched equally as much as the others played with heart from the tip to the finish in every game….he beat Lockport with that attitude and the fact Lockport went away with what was working or their night was about to end there….But the guy who i at least think is player of the year would be no discussion Zack Panebianco…he wears people down methodically and in the end his form on his shots looks like the first of the night….a true Gamer….if hes not POY….I will have to read and watch more next year.it would be nice to take all the stats of players and post a stat shhet on many guys so more can have a look at the numbers…because the numbers determine who make it happen and get it done and in certain cases there is those few guys who are ranked above any stat sheet because they are special young men. Thanks for letting me off topic but tryin to get my word in as ive not seen the guys enought to be exact on 25 kids. Great showing Section 6..and all who support it from coaches,players,parent,& fans…to the awesome sports journalist and contributors CC, Kieth,MIG, TML…and im sorry i didnt see more of you great writers this year…next year im all in. great Jog everyone here.

BrianC

March 17, 2014

1st Team zack panebianco ; Wil Bathurst ;
Bri’an brown ; johnathan Lewis ; sterling Taplin

fullcourt1

After watching States this week; my view has changed a bit so here is my Revised 1st Team: POY PANEBIANCO; TAPLIN; WILLIAMS; J LEWIS; LEE-YAW. 2ND TEAM: BROWN; ECKSTROM; BATHURST; C LEWIS; WASHINGTON

TML1000

Ha…you’re moving down Bathurst because they got whooped in the state final and Jtown lost a close game? No one in the state could have defended the way Westhill shot on Saturday. Sure, another team may have scored a lot more and made the game close, but to put Bathurst down due to that is a mistake.

Coach K

FIRST TEAM : ZACK PANEBIANCO ; WIL BATHURST ;
BRI’AN BROWN ; JOHNATHAN LEWIS ; STERLING TAPLIN/
DONTE WILLIAMS

ECIC2fan

VCU has 4 Olean players on All WNY team and they lost in finals by 40? They are a great team but no public school will ever have that many top players since they can’t recruit.
Think Coach K and others are spot on for top 5 but should be more interesting discussion on all 5 teams after the actual results are in.

Game

Olean cant recruit…I was under the impression that had a “open Enrollment” policy. I thought that meant that players could come from out of their district. I may be wrong but does Olean have open enrollment and if so what does it mean? Ans as I mentioned before their are a core of players names being tossed artound here like a beachball….these are just kids who played their hearts out for the most part…..can the powers that be….the guys that have the numbers on these guys post them somewhere so alot of this crap calling can be put to rest….Sterling Taplin seems to be on everyones target both for and against…post his numbers….post all the top dogs numbers…im sure most of the know it alls can determine what teams they threw those numbers up against….that would put some credibility to the top players list others than peoples opinions of what they saw at any given game…..numbers dont lie…..they also dont show the heart and determination of some of these players but that can be seen in one game…..i saw it on the first night at Buff St. when a certain player played,looked,and appeared defeated with plenty of time on the clock. When you are considered a 1st team all WNY player you never…ever display those traits…because to be a great players in my book it takes more than a golden stat sheet it requires you to be the guy your team looks to when trouble has come knockin….you never answered the door. a great player carries his team through the good and the bad. Best of luck to all of the players who are being talked up for their good play….your a great group of guys and when you bring leadership with it it makes you a cut above….Zack from Jamestown….your a cut above.

ECICfan

Agreed Game, sorry it wasn’t clear. Your point about heart and determination is a great one.
My point is that it doesn’t make any sense to select 4 players from the same team as all WNY as it doesn’t make mathematical sense no matter how big an Olean fan a poster here is or how good the team was this year.
No team can have 4 All WNY players if looked at objectively.

Ernie

I can’t compete with all these comments but what about some of the talent in the smaller Class B schools in the south towns? I typically only see larger AA schools in WNY OR only north town schools mentioned for consideration. There is a kid by Dylan Meyer who played varsity 4 years, 2 time all league, POY 2014, 455 points 2014 and 2nd all time scorer in school history with just under 1,500 point (1,455) only to Michael Heary who played several more varsity games. Without him they would not have made the Class B sectional championship game.

centercourt

I’m glad you mentioned Dylan Meyer. He was an All-Centercourt Honorable Mention last season and has had a great career at Fredonia. He can do everything and definitely deserves his name in the discussion.

HsHoops…