The 2022 Preview contains:

– Commentary

– What's New

– Player Movement

– Returning 2021 All-Centercourt Players

– 20 Players to watch in 2022

– A League-by-League look at returning All-League selections

(MMA, Yale Cup, ECIC,  NFL, N-O, CCAA, & Charters)

– Coaching Changes

– Classification Changes

– Preseason Top 10 Large & Small Schools

– Predictions

 

Commentary

The finish to the 2020 season and the start of the 2021 season had something in common – blindsides.  Three nights prior to the March 2020 shut downs, I was watching games at Buff State.  One week prior to the start of the 2021 season, I was sitting on my couch, watching college basketball games played in empty arenas, with no real optimism of high school sports being played in the near future.  

The end of 2020 quite simply felt like we were robbed.  There was just no opportunity to further the championship aspirations that our winning teams had.  Then, after nearly a year of mandates and restrictions, the 2021 season initially felt like a gift.  Coaches and players were just grateful for any sense of normalcy and the opportunity to compete.  But the reality is, the 2021 season allowed for even less of a regular season, and an even shorter postseason.  Initially, no fans were allowed, which was amended to a pair of family members per player for the last few weeks.

The 2021 season was truly unlike any other.  No tournaments or major events, and no state rankings, because the only thing that mattered was how you stacked up in your own area.  The photos commemorating the season show players wearing chin straps, with bleachers that were never pulled out in the background.  And not a single repeat champion in any of the nine classifications in Section VI or in the Manhattan Cup, which has never happened in my 17 years on the scene. 

But on the positive side of things, some teams had an opportunity to win their final game on their home court.  The very best pictures that came out of last season are the ones of players cutting down the nets – something I had never seen before in high school basketball, and it was really cool!  Much was made early in the pandemic of heroes, usually referring to healthcare workers or those who are still getting to work when most of the world was shut down.  Well in the high school basketball world last year, I felt like the AD's & coaches were heroes.  Administrators scrambled to put a schedule together and make everything work.  The coaches demonstrated just how much they cared about their players and how dedicated they were to coaching the sport.  And one thing I can testify to from the 49 games I was able to witness in person, along with countless live streams I watched from home, the product on the court wasn’t compromised.  It was still basketball and the kids played their butts off!  To all the coaches, players, and administrators who made last season possible, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you.

Having seen only about a third of the action I'd normally get to last year, and being forced to pick which championship game I would attend instead of seeing them all, my grasp of the high school basketball world isn’t what it normally is at this time of year.  This is the latest I’ve ever produced a season preview, due at least in part, to the feeling that I’m shooting with my back to the basket.  So if I didn’t predict your team to win anything, that might be a good thing.

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What's New ??

– Fans are back!  Events are back!!  Even state playoffs are back!!!

– The Centercourt Classic lineup for this season is bigger & better than ever.  The annual event is scheduled for February 4th & 5th at Hamburg High School.

– Regionals return to Buffalo for the first time since 2018!!  The 2020 season ended unceremoniously one day before Buff State was set to host 5 Far West Regional games and 2021 was a condensed seven-week season ending with sectional championships.

– The Manhattan Cup is once again a single tournament with one champion and games will be hosted by the higher seed.  The winner represents our area in the CHSAA Class A state playoffs.  A  Class B representative will also be determined via a knock out tournament as Class B teams in the Manhattan Cup Tournament are eliminated.  The caveat being, if a Class B teams reaches the Manhattan Cup Final, they would then face a win-or-go-home scenario. 

– Tapestry receives the charter school bump.  For the first time, the Thunderhawks will compete in Class B, despite having Class C BEDS numbers.  Health Sciences, the first Section VI charter school to be moved up in classification, originally from Class B2 to Class A2, and then all the way up to Class AA last year, returns to Class A2 for the 2022 campaign.

– Class B returns to its usual B1 & B2, after adding a Class B3 for the 2021 season.  Class C loses its traditional C1/C2 split this season and will crown a single champion among the 17 teams on JCC Friday in March, with no Class C crossover game.

 - The Lafayette Violets will not field a team this season.  The talent pool has merged with the Riverside Frontiers, leaving seven teams in Yale Cup II.

– After winning Class A1 a season ago, Hamburg moves into ECIC I, joining West Seneca West as the only Class A1 teams competing against the Class AA squads of that division.

– Iroquois joins ECIC II this season, after earning a league crown in ECIC III last year.

– Tonawanda returns to ECIC IV after one season in ECIC III.

– Springville returns to ECIC III after winning ECIC IV last season.

– The league formerly known as CCAA I East will now be called CCAA Central.  CCAA II East is now just CCAA East.  CCAA West I and CCAA West II are still leagues.  

– Maple Grove & Cassadaga Valley join CCAA Central from CCAA II West. 

– Chautauqua Lake slides into CCAA II West after a year in CCAA I East (now CCAA Central).

– Global Concepts & BASCS are both back in the fold after a year without them.

– After exiting the MMA following the 2019 season and competing as a NYSAIS Class A (Independent) for two seasons, head coach Rich Jacobs (2018 Centercourt Coach of the Year) and AD Marcus Hutchins have both resigned.  The Park School now returns to the IAC (New Life Christian, Stanley G Falk, Gow, CCA, etc) for the first time since 2013.

 

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Player Movement

Key Transfers

Jaiden Harrison:  West Seneca East —-> Timon

Malachi Parker:  Cheektowaga —-> Timon

Jacob Humphrey:  Cheektowaga —-> Timon

Jimmie Green:  Cardinal O'Hara —-> Health Sciences

Tyreke Hopkins:  CSAT —-> Health Sciences

Kydale Staten:  Cheektowaga —-> Health Sciences

Jalen Duff:  Lew-Port —-> Nichols

Parker Rey:  Orchard Park —-> Nichols

Luke Granto:  North Tonawanda —-> Canisius

Johnny Esposito:  Niagara Falls —-> Canisius

Rod Brown:  Sweet Home —-> Niagara Falls

Nicco DiGiulio:  St. Joe's —-> Williamsville South

Massimo Moretti:  Italy —-> St. Mary's

 

Early Prep School Departures

Josh Haskell – St. Joe's

Kamar Goudelock – Timon

Massai Graham – Tapestry

Dom Phillips – East Aurora 

 

Returning Studs

Joe Harrington (Lancaster) & Nick Whitfield (Fredonia) are back after missing their junior seasons (2021) due to injury.  Gabe McCoy (Randolph) returns to the team after playing his junior season in Florida.

 

** 2021 All-Centercourt Defender Brady Kustra of Hamburg suffered a football injury that will force him to miss his senior hoops season **

 

The Players

***  8 of the top 25 players from the 2021 All-Centercourt Team return to the WNY high school hoops scene, along with 13 players that received Honorable Mentions following last season.  

 

Returning First Teamers

Justin Glover – St. Joe's, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

14.1 PPG

7.2 APG

4.6 RPG

2.1 SPG

The four year starter and WNY assist leader in 2021 picked up a D2 offer from Daemen in the offseason after leading the Marauders to their first Manhattan Cup in 13 years.  The All-Centercourt Defender and quickest player in WNY consistently produces against the best teams in the area.

 

 

 

Max Schneider – Williamsville East, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

30.4 PPG

7.2 APG

2.7 SPG

1.9 RPG

After a two-week Covid pause during a seven-game season, he went on an absolute tear while playing back-to-backs and Sunday mornings.  The 2021 WNY scoring leader is only the 2nd player along with Dom Welch to average 30 plus points per game in Class A in over a decade.

 

 

 

 

Returning Second Teamer

Trey Kleitz – Iroquois, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

26.5 PPG

7.3 APG

6.3 SPG

6.0 RPG

Does everything on the hardwood for Iroquois at both ends, stuffing the stat sheet while providing a great example of sportsmanship & leadership.  Set the WNY record for TD passes in a season while leading the Chiefs to consecutive Section VI title games on the gridiron.

 

 

 

 

Returning Third Teamers

Jalen Duff – Nichols, Junior

Sophomore Season Stats:

28.3 PPG

5.0 RPG

3.8 APG

2.0 SPG

A proven scorer with over 1,000 already, Duff is always working and his game continues to flourish.  His combination of shooting, body & ball control, and understanding of the game has him ready to lead the Vikings in the MMA.

 

 

 

 

Xander Fletcher – Niagara Wheatfield, Junior

Sophomore Season Stats:

20.3 PPG

4.8 APG

4.7 RPG

2.8 SPG

Handles the ball like it's on a string, sets up himself & his teammates for easy money, and knocks down shots.  His defensive timing forces turnovers and gets the transition game going for the Falcons.

 

 

 

 

 

Returning Fourth Teamers

Jaiden Harrison – Timon, Sophomore

Junior Season Stats:

21.6 PPG

8.7 RPG

3.3 APG

1.8 SPG

A special talent and future D1 baller who played three varsity seasons at West Seneca East, arrives to keep the Tigers in the Manhattan Cup championship chase.  That WNY scoring record is in big trouble come 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

Declan Ryan – Canisius, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

15.7 PPG

7.9 RPG

1.2 APG

0.5 BPG

0.5 SPG

Looked dominant early om in the 2021 season before suffering an injury on a hustle play.  Outstanding hands & footwork in the paint and an automatic finisher.

 

 

 

 

Returning Fifth Teamer

Bryant Rosa – Riverside, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

24.5 PPG

4.2 APG

2.3 SPG

1.8 RPG

This BPS baller has flown under the radar despite All-State honors as a sophomore and leading the Frontiers to a league title & a sectional championship game appearance in 2021.  A polished player offensively with a great shot.

 

 

 

 

 

Returning 2021 Honorable Mentions

Trevin Boling – Tonawanda, Senior

29.9 PPG / 4.1 RPG / 1.4 APG / 1.3 SPG – as a junior

 

Caleb Chapman – City Honors, Senior

20.1 PPG / 7.9 RPG / 4.1 APG / 3.6 SPG – as a junior

 

TJ Robinson – Niagara Wheatfield, Senior

19.8 PPG / 4.0 RPG / 1.9 APG / 1.6 SPG – as a junior

 

Tyler Curran – Allegany-Limestone, Senior

18.2 PPG / 3.7 RPG / 3.3 APG / 2.2 SPG – as a junior

 

Romeo Bell – Tapestry, Senior

13.8 PPG / 5.5 RPG / 4.8 APG / 3.5 SPG – as a junior

 

Dominic McKenzie – Niagara Falls, Senior

13.6 PPG / 9.3 RPG / 1.3 SPG / 1.0 BPG – as a junior

 

Benjamin Bill – Hamburg, Senior

13.2 PPG / 8.0 RPG / 2.6 BPG / 2.1 APG / 1.1 SPG – as a junior

 

Kevin Thompson – Timon, Senior

12.5 PPG / 5.4 RPG / 1.1 APG / 1.6 SPG / 2.6 BPG – as a junior

 

Jimmie Green – Health Sciences, Senior

12.5 PPG / 6.4 RPG / 2.6 APG / 1.8 SPG / 1.3 BPG – as a junior

 

Solomon Jackson – St. Joe's, Senior

10.1 PPG / 5.5 RPG / 2.1 APG / 0.9 SPG – as a junior

 

Nick Moore – Amherst, Junior

13.4 PPG / 4.8 RPG / 3.3 APG / 2.1 SPG – as a sophomore

 

Lucas Brown – Salamanca, Sophomore

18.3 PPG / 6.2 RPG / 2.4 APG / 2.1 SPG – as a freshman

 

Adam Chiacchia – Hamburg, Sophomore

12.2 PPG / 9.2 RPG / 2.9 APG / 1.8 SPG / 1.3 BPG – as a freshman

 

20 Players to Watch

Here's 20 players not mentioned anywhere above that will be difference makers in 2022

Seth Joba – Orchard Park, Senior

Chris Wright – Cardinal O'Hara, Senior

Lamar Matthews – Tapestry, Senior

Aidan Kennedy – Southwestern, Senior

Zion James – Olean, Senior

Nate Parker – CSAT, Senior 

Teddy McDuffie – Amherst, Senior

Brendan Reid – St. Francis, Senior

Rod Brown – Niagara Falls, Senior

Tyreke Hopkins – Health Sciences, Senior

Nick Mogavero – Iroquois, Senior

Elijah Whitehead – McKinley, Senior

Dan Maku – Riverside, Senior

Darien Swanson – Westfield, Senior

Jasiah Jerocinski – Pioneer, Senior

Rashard Perry – Bennett, Junior

Dorian Facen – Williamsville East, Junior

Luke Granto – Canisius, Junior

Parker Rey – Nichols, Sophomore

Drew Hind – Randolph, Freshman

 

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League-By-League:  Returning All-League Talent 

 

Monsignor Martin Association

 

Large Schools – CLASS A

Canisius - Declan Ryan

St. Joe's -  Justin Glover

St. Francis 

 

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Small Schools – CLASS B

Timon - Kevin Thompson

Cardinal O'Hara – Christopher Wright

 Nichols 

 St. Mary's 

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Section VI

 

Charter Schools

Health Sciences – Nasir West

Tapestry -  Lamar Matthews, Romeo Bell  

Maritime

Global Concepts

BASCS

 

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YALE CUP I

McKinley – Elijah Whitehead, Jahood Martin

South Park –  Javany Rivera

Middle College - Amir Marble, Zamar Ashford

Bennett – Lebrun Northington, Rashard Perry

East – 

Hutch-Tech – TJ Jacobs

I-Prep – Daryl Allen, Angel Serrano

 

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YALE CUP II

Riverside – Bryant Rosa, Dan Maku, Desimon Elston

Olmsted – Ezekiel Alexander, Myrie Harris, Ricky Shanklin

MST Seneca –  Nassir Williams, Marcelino Long

City Honors - Caleb Chapman

Buffalo Arts - Jordan Rodgers

Emerson – Hassan Muktar

Burgard 

 

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ECIC I

Jamestown -  Trey Drake, Jaylen Butera

Hamburg - Benjamin Bill, Adam Chiachia, Evan Chaffee

Orchard Park - Seth Joba, Keegan Mancabelli

Lancaster –  Joe Harrington

Frontier 

Clarence 

Williamsville North 

West Seneca West 

 

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ECIC II

Amherst -  Nick Moore, Gary Johnson

Williamsville East -  Max Schneider 

Iroquois - Trey Kleitz

Sweet Home – Diar Fleming

Williamsville South  

West Seneca East 

Starpoint 

 

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ECIC III

East Aurora - Ryan Esminger

Pioneer – Jasiah Jerocinski

Cheektowaga 

Lake Shore  

Maryvale 

Depew  

Springville

 

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ECIC IV

Lackawanna -  Julienn Clements, Archie Saeed, Ashlin Alexander

Alden – John Watson, Walker Wrest

Tonawanda – Trevin Boling 

Cleveland Hill – Jordan Mann

JFK –  Jacob Krotz

Holland - Jake Gailey

Eden

 

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Niagara Frontier League

Niagara Wheatfield -  TJ Robinson, Xander Fletcher 

Niagara Falls - Dom McKenzie

Kenmore West – Sean Hargrave

CSAT – Nate Parker

Lew-Port - Bobby Beilein

North Tonawanda  

Lockport  

Kenmore East  

Grand Island 

 

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Niagara-Orleans

Medina -  Jarin Rhim, Joe Checchini

Roy-Hart – Aiden Petrie, Gavyn Boyle

Albion – Jahmeek Riley

Barker –  Brad Cantrell

Newfane 

Akron  

Wilson 

 

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CCAA I West 

Olean – Zion James, Kamdyn McClain

Fredonia –  Nick Whitfield, Ethan Fry

Allegany-Limestone -  Tyler Curran, Anthony DeCapua

Dunkirk – Timothy Brown, A'Marion Tell 

Salamanca – Lucas Brown 

Southwestern –  Aidan Kennedy

 

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CCAA Central

Randolph - Jaiden Huntington, Drew Hind

Cassadaga Valley -  Wyatt Harrington, Braden Lebaron

Frewsburg – Zach Winters, Connor Murray, Zach Carr

Maple Grove – Tucker Fenton

Portville - Maxx Yehl

Silver Creek - Matt Woleben

Gowanda - John Ondus

 

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CCAA II West 

Westfield -  Darien Swanson, Ethan Weingart, Cole Holland

Sherman – Gerald Carris, Elijah Kioko

Panama -  Cooper Brown, Carter Brink, Gabe Roth

Clymer -  Austin White, Micah Willink

Brocton  

Falconer 

Chautauqua Lake

 

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CCAA II East 

Cattaraugus-Little Valley – Josh Halterman, Johnny Visnesky

Pine Valley - Kordell Oakes, Bryce Sercu, Wayne Libby

Franklinville –  Blake Frank, Connor Terwilliger

North Collins -  Chris Smith

Ellicottville -  Logan Grinols  

Forestville 

 

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Teams with New Coaches (17)

 

Nichols – Matt Bradshaw

St. Mary's – Ryan Gallo

Cheektowaga – Demario Rhodes

West Seneca West – Reuben Owens

Maritime – Donjuan Tyson

Tonawanda – Rod Middleton

City Honors – Demario Badger

Lew-Port – Pat Krawczyk

Westfield – Nolan Swanson

Cassadaga Valley – Greg Frank

Falconer – Jordan Goold 

 Forestville – Tom Dempsey

Holland – Matt Krotz

JFK – Sean McCowan

Portville – Josh Brooks

Springville – Chris Matthewson

BASCS – Chris Castleberry

 

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Classification Changes (17)

 

Lockport moves down from Class AA to Class A1

Williamsville East moves up from Class A2 to Class A1

Health Sciences moves down from Class AA to Class A2

Emerson moves up from Class B1 to Class A2

Lew-Port moves down from Class A2 to Class B1

Middle College moves up from Class C1 to Class B1

Riverside moves up from Class C1 to Class B1

Burgard moves up from Class B2 to Class B1

Depew moves up from Class B2 to Class B1

Lackawanna moves up from Class B2 to Class B1

Tonawanda moves up from Class B2 to Class B1

Springville moves up from Class B2 to Class B1

Bennett moves down from Class B1 to Class B2

Tapestry moves up from Class C1 to Class B2

Wilson moves down from Class B2 to Class C

Ellicottville moves down from Class C2 to Class D

Westfield moves down from Class C2 to Class D

 

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Preseason Rankings

**  Seven of the 10 teams that appeared in the 2021 Preseason Large School Rankings were Top 10 teams when the season ended, and I was 8 of 10 predicting Top 10 small schools in 2021

 

Large Schools

1. Health Sciences

2. Canisius

3. St. Joe's

4. Niagara Falls

5. Jamestown

6. Hamburg

7. Amherst

8. St. Francis

9. Niagara Wheatfield

10. CSAT

 

Small Schools

1. Timon

2. Nichols

3. Olean

4. Bennett

5. Randolph

6. St. Mary's

7. Cardinal O'Hara

8. Tapestry

9. Allegany-Limestone

10. Salamanca

 

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Predictions

 

MMA - Canisius

Yale Cup I - McKinley

Yale Cup II – Riverside

ECIC I - Jamestown

ECIC II - Amherst

ECIC III – Pioneer

ECIC IV – Lackawanna

NFL - Niagara Falls

N-O – Medina

CCAA I West – Olean

CCAA II West - Westfield

CCAA Central - Randolph 

CCAA East - Ellicottville

 

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I only predicted 3 of the 10 champions correctly in 2021 (Bennett, Fredonia, & Tapestry) – I blame the shutdown

 

Manhattan Cup

It's getting bad.  The swami I am not when predicting the Manhattan Cup winner.  In the last nine years, I've only gotten it right twice.  

** Timon **

 

Class AA 

Final Four:  

Niagara Falls, Orchard Park, Jamestown, & Lancaster

** Niagara Falls **

 

Class A1 

Final Four:

McKinley, Ken West, Hamburg, & Niagara Wheatfield

** Hamburg **

 

Class A2  

Final Four:  

Amherst, Health Sciences, Iroquois, & CSAT

** Health Sciences **

 

Class B1 

Final Four:  

Olean, Lackawanna, Lew-Port, & Riverside

** Olean **

 

Class B2 

Final Four:

Tapestry, Allegany-Limestone, Bennett, & Fredonia

** Bennett **

 

Class C

Final Four:

Randolph, Salamanca, Global Concepts, & MST Seneca

** Randolph **

 

Class D

Final Four to reach JCC:  

Sherman, Ellicottville, Westfield, & Clymer

** Westfield **

 

-centercourt