The 2024 Preview contains:

– Commentary

– What's New

– Player Movement

– Returning 2023 All-Centercourt Players

– 25 More Players to watch in 2024

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

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

– Coaching Changes

– Classification Changes

– Preseason Top 10 Large & Small Schools

– Predictions

Commentary

When I tell the story of how Centercourt came to be, one of the words that always comes out in the process is relationship.  It’s impossible for me to describe what I do all winter without using the word relationship, because it’s such a big part of what makes this time of the year special to me.  As I now enter my 17th year of coverage, it is with a very heavy heart.  Over a decade long stretch of my first 16 years on the high school scene, the most organic friendship I ever formed and enjoyed was with Coach Gabe Michael.  I’m forever grateful for this time each winter that my life provides me and Coach Gabe was a true blessing in the lives of so many.  I thank God for placing that relationship in my life.  I love you Coach Gabe, Woooo! 

****

In the late 1980's when I was still young, I was fortunate enough to see the great Ritchie Campbell play for the Burgard Bulldogs multiple times.  The legendary scorer began his high school career at Desales in Lockport, before finishing in the City of Buffalo at Burgard, where his high school career ended with 2,355 points.  He set and held the all-time WNY scoring record, and it was a mark that stood for 28 years. 

Exactly 21 months later, the clock on history would start again when a seventh grader at West Seneca East scored 21 points in his first ever varsity contest. That young man was Jaiden Harrison, now the standout for the defending Manhattan Cup Champion Timon Tigers, after transferring there following his freshman season in West Seneca.  Harrison enters the final season of his brilliant high school career and it could truly be a special one for him.  His team, which competed for a Catholic state championship in 2023, returns three Top 25 players and is widely considered by myself and anyone with a basketball pulse to be the best team in the area entering the season.  Harrison has an opportunity to not only lead his team to a repeat of last season's success, but also beyond with that state championship appearing to be an attainable goal. 

The other thing that is most attainable is the all-time scoring record.  Harrison stands just 450 points shy of history, and with a guaranteed 25 games this season assuming health, he would need to average just 18 points per outing to get there.  For some perspective, Harrison averaged 22.1 per outing as a junior.  If he simply continues to score at his average from last season, the all-time record would fall in his 20th game of the 2024 season.  His 19th game this season is in the 6th Annual Centercourt Classic…

****

On the afternoon of the 5th Annual Centercourt Classic during the 2023 season, I was asked as the second game of the afternoon was winding down, if I thought the third game would be a blowout.  The contest featured Nichols taking on a little small school from the Southern Tier, called Randolph.  My reply was simple, "I wouldn’t have scheduled the game if I expected a blowout".  In the most entertaining game of the event, Randolph claimed an overtime victory.  The Cardinals went on to win the NYSPHAA Class C state championship.  How rare is it for a Section VI public school to win a state championship?  It’s something that has only happened 9 times since 2008 and was just the fourth time it’s happened in a decade. 

Despite Randolph’s ultimate success at both the state level and in the Classic last season, the inevitable chirps could still be heard following the release of the All-Centercourt Team about kids on “bad” teams playing no competition and running up numbers.  I can tell you from experience, there’s nothing quite like taking a long drive to the Southern Tier, watching great basketball, and then returning home to hear shortsighted comments.  Just to provide some basic context, Nichols had wins at Canisius & Aquinas and vs. St. Joe’s on its résumé last season.  Randolph had losses to Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone last season.  Fredonia advanced past Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone and also a talented group from Lew-Port to advance in the state playoffs.  My point here is a simple one, some of the best best basketball in WNY is taking place in the CCAA leagues.  The 2024 season features three current players who have already achieved First Team All-State honors in their playing careers:  Westfield's Carson Swanson, Randolph's Drew Hind and Salamanca's Lucus Brown.  Take a road trip to the Southern Tier sometime and enjoy it for yourself, or just take my word for it.

*******************

What's New ??

The Centercourt Classic venue shifts to St. Joe's and will be broken into three sessions, with one on Friday, February 2nd and two sessions on Saturday, February 3rd.

Regionals are hosted by Section VI this season at Buff State and with the addition of Class AAA, regionals are now a two-night event, Friday & Saturday, March 8th & 9th.

 The Manhattan Cup Playoffs will follow a format very similar to last season.  The biggest difference this season being the semifinals and championship game (tentatively at Canisius College) are both dropped right in the middle of Buff State Week.  The top two seeds from the regular season will receive a bye directly to the semifinals.  Any team that wins 8 league games is automatically in Class AA.  The winner of the Manhattan Cup Final advances to the CHSAA Class AA state semifinal. 

There will be one game played the night after the Manhattan Cup Final to determine the MMA state representative for the CHSAA Class A state championship game.

Timon & Nichols are both considered Class AA by the NYSSWA for the purposes of state rankings & end-of-season all-state selections.  

The NYSPHAA has added a sixth classification.  There will now be a Class AAA with a grand total of two squads duking it out for the right to advance to the Far West Regional.  The addition has shaken up the entire landscape of where teams are classified, with over half the teams in Section VI moving to a new classification.

A fifth ECIC division (ECIC V) has been added with a pair of charter schools (Global Concepts & Tapestry) joining the existing 29 teams in ECIC.  With 31 teams, a fifth division allows teams more freedom to schedule nonleague contests.

The race for the Charter Cup is over.  Three of the five teams that once vied for the Cup now moved into existing leagues and there is no longer a home & home series scheduled between all of those schools.

This season, the Section VI Class D Quarterfinals will be played one night earlier than usual, taking place on Thursday, February 22nd.  The rest of the sectional quarterfinals are evenly spread out over the following two days.

Every night of Buff State Week will now feature triple-headers.  Games will begin each evening at 5 pm, 15 minutes earlier than the traditional triple-header start times of the past. 

Championship Friday now includes 3 games at Buff State.  The evening begins with one girls final, followed by boys championship tilts in Class AAA and Class A1.

Championship Saturday now concludes with a pair of Class AA Finals in Class AA1 & Class AA2.

Crossover Tuesday is now a triple-header with the addition of the split Class AA adding the third game that will follow crossovers in Classes B & A.

Glens Falls now features 18 games over four days and for the first time, starts on a Thursday night!!

West Valley is back.  After combining with Ellicottville in recent seasons, the Wildcats return to Section VI hoops for 2024 season in Class D.

Archbishop Walsh has closed its doors.  The private small school from the Southern Tier had a varsity basketball program and some of those players will be on rosters Section VI teams from that area this season.

Not much varsity to varsity player movement that I'm aware of from last season.  However, three names that did change teams and will positively help their new programs are Jordan Alexander (Second Team All-CC in '23 moves from Amherst to Lancaster), Payton Bradley (Cattaraugus-Little Valley to Salamanca) and Laferald Hines (St. Francis to Lackawanna).

******************************************

League changes

Niagara Falls:  NFL  —>  Independent

Health Sciences:  Charter Cup  —>  Yale Cup I

Tapestry and Global Concepts:  Charter Cup  —>  ECIC V

Maritime and BASCS:  Charter Cup  —>  Independent

West Seneca West:  ECIC I  —>  ECIC II

Williamsville South & West Seneca East:  ECIC II  —>  ECIC III

Iroquois:  ECIC II  —>  ECIC IV

Lackawanna & Depew:  ECIC III  —>  ECIC IV

East Aurora:  ECIC III  —>  ECIC V

Holland, JFK, Eden,  & Cleveland Hill:  ECIC IV  —>  ECIC V

West Valley:  joins CCAA II East

*********************************************************

Returning All-Centercourt Talent

***  Over 1/3 of the 2023 All-Centercourt Top 60 return to the WNY high school hoops scene this season, including 6 of the Top 11 players, 9 of the Top 25 players , & 13 more players that received Honorable Mentions following last season. 

Returning First Teamers

Jaiden Harrison – Timon, Senior

Junior Season Stats

22.1 PPG

6.9 RPG

4.0 APG

2.6 SPG

The stage is set in South Buffalo for the finale campaign of a brilliant six-year varsity career to be both special and historic in many ways.

Jakye Rainey – Nichols, Senior

Junior Season Stats

27.4 PPG

6.1 RPG

3.6 APG

2.4 SPG

I cannot wait to watch what's in store from this must-see baller in the last of his four varsity seasons after banging 181 treys the last two seasons and scoring over 50 points on three occasions as a junior.

Returning Second Teamers

Jordan Alexander – Lancaster, Senior

Junior Season Stats

23.2 PPG

5.7 RPG

3.5 SPG

2.1 APG

After leading Amherst in the Far West Regional a season ago, Alexander moves to Lancaster to lead the Legends in the against Niagara Falls in the new Class AAA after chasing a league title in ECIC I.

Lucus Brown – Salamanca, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

20.5 PPG

7.2 RPG

2.8 SPG

2.0 APG

Already the school's all-time scoring leader, Brown enters his 5th varsity season on a mission to return to Glens Falls in a higher classification after leading the Warriors there in Class C as a sophomore.

Amir Moye – Health Sciences, Sophomore

Freshman Season Stats:

17.9 PPG

4.3 APG

4.0 RPG

2.0 SPG

As a varsity freshman, Moye consistently displayed an all-around skill set at both ends and a court sense beyond his years.  His game is the perfect blend of poise & athleticism.  

Jacob Humphrey – Timon, Senior

Junior Season Stats:

15.6 PPG

3.4 APG

3.0 SPG

2.5 RPG

An absolute dog that challenges the opposition every second he's on the floor.  The floor general and emotional leader of the Tigers, capable of taking the game over himself when the team needs that spark.

Returning Third Teamer

Nakyhi Harris – Timon, Junior

Sophomore Season Stats:

18.7 PPG

6.8 RPG

2.9 APG

1.9 SPG

An natural scorer with a slashing style that is impossible to stop when he gets moving down hill.  His arrival at Timon last season shifted the balance in the Monsignor Martin Association, where the Tigers are now considered the best team in Buffalo.

Returning Fifth Teamers

Drew Hind – Randolph, Junior

Sophomore Season Stats:

17.1 PPG

6.1 RPG

4.0 APG

3.3 SPG

Earned First Team All-State honors as the floor general who guided the Cardinals to the NYSPHAA Class C state championship in 2023, dishing 8 assists (including the winning dime) in the victory. 

Carson Swanson – Westfield, Junior

Sophomore Season Stats:

27.7 PPG

5.9 RPG

5.1 SPG

4.1 APG

Erupted in his sophomore season as the team's only returning starter after reaching the Far West Regional as a freshman.  A competitor who makes everyone around him better and routinely destroys defenses game-planned against him.

Returning 2023 Honorable Mentions

Derek Ebersole – North Collins, Senior

23.4 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 3.9 APG / 3.1 SPG * as a junior

Ray Cortes – Silver Creek, Senior

23.1 PPG / 12.5 RPG / 2.8 APG / 2.4 SPG  * as a junior

Shamere Davis – MST Seneca, Senior

18.5 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.1 APG  * as a junior

Parker Rey – Nichols, Senior

16.4 PPG / 10.3 RPG / 2.0 APG / 1.0 SPG / 1.0 BPG  * as a junior

Sajon Beasley – McKinley, Senior

16.4 PPG / 3.0 APG / 2.7 SPG / 1.8 RPG  * as a junior

Nate Errington – Frontier, Senior

15.7 PPG / 12.6 RPG / 1.2 SPG / 1.0 BPG  * as a junior

Davion White – Fredonia, Senior

13.9 PPG / 6.7 RPG / 2.1 APG / 1.3 SPG  * as a junior

Daryl Montgomery – Cheektowaga, Senior

 13.6 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 1.7 APG / 1.0 SPG  * as a junior

Omarion Ralands – Niagara Falls, Senior

11.9 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.8 APG  * as a junior

Shawn Watson – Niagara Wheatfield, Senior

11.3 PPG / 8.5 RPG / 2.9 APG / 1.6 SPG  * as a junior

Sam Platt – Pioneer, Junior

19.5 PPG / 8.4 RPG / 1.8 APG / 1.5 SPG  * as a sophomore

Jaydian Johnson – Jamestown, Junior

12.9 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 3.7 APG / 2.0 SPG  * as a sophomore

Justus Kleitz – Iroquois, Sophomore

17.4 PPG / 3.2 RPG / 2.7 APG / 2.5 SPG  * as a freshman

*************************************************************************

25 More Players to Watch

More impact players for 2024 not already mentioned above

Jarrell Green – Park, Senior

Chris McDonald – Orchard Park, Senior

Ephraim Strong – Niagara Falls, Senior

Ben Dickinson – Newfane, Senior

Michael Whitt – Health Sciences, Senior

Sean Gilmartin – Clarence, Senior

Mason Evans – Williamsville East, Senior

Cameron D'Hilly – Cleveland Hill, Senior

Emir Lindsay – IPrep, Senior

Jussean Pearsall – East, Senior

Mike Hahn – Fredonia, Senior

Luke Walck – Niagara Wheatfield, Senior

David Washington – Hutch Tech, Senior

Trekwon Guilford – Burgard, Senior

Nicholas Purdie – Canisius, Junior

Jaymier Goosby – St. Joe's, Junior

Gioni Zelasko – St. Joe's, Junior

Antonio Andrews – Amherst, Junior

Sam Platt – Pioneer, Junior

Jaykwon Kyle – Middle College, Junior

Stash Foster – Williamsville North, Junior

Cohen Vogel – Starpoint, Junior

Carter Brink – Panama, Junior

Charlie Croff – Lockport, Sophomore

Benjamin Gerstung – Akron, Sophomore

***********************************************

League-By-League:  Returning All-League Talent 

Monsignor Martin Association

Large Schools – CLASS AA

Timon - Jaiden Harrison 12, Jacob Humphrey 12, Nakyhi Harris 11

Nichols - Jakye Rainey 12, Parker Rey 12

St. Joe's – Jaymeir Goosby 11, Gioni Zelasko 11

St. Francis – Jerimiah Neely 12

Canisius

Small Schools – CLASS A

The Park School – Jarrell Green 12

St. Mary's 

Cardinal O'Hara 

Section VI

YALE CUP I

Health Sciences – Michael Whitt 12, Montrice Webster 12, Dwayne Thrist 12, Jakari Lott 11, Amir Moye 10

McKinley – Sajon Beasley 12, Davonte Hughes 11

East – Jussean Pearsall 12

I-Prep – Emir Lindsay 12

Hutch-Tech – David Washington 12, Yarsiah Kerkulah 12

Middle College – Jaykwon Kyle 11, Zymir Purdue 11, Desean Johnson 10

Bennett 

South Park  

YALE CUP II

Burgard - Trekwon Guilford 12, Ashton Taylor 12, Najai Starks 12, Maurice Woods 11, Demario Gray 11

MST Seneca –  Shamere Davis 12

Olmsted - Ezekiel Alexander 12, Tacari McCray 10, Izeal Bullock 11, 

City Honors -  Karin Saminur 12

Buffalo Arts - Jordan Rodgers 12, Jalen Robinson 12, Jaiden Daniels 11

Riverside – Anthony Cabell 11, Nelson Camacho 11, Javon Elliott 10

Emerson – Cincere Brown 12, Jamiere Robinson 11

ECIC I

Jamestown – Jaydian Johnson 11

Lancaster – Jordan Alexander 12

Clarence – Sean Gilmartin 12

Williamsville North – Stash Foster 11

Orchard Park – Chris McDonald 12

Frontier - Nate Errington 11

ECIC II

Amherst – Antonio Andrews 11

Starpoint - Cohen Vogel 11, Jack Kempf 11

Williamsville East – Mason Evans 12

Hamburg – Evan Meader 12, JacobKhuu  

Sweet Home –  Tysean Viverette 12

West Seneca West – Ryan Vanderlip 

ECIC III

Pioneer – Dalton Giboo 12, Sam Platt 11, Karter Giboo 10

Williamsville South – Michael Munzert 12, Nate Wilemski 10

Cheektowaga 

Maryvale - Malachi Ladson 12

Lake Shore 

West Seneca East 

ECIC IV

Iroquois - Justus Kleitz 10

Lackawanna  

Depew

Springville - Max Perry 12

Alden – Tim Boucher 12

Tonawanda – Casey Wright 12

ECIC V

East Aurora – Hunter Gould 12

Holland – Dax Bengart 12, Brady Wiskup 11

Cleveland Hill -  Cameron D'Hilly 12

Eden – Taesyn Slating 12, Chris Krencik 11, Kobe Genco 8

Global Concepts - Kobe Torres 12, Darius Brown 12

Tapestry  Nahsaan Young 10

JFK – Kamauri Avery 12, Michael Mingle 11

Niagara Frontier League

Niagara Division

Niagara Wheatfield – Shawn Watson 12, Luke Walck 12

Lockport 

North Tonawanda  

Kenmore West – Nick Argenio 12

Frontier Division

Lew-Port  

CSAT 

Kenmore East  

Grand Island – Jayce Wylke 11

Niagara-Orleans

Newfane – Landon Braman 12, Ben Dickinson 12, Nate Snow 12, Konner Courtemanche 12

Roy-Hart – Remington Albee 12

Barker – Luey Castro 12, Aiden Mescall 12

Wilson – Blake Martin 12

Akron – Trace Hill 12, Benjamin Gerstung 10, Blake Gerstung 10

Albion – Blake Preston 12

Medina 

CCAA I West 

Salamanca – Lucus Brown 12, Jaxson Ross 12

Olean

Fredonia –  Davion White 12, Mike Hahn 12

Allegany-Limestone – Michael Frederick 12, Carson Kwiatkowski 11

Southwestern 

Dunkirk – Greg Orcutt 11

CCAA I East

Randolph – Roan Kelly 12, Drew Hind 11, Griffin Nelson 11

Silver Creek - Ray Cortes 12 

Frewsburg – Gavin Smith 12, Garrett Brink 12

Falconer – Mathis Baehr 11, Roger Markham 10

Portville 

Cassadaga Valley - Hunter Johnson 12, Ace Pierce 12

Gowanda - Quentin Centner 12

CCAA II West 

Panama -  Bryce Hinsdale 11, Carter Brink 11, Alex Barmore 11, Tate Cantanese 11

Clymer – Jonathan Massing 12

Westfield – Logan Tuah 12, Carson Swanson 11

Sherman 

Chautauqua Lake - Nick Jacobson 10

Maple Grove - Marcus Laney 12

Brocton - Michael Garcia 11, Jeremy Weisner 11

CCAA II East 

Ellicottville - Owen Chudy 12

North Collins – Derek Ebersole 12

Franklinville – Noah Shenk 12, Beau Bielecki 12, Bretton Blecha 11

Forestville 

Cattaraugus-Little Valley - Payton Bradley 10

Pine Valley - Jon Sheldon 12, Miles Volk 12

West Valley

Independent Teams

Niagara Falls

Maritime - Jamayne Corbett 12, LeSean Braxton 11

BASCS

*********************************************

Teams with New Coaches (13)

St. Joe's - Cooper Calzonetti

Jamestown – Billy Miley

St. Mary's - Frank Propis

Ken East - Daniel Hannon

Maryvale - Andrew Crombie

West Seneca East - Dathan Madding

JFK – Skeet Whitlow

Chautauqua Lake - Devin Pope

Maple Grove - Graham Soffel

Global Concepts - Joe Scarsella

Cassadaga Valley - Jake Wilcox

West Valley - Alex Marino

BASCS - Conor Wood 

***************************************

Classification Changes (62)  

(54 of the 91 teams from Section VI move up in classification)

5 Teams move up from Class A to Class AA:

Timon, Nichols, Canisius, St. Joe's, & St. Francis

3 Teams move up from Class B to Class A:

St. Mary's, Cardinal O'Hara, & The Park School

2 Teams move up from Class AA to Class AAA:

Niagara Falls and Lancaster

3 Teams move up from Class A1 to ClassAA1:

Niagara Wheatfield, McKinley, and Hutch Tech 

7 Teams move up from Class A1 to Class AA2:

Williamsville East, North Tonawanda, Ken West, West Seneca West, Hamburg, Sweet Home, and I-Prep

1 Team moves up from Class A2 to Class AA2:

Starpoint

4 Teams move up from ClassB1 to Class A1:

Cheektowaga, Pioneer, Lake Shore, & Riverside 

11 Teams move up from Class B1 to Class A2:

Lew-Port, Lackawanna, Olean, Depew, Maryvale, Dunkirk, City Honors, Iroquois, Tonawanda, Alden, and Albion 

1 Team moves up from Class B2 to Class A2:

Springville

9 Teams move up from Class B2 to Class B1:

Fredonia, Newfane, Akron, Southwestern, Bennett, Olmsted, Medina, Burgard, and Buffalo Arts

1 Team moves up from Class C to Class B1:

BASCS

7 Teams move up from Class C to Class B2:

East, Silver Creek, Wilson, MST Seneca, JFK, Portville, and Maritime 

8 Teams move up from Class D to Class C: 

Panama, Westfield, Ellicottville, Maple Grove, Barker, Franklinville, North Collins, and Brocton 

****************************************

Preseason Rankings

**  Seven of the 10 teams that appeared in the 2023 Preseason Large School Rankings were Top 10 teams when the season ended (although two I missed were Timon & Nichols…had they been large from the start, it would've been 9 of 10), and I was 4 of 10 predicting Top 10 small schools in 2023 — but again, Timon & Nichols were my preseason 1 & 2 among the small schools).

Large Schools

1. Timon

2. Health Sciences

3. Canisius

4. Niagara Falls

5. Nichols

6. Amherst

7. St. Joe's

8. Clarence

9. Jamestown

10. Orchard Park

Small Schools

1. Randolph

2. Fredonia

3. Salamanca

4. Newfane 

5. Cardinal O'Hara

6. Panama

7. Park

8. Westfield

9. Akron

10. Bennett

**************************************

Predictions

* The 2023 Preview correctly predicted 9 of the 13 league champions

MMA - Timon

Yale Cup I – Health Sciences

Yale Cup II - MST Seneca

ECIC I – Jamestown

ECIC II - Amherst

ECIC III – Pioneer

ECIC IV - Lackawanna

ECIC V – East Aurora

NFL – Niagara Wheatfield

N-O – Newfane

CCAA I West – Salamanca

CCAA II West - Panama

CCAA I East - Randolph 

CCAA II East – Franklinville

*********************************************

* I was 6 of 8 predicting these end-of-year champions in the 2023 Preview

Manhattan Cup

Final Two:

Canisius & Timon

** Timon **

Class AAA

Final Two:  

Niagara Falls & Lancaster

** Niagara Falls **

Class AA1

Final Four:  

Orchard Park, Jamestown, Clarence, & McKinley

** Clarence **

Class AA2 

Final Four:

Starpoint, Health Sciences, Williamsville East, & Ken West

** Health Sciences **

Class A1  

Final Four:  

Amherst, Williamsville South, Pioneer, & Cheektowaga

** Amherst **

Class A2

Final Four:  

Olean, Lackawanna, Depew, & Iroquois

** Lackawanna **

Class B1

Final Four:

Fredonia, Akron, Newfane, & Bennett

** Newfane **

Class B2 

Final Four:

Salamanca, Allegany-Limestone, East, & Tapestry

** Salamanca **

Class C

Final Four:

Randolph, Panama, Westfield, & Holland

** Randolph **

Class D

Final Four:  

Pine Valley, Clymer, Sherman, & Forestville

** Clymer **

-centercourt