The 2025 CC MVP
Carson Swanson
Westfield, Senior
31.5 PPG / 8.1 APG / 6.7 RPG / 6.4 SPG / 1.2 BPG
– Three-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 Selection
– Section VI Class C Champion
– CCAA II West Champion
– POY CCAA II West
– MVP of the Section VI Class C Tournament
– MVP at the Centercourt Classic
– MVP of Westfield Winter Classic
– MVP of Southwestern Holiday Tournament
– Led WNY in Scoring
– Led WNY in Assists
– Led WNY in Steals
– Career-high 47 pts in win vs Brocton
– 39 pts, 16 A, & 12 S in triple-double vs Brocton
– 3 games scoring 40+ pts
– 8 games scoring 35+ pts
– 15 games scoring 30+ pts
– 23 games scoring 20+ pts
– 21 games with 6+ assists
– Earned 10 steals in Far West Regional
– 23 games with 4+ steals
– 4 games with 10+ rebounds
– 8 games with 8+ rebounds
– Recorded 2 triple-doubles
– Recorded 10 double-doubles
– All-Centercourt Defender
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
– 2,448 career pts 2nd All-Time in WNY
First Team All-Centercourt
Nicholas Purdie
Canisius, Senior
16.2 PPG / 5.1 RPG / 2.5 APG / 1.1 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 Selection
– Manhattan Cup Champion
– MVP of the Manhattan Cup
– Game MVP at MLK Showcase
– Blue Jay Christmas Classic All-Tournament
– First Team All-Catholic
– Career-high 38 pts in win at Timon
– Scored 31 pts in a win vs Niagara Falls
– Banged the game-winning ‘3’ vs St. Joe’s
– 7 games scoring 20+ pts
– 7 games with 8+ rebounds
– 6 games with 4+ assists
– All-Centercourt Defender
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Nakyhi Harris
Timon, Senior
21.2 PPG / 9.3 RPG / 3.4 SPG / 3.1 APG
– Four-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– POY in the Monsignor Martin Association
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Coaches vs Cancer All-Tournament
– Career-high 35 pts in a win vs Nichols
– 28 pts, 12 R, & 11 A triple-double vs Park
– 29 pts & 14 rebounds in win vs St. Francis
– 7 games with 25+ pts
– 16 games with 20+ pts
– 15 games with 8+ rebounds
– Led the MMA in steals
– 8 steals in wins vs Lackawanna & O’Hara
– 10 games with 4+ steals
– Recorded 13 double-doubles
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
– All-Centercourt Defender
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Jaydian Johnson
Jamestown, Senior
23.0 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 4.8 APG / 2.2 SPG
– Three-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Class AAA Far West Regional Champion
– Section VI Class AAA Champion
– ECIC I Champion
– POY All-ECIC
– POY in ECIC I
– MVP of Section VI Class AAA Tournament
– NYSPHAA Class AAA Tournament Team
– Career-high 34 pts in win vs Frontier
– 3 games scoring 30+ pts
– 11 games scoring 25+ pts
– 17 games scoring 20+ pts
– Grabbed 13 rebounds in a win at Clarence
– 4 games with 8+ rebounds
– Dished 10 assists in win vs Will North
– 4 games with 8+ rebounds
– 7 games with 6+ assists
– 6 games with 4+ steals
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Drew Hind
Randolph, Senior
21.3 PPG / 3.9 RPG / 3.9 APG / 2.6 SPG
– Four-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– CCAA I East Champion
– POY in CCAA I East
– MVP Tully Tournament
– Game MVP of Centercourt Classic
– Section VI Class C All-Tournament Team
– Career-high 42 pts in a win at Gowanda
– 9 made 3-pointers in a win vs Portville
– 9 games with 4+ 3-pointers
– 3 games scoring 30+ pts
– 6 games scoring 25+ pts
– 17 games scoring 20+ pts
– Double figure scoring in all 22 games
– 9 games with 6+ assists
– 3 games with 10+ rebounds
– 11 games with 8+ rebounds
– 8 games with 4+ steals
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
– Career 2,000 point scorer
Nate Blenman
St. Joe’s, Junior
15.9 PPG / 8.9 RPG / 2.0 BPG / 1.3 APG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 Selection
– Monsignor Martin Association Champion
– First Team All-Catholic
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Game MVP at MLK Showcase
– Career-high 32 pts & 18 reb in win vs Jamestown
– 30 pts & 14 reb in Cup Semifinal win vs Nichols
– 26 pts & 20 reb in win vs UPrep
– Blocked 6 shots in win vs Nichols
– 14 games with 8+ rebounds
– 11 games with 10+ rebounds
– 6 games shooting over 70%
– 5 games scoring 20+ points
– Recorded 16 double-doubles
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Second Team All-Centercourt
Carter Brink
Panama, Senior
25.4 PPG / 4.5 APG / 3.1 RPG / 2.5 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– NYSPHAA State Champion
– Class D Far West Regional Champion
– Section VI Class D Champion
– CCAA II West Champion
– MVP of the Section VI Class D Tournament
– NYSPHAA Class D All-Tournament Team
– Career-high 38 pts in the state championship
– 2025 NYSPHAA State Tournament high 68 pts
– Scored 35 pts in a win vs Falconer
– 8 games scoring 30+ points
– 21 games scoring 20+ points
– 5 games with 6+ assists
– 6 games with 4+ assists
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Charlie Croff
Lockport, Junior
20.8. PPG / 8.2 RPG / 3.8 APG / 2.5 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Section VI Class AA1 Champion
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Game MVP at NFL/ECIC Challenge
– Section VI Class AA1 All-Tournament
– Lockport Rotary Club All-Tournament
– First Team All-NFL
– Career-high 37 pts vs Aquinas
– Career-high 37 pts in win vs McKinley
– 6 games scoring 25+ pts
– 14 games scoring 20+ pts
– Career-high 13 rebs in win vs McKinley
– 17 games with 8+ rebounds
– 11 games with 5+ assists
– 9 steals in win vs Hutch-Tech
– 5 games with 4+ steals
– Recorded 6 double-doubles
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Jaymeir Goosby
St. Joe’s, Senior
14.0 PPG / 4.4 RPG / 2.7 APG / 2.5 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Monsignor Martin Association Champion
– First Team All-Catholic
– Career-high 33 pts in win at Timon
– 4 games scoring 20+ pts
– 21 games scoring in double figures
– Earned 6 steals in a win vs Park
– 5 games with 4+ steals
– 7 games shooting 100% on FTs
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Carter Lampke
Williamsville South, Senior
20.2 PPG / 4.8 RPG / 2.6 APG / 1.7 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Section VI Class A Champion
– ECIC III Champion
– First Team ECIC II
– Earned All-ECIC honors
– MVP of Section VI Class A1 Tournament
– Career-high 33 pts in win vs South Park
– Scored 31 pts in Section VI Final win vs GI
– 4 games scoring 30+ pts
– 9 games scoring 25+ pts
– 12 games scoring 20+ pts
– 3 games with 4+ steals
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Tre Paulfrey
Nichols, Junior
21.8 PPG / 5.0 RPG / 4.2 APG / 2.5 SPG
– First Team All-Catholic
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Lockport Rotary Club All Tournament
– Led MMA in scoring
– Career-high 36 pts in win vs St. Francis
– 10 games scoring 25+ pts
– 16 games scoring 20+ pts
– Shot 53% on FG
– 17 pts, 10 R, & 8 A in win vs Dunkirk
– 7 games with 6+ assists
– 6 games with 4+ steals
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Third Team All-Centercourt
Patrick Cullinan
Canisius, Senior
14.5 PPG / 3.3 RPG / 2.2 APG / 1.0 SPG
– Manhattan Cup Champion
– First Team All-Catholic
– MVP of Tom Kenan Tournament
– Game MVP Centercourt Classic
– Career-high 33 pts in win vs Jamestown
– 7 made 3-pointers in win vs Park
– 7 games scoring 20+ pts
– Dished 8 assists in win at Timon
– 84% FT shooter
– 11 games 100% FT
– 8 games over 60% FG
– 14 games over 50% on 3’s
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
John Strong
Niagara Falls, Junior
14.0 PPG / 7.6 RPG / 4.5 APG / 2.3 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Game MVP at Cataract Classic
– Career-high 31 pts in win at Nichols
– Section VI Class AAA All-Tournament
– Game-high 26 pts in Class AAA Final
– 5 games with 10+ rebounds
– 11 games with 8+ rebounds
– Dished 10 dimes vs Lower Merion
– 5 games with 6+ assists
– Earned 6 steals in win at St. Mary’s
– Recorded 4 double-doubles
– Led Falls in pts, rebs, assists, stls, & blks
– All-Centercourt Defender
Jayce Wylke
Grand Island, Senior
21.2 PPG / 3.7 RPG / 2.9 SPG / 2.1 APG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– NFL Champion
– POY in NFL
– MVP of CCA Tournament
– Game MVP at Cataract Classic
– Section VI Class A1 All-Tournament
– Career-high 32 pts in win vs Will North
– 6 games scoring 25+ pts
– 16 games scoring 20+ pts
– 23 games scoring in double figures
– 7 games with 4+ steals
– Led Grand Island to record 21 wins
– Led Grand Island to first NFL title
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Elijah Farmer
Jamestown, Junior
15.4 PPG / 10.3 RPG / 2.6 APG / 1.8 BPG / 1.5 SPG
– Class AAA Far West Regional Champion
– Section VI Class AAA Champion
– First Team ECIC I
– Earned All-ECIC Honors
– Career-high 26 pts vs St. Joe’s
– Scored 25 pts vs Canisius
– 5 games with 20+ pts
– Career-high 19 rebounds in win at Frontier
– 14 games with 10+ rebounds
– 17 games with 8+ rebounds
– Dished 8 assists in win at Will North
– 4 games with 6+ assists
– 3 games with 4+ steals
– 5 games with 3+ blocks
– Recorded 11 double-doubles
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Tacari McCray
Olmsted, Junior
23.3 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 4.7 SPG / 3.6 APG
– Yale Cup II Champion
– POY in Yale Cup II
– Section VI Class B1 All-Tournament
– Career-high 37 pts in win vs Bennett
– 32 pts in win vs Middle College
– Averaged 29 pts in 3 playoff games
– 22 pts, 11 S, & 10 R triple-double vs Burgard
– 5 games scoring 30+ pts
– 8 games scoring 25+ pts
– 15 games scoring 20+ pts
– 16 games with 4+ steals
– 8 games with 7+ rebounds
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Fourth Team All-Centercourt
Nahssan Young
Health Sciences, Junior
12.4 PPG / 5.4 APG / 3.5 SPG / 2.7 RPG
– Section VI Class AA Champion
– Yale Cup Champion
– First Team Yale Cup I
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Season-high 26 pts in a win at Bennett
– Team-high 24 pts in Far West Regional
– 5 games with 10+ assists
– 8 games with 6+ assists
– 11 rebounds in a win at City Honors
– 11 steals in a win at Hutch Tech
– 9 games with 4+ steals
– Recorded 5 double-doubles
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– All-Centercourt Defender
Nate Wilemski
Williamsville South, Junior
13.3 PPG / 7.1 RPG / 4.2 APG / 2.4 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– Section VI Class A Champion
– ECIC II Champion
– First Team ECIC II
– Earned All-ECIC Honors
– Game MVP at Centercourt Classic
– Section VI Class A1 All-Tournament
– Career-high 26 pts in a win vs Starpoint
– 15 pts, 16 R, & 8 A in a win at Will East
– 3 games scoring 20+ pts
– 14 games with 8+ rebounds
– 6 games with 6+ assists
– 4 games with 4+ steals
– Recorded 3 double-doubles
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
– Centercourt Dime Dropper
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Elijah Dixson
Amherst, Senior
20.5 PPG / 5.5 SPG / 4.6 RPG / 3.3 APG
– ECIC II Champion
– First Team ECIC II
– Earned All-ECIC Honors
– Section VI Class A1 All-Tournament
– Career-high 35 pts vs Will East
– 9 games scoring 25+ pts
– 14 games scoring 20+ pts
– 4 games with 7+ rebounds
– 5 games with 6+ assists
– 11 steals in a win vs Clarence
– 10 steals in a win vs Iroquois
– 19 games with 4+ steals
– All-Centercourt Defender
Will Szablewski
St. Mary’s, Junior
19.4 PPG / 7.8 RPG / 3.2 BPG / 2.8 APG / 1.4 SPG
– Two-Time All-Centercourt Selection
– First Team All-Catholic
– Greg Martin All-Tournament Team
– Led the MMA in Blocks
– Career-high 35 pts with 14 reb at Jamestown
– 30 pts, 13 R, & 10 B triple-double at Iroquois
– 29 pts 8 reb, & 8 assists vs Orchard Park
– 28 pts, 12 R, & 8 B in a win vs Lancaster
– 2 games scoring 30+ pts
– 6 games scoring 25+ pts
– 20 games scoring 20+ pts
– 7 games with 10+ rebounds
– 14 games with 8+ rebounds
– 12 games with 3+ blocks
– Recorded 7 double-doubles
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Antonio Andrews
Amherst, Senior
19.4 PPG / 11.8 RPG / 1.7 SPG / 1.5 APG / 1.3 BPG
– ECIC II Champion
– POY in ECIC II
– Earned All-ECIC Honors
– Career-high 33 pts in a win vs Sweet Home
– 22 pts & 20 rebounds in win vs McKinley
– 17 R, 6 B & 6 A in a win vs Cheektowaga
– 2 games with 30+ pts
– 5 games scoring 25+ pts
– 11 games scoring 20+ pts
– 12 games with 12+ rebounds
– 18 games with 8+ rebounds
– Recorded 16 double-doubles
– Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Fifth Team All-Centercourt
Justus Kleitz
Iroquois, Junior
28.9 PPG / 4.5 SPG / 4.4 APG / 3.6 RPG
– Three-Time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– POY in ECIC III
– Earned All-ECIC honors
– MVP of Greg Martin Tournament
– Career-high 47 pts in win vs St. Mary’s
– Scored 45 pts in win vs Lackawanna
– 7 games scoring 30+ pts
– 10 games scoring 25+ pts
– 12 games scoring 20+ pts
– 4 games with 6+ assists
– 8 games with 4+ steals
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Aidan Neumann
Wilson, Junior
21.8 PPG / 2.9 RPG / 2.6 SPG / 2.3 APG
– Section VI Class B2 Champion
– POY in Niagara-Orleans League
– MVP of Section VI Class B2 Tournament
– MVP of Wilson Tip-Off Tournament
– Game MVP at Cataract Classic
– Career-high 40 pts in win vs MST
– 30 pts & 7 steals in a win vs Roy-Hart
– 4 games scoring 30+ pts
– 10 games scoring 27+ pts
– 13 games scoring 20+ pts
– Averaged 25.5 PPG over last 10 games
– 7 games with 4+ steals
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
Derren Brooks
Akron, Sophomore
12.8 PPG / 10.5 RPG / 3.4 BPG / 1.1 APG
– Section VI Class B Champion
– Niagara-Orleans League Champion
– ECIC II Champion
– MVP of Section VI Class B1 Tournament
– First Team N-O
– Career-high 28 pts in win vs BASCS
– 3 games scoring 20+ pts
– Led WNY in blocked shots
– Blocked 8 shots in a win vs NT
– Career-high 22 rebounds in a win vs NT
– 20 games with 8+ rebounds
– Recorded 11 double-doubles
– All-Centercourt Defender
Harlem Brannon
Kenmore West, Junior
17.4 PPG / 6.6 RPG / 3.9 APG / 3.3 SPG
– Two-time All-Centercourt Top 60 selection
– First Team NFL
– MVP of Ken-Ton Tournament
– Career-high 38 pts in a win at NT
– Scored 32 pts in a win at Ken East
– 7 games scoring 20+ pts
– Career-high 16 rebounds in win vs Ken East
– 9 games with 7+ rebounds
– Dished 8 assists vs Will South
– 5 games with 6+ assists
– Earned 6 steals in win vs Grand Island
– 11 games with 4+ steals
– All-time steals leader at Ken West
Carson Kwiatkowski
Allegany-Limestone, Senior
21.0 PPG / 4.1 RPG / 2.7 APG / 1.1 SPG
– POY in CCAA I West
– Section VI Class B2 All-Tournament
– Game MVP at IAABO Showcase
– Career-high 37 pts in Class B2 Semifinal
– Scored 36 pts in win at Southwestern
– 27 pts, 9 R, 6 S, & 5 A in win at MST
– 3 games scoring 30+ pts
– 2 games with 8+ rebounds
– Blocked 4 shots in win at Southwestern
– Centercourt Sniper Squad
– Career 1,000 point scorer
Honorable Mention
Michael Mingle – JFK, Senior
* First Team ECIC V
21.9 PPG / 5.6 RPG / 3.0 APG / 2.7 SPG
Sam Platt – Pioneer, Senior
* POY in ECIC III
20.5 PPG / 10 RPG / 4 APG
Jackson Griesmer – Starpoint, Senior
* First Team ECIC II
19.6 PPG / 3.1 RPG / 1.7 APG / 1.4 SPG
Greg Orcutt – Dunkirk, Senior
* First Team CCAA I West
19.2 PPG / 4.2 RPG / 1.2 APG / 1.0 SPG
Brady Wiskup – Holland, Senior
* POY in ECIC V
16.7 PPG / 7.9 RPG / 2.2 APG / 1.9 SPG
Haile Doucet – MST, Senior
* First Team Yale Cup II
15.9 / 5.3 RPG / 3.7 APG / 2.1 SPG / 1.1 BPG
Caleb Barry – Lockport, Senior
* Centercourt #BOOM Squad
15.2 PPG / 7.7 RPG / 1.6 APG / 1.0 BPG
Zach Maguire – Westfield, Senior
* First Team CCAA II West
15.0 PPG / 11.3 RPG / 3.5 BPG /2.3 APG / 1.5 SPG
Maddox Issac – Salamanca, Senior
* First Team CCAA I West
15.0 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 4.0 APG / 3.3 SPG
Kalen Czelusta – Alden, Senior
* POY in ECIC IV
13.4 PPG / 8.7 RPG / 1.6 BPG / 1.3 SPG
Damien Johnson – Timon, Senior
* All-Catholic Honors
13.1 PPG / 2.7 RPG / 2.5 APG / 2.5 SPG
Cohen Vogel – Starpoint, Senior
* First Team ECIC II
12.8 PPG / 6.2 APG / 4.4 RPG / 3.7 SPG
Kirill Sorkin – Williamsville East, Senior
* Second Team ECIC II
12.8 PPG / 3.4 RPG / 1.8 APG / 0.6 SPG
Aaron Hicks – Timon, Senior
* All-Catholic Honors
12.6 PPG / 2.7 RPG / 2.4 SPG / 1.8 SPG
Bryce Hinsdale – Panama, Senior
* First Team CCAA II West
12.4 PPG / 4.6 APG / 3.3 RPG / 1.9 SPG
Stash Foster – Williamsville South, Senior
* All-Centercourt Defender
12.1 PPG / 5.0 RPG / 3.3 APG / 2.2 SPG
Mekhi Gidney – St. Joe’s, Senior
* All-Catholic Honors
10.7 PPG / 4.1 RPG / 1.5 APG / 1.5 SPG
Maurice Woods – Lockport, Senior
* MVP of Section VI Class AA Tournament
10.3 PPG / 11.2 RPG / 1.7 APG
Alex Barmore – Panama, Senior
* MVP of NYSPHAA Class D State Tournament
8.9 PPG / 9.5 RPG / 1.7 APG / 1.5 BPG / 1.4 SPG
Jahyden Clark – Canisius, Senior
* All-Catholic Honors
7.2 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 3.3 APG / 1.2 SPG
Gionni Zelasko – St. Joe’s, Senior
* All-Catholic Honors
6.7 PPG / 4.7 APG / 3.0 RPG / 1.7 SPG
Trelin Warrior – Gowanda, Junior
* First Team CCAA I East
22.7 PPG / 3.1 RPG / 2.8 SPG / 1.0 APG
Roger Markham – Falconer, Junior
* First Team CCAA I West
21.2 PPG / 4.2 APG / 4.0 RPG / 2.6 SPG
Greydan Barnwell – Lew-Port, Junior
* First Team NFL
18.0 PPG / 4.5 RPG / 4.0 APG / 1.5 SPG
Elijah Greene – Park, Junior
* All-Catholic Honors
17.1 PPG / 9.9 RPG / 1.7 BPG / 1.6 APG / 1.5 SPG
Anthony Johnson – Middle College, Junior
* First Team Yale Cup II
16.3 PPG / 6.1 RPG / 4.7 APG / 3.0 SPG / 1.0 BPG
Dominic Gonzalez – Jamestown, Junior
* First Team ECIC I
16.3 PPG / 3.3 RPG / 3.1 APG / 2.5 SPG
Jaleel Flowers – BASCS, Junior
* Section VI Class A2 All-Tournament
16.0 PPG / 5.1 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.7 APG
Mykell Rivera – Olean, Junior
* First Team CCAA I West
15.5 PPG / 5.8 RPG / 1.8 SPG
Cardell Staples – McKinley, Junior
* POY in Yale Cup I
14.7 PPG / 3.2 SPG / 2.7 RPG / 2.0 APG
Benjamin Gerstung – Akron, Junior
* First Team Niagara-Orleans
13.6 PPG / 5.9 RPG / 1.8 APG / 0.9 SPG
Zayvion Hawkins – Health Sciences, Junior
* First Team Yale Cup I
12.5 PPG / 4.0 RPG / 3.0 APG / 1.5 SPG
Brody Monaco – Orchard Park, Junior
* First Team ECIC I
12.3 PPG / 7.1 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.3 APG
Shaun McGrath – Sweet Home, Junior
* Second Team ECIC II
11.3 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 3.1 APG / 1.1 SPG
Dane Brown – Grand Island, Sophomore
* First Team NFL
16.0 PPG / 7.1 RPG / 1.3 BPG / 1.1 APG / 1.1 SPG
JJ Shanklin – Cheektowaga, Freshman
* First Team ECIC III
15.9 PPG / 6.5 RPG / 4.5 APG / 3.4 SPG
Kobe Genco – Eden, Freshman
* First Team ECIC V
14.9 PPG / 5.1 RPG / 4.5 APG / 1.3 SPG
Centercourt 6th Man of the Year
Andrew Spiesman – Panama, Senior
5.9 PPG / 6.1 RPG / 1.0 APG / 0.5 BPG
The majority of high school basketball teams in our area compete without the luxury of a big man. That was not the case for Panama. The Panthers were so well put together that they had a big man in Alex Baramore starting in the paint for four seasons. They also had considerable size in their starting lineup from Tate Cantanese. The real luxury came from what Panama was able to do when it was time to turn to the bench. “All these guys just wanted to play for each other – Andrew was such a team guy,” Panama Coach Ed Nelson said. “There were times he would tell me to consider switching someone else back into the game in place of him if he thought they provided a better matchup defensively against a guard. He just wanted to see the team win.”
Spiesman scored in 24 of Panama 25 games and collected rebounds in every outing. He had a career-high 19 rebounds along with 8 points in a win over Sherman, 12 rebounds in a victory against Gowanda, 16 points & 7 boards in a win at Frewsburg, and a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double at Maple Grove. In the NYSPHAA Class D State Tournament, Spiesman was 5/5 from the floor over two games.
All-Centercourt Defenders
First Team
Mahli Shabazz – St. Joe’s, Senior
Jahyden Clark – Canisius, Senior
Griffin Nelson – Randolph, Senior
John Strong – Niagara Falls, Junior
Staz Chiddick – Health Sciences, Senior
Second Team
Carson Swanson – Westfield, Senior
Elijah Dixon – Amherst, Senior
Bryce Hinsdale – Panama, Senior
Stash Foster – Williamsville South, Senior
Nahssan Young – Health Sciences, Junior
Third Team
Jonathan Neville – Grand Island, Sophomore
Derren Brooks – Akron, Sophomore
Jahzi Lanzot – St. Joe’s, Junior
Patrick Enright – Canisius, Senior
Mychael Whitt – – Health Sciences, Junior
Fourth Team
Dequarius Seaberry – Niagara Falls, Sophomore
Nakyhi Harris – Timon, Senior
Nicholas Purdie – Canisius, Senior
Jake Herrick – Salamanca, Senior
Cohen Vogel – Starpoint, Senior
Centercourt #BOOM Squad
Staz Chiddick – Health Sciences, Senior
Aaron Weiss – Williamsville East, Senior
Caleb Barry – Lockport, Senior
Antonio Andrews – Amherst, Senior
Nakyhi Harris – Timon, Senior
Carson Swanson – Westfield, Senior
Haile Doucet – MST, Senior
Noah Redd – Williamsville South, Senior
Abdulsalam Keshinro – Sweet Home, Senior
Marquevious Bradley – BASCS, Senior
Jaymeir Goosby – St. Joe’s, Senior
Mekhi Gidney – St. Joe’s, Senior
Nate Blenman – St. Joe’s, Junior
Ryan Hough – -Wilson, Junior
Will Szablewski – St. Mary’s, Junior
Damone Parker – BASCS, Junior
Eli Chaney – Cardinal O’Hara, Junior
Elijah Farmer – Jamestown, Junior
Nate Wilemski – Williamsville South, Junior
Tacari McCray – Olmsted, Junior
Benjamin Gerstung – Akron, Junior
Dane Brown – Grand Island, Sophomore
Centercourt Sniper Squad ‘3’
Brady Eick – Silver Creek, Senior
Carson Swanson – Westfield, Senior
Gavin French – West Seneca West, Senior
Ben Olson – Starpoint, Senior
Drew Hind – Randolph, Senior
Patrick Cullinan – Canisius, Senior
Michael Garcia – Brocton, Senior
Cole Kaufman – St. Joe’s, Senior
Trelin Warrior – Gowanda, Junior
Aidan Neumann – Wilson, Junior
Blake Gerstung – Akron, Junior
Elijah Greene – Park, Junior
Nick Jacobson – Chautauqua Lake, Junior
Nate Wilemski – Williamsville South, Junior
Greydan Barnwell – Lew-Port, Junior
Lincoln Thomas – Westfield, Junior
Justus Kleitz – Iroquois, Junior
Preston Woodworth – Medina, Sophomore
Marque Sudduth – Park, Sophomore
Kobe Genco – Eden, Freshman
Devin Barnwell – Lew-Port, Freshman
Centercourt Dime Droppers
Carson Swanson – Westfield, Senior
Cohen Vogel – Starpoint, Senior
Nathan Jaskolka – Hamburg, Senior
Drew Hind – Randolph, Senior
Jaydian Johnson – Jamestown, Senior
Gionni Zelasko – St. Joe’s, Senior
Carter Brink – Panama, Senior
Griffin Nelson – Randolph, Senior
Bryce Hinsdale – Panama, Senior
Kameron Barge – Park, Junior
Nahssan Young – Health Sciences, Junior
Tre Paulfrey – Nichols, Junior
Jonathan Neville – Grand Island, Junior
RJ Koopman – Fredonia, Junior
Nate Wilemski – Williamsville South, Junior
Anthony Johnson – Middle College, Junior
Demario Badger – Bennett, Sophomore
Kobe Genco – Eden, Freshman
Landon Patterson – St. Mary’s, Freshman
JJ Shanklin – Cheektowaga, Freshman
Centercourt Coach of the Year
Ed Nelson – Panama
Nestled in the southwest corner of New York State is small town, USA – a place called Panama. It’s the kind of place where everybody knows each other. Traditions, family, and community are staples of the area. It’s a place where only 44 students are graduating from the senior class in 2025. Where signage for deer crossings, horses, and even tractors, are as common along road sides as stop signs. It’s also the kind of place for champions are born.
It produced Ed Nelson, the star of the football team during a great run from 1997 to 1999. Nelson was the team’s quarterback, who passed for over 3,000 yards his senior season and was recruited to Division II Edinboro to play football. After two seasons there, Nelson moved on to Brockport, where he also played football, to pursue a career in physical education. It was in 2001 that I first met Ed Nelson as I was also attending school there. I’m sure he doesn’t remember me from that era, but he stood out to me then as someone who exuded integrity.
After graduating Brockport, Nelson returned to his hometown in Panama, where he began his career as an educator and coach. A football guy at his core, he began coaching the varsity football team. His start as a basketball coach was with the girls JV program. After a few years, as football season was wrapping up, the boys varsity basketball position had opened and remained vacant. Nelson wanted to make sure his football players had a coach for the basketball court as well, and so began his 18 year run as the boys varsity basketball coach.
In 2012, the Panthers won their first of 5 sectional titles under Nelson (’12, ’16, ’19, ’23, & ’25). In 2016, Panama defeated Rochester private school CG Finney in the Far West Regional, earning its first ever trip to the show… the NYS Final Four. Three seasons later, they broke through once again after defeating Belfast in the 2019 Far West Regional. However, both of Panama’s trips to the big dance at the state level ended in heartbreaking fashion. In 2016, the Panthers gave up a 16-point fourth quarter lead and in 2019 a four-point play in the closing seconds forced an extra session, where the team was defeated in overtime.
Two seasons later came the Covid-shortened 2021 Season, where teams played a condensed regular season schedule. Panama was one of the schools affected by the pandemic outbreak and had to call up some eighth graders to field a varsity squad. Nelson sensed something special in that young group, which featured Carter Brink, Bryce, Hinsdale, and Alex Barmore. They competed that year against older, more experienced competition, and took some lumps. Nelson decided he would see that group through and walk away from coaching the basketball team after they were seniors.
I will never forget driving to Westfield during the 2022 Season. The Wolverines had a nice squad that would go on to win the Section VI Class D championship composed of four seniors and a standout freshman named Carson Swanson. They were taking on Panama that night. I recall tweeting out the starters, which included three freshmen in the lineup (Brink, Hinsdale, and Barmore). Despite making the trip that night to lay eyes on the Westfield team I thought would win a title, I left excited about the future. There were some freshmen from Panama and another from Westfield that we would be hearing plenty about in the coming seasons.
The following season, in 2023, the young core were now sophomores and already playing a winning brand of basketball. Despite their standout, Carter Brink, being forced out of action with a shoulder injury that cost him his sophomore season, the team won the Section VI title, upsetting Clymer in the championship. They would go on to lose to eventual state champion, Avoca-Prattsburg in the Far West Regional, but it was clear these boys from Panama were knocking on the door of something special.
With a roster capable of making a state title run, Panama learned that its 2024 squad, now composed of mostly juniors, would be moved up to Class C due to the state’s addition of an extra classification. Panama had been a clear Class D program until the state adjusted the enrollment numbers used to classify teams, and in 2024, they were two students over the number that would have kept them in Class D. In the Section VI Semifinals, they were defeated by eventual Class C Champion Randolph.
When the numbers were released for the 2025 Season, Panama learned it would return to competition in Class D for the final run. As Ed Nelson counted up the number of games his team would need to play in order for their season to end in the state championship game, the boys he would be coaching were winning another state championship on the football field. It delayed the start of basketball season in Panama and the team had to push their first two games back. Hoops officially got underway for the Panthers on December 10th, their first of what would be 25 games – the very number Nelson had written on a board at school to show his boys what the goal would be.
After beginning the season with two straight victories, Panama was hosting league rival Westfield. The game would be broadcast as the Centercourt ‘Game of the Week’ and I was on hand to get my first look of the season at this team. Prior to the game, I walked through the halls of Panama with color analyst Ryan Mountain. We looked at the tributes to the athletic history displayed in the hallways, and noticed a football in a case with Ed Nelson’s name on it. It was the home opener for Panama that evening and a capacity crowd was on hand. The Panthers came storming right out of the opening tip, banging a triple in the opening seconds and jumping out to a 15–4 advantage. Two minutes into that broadcast, I speculated as to how cool it would be for a team to be the first to win a football and basketball state championship in the same scholastic year. However, after an excellent start to the game by Panama, Westfield outscored them 73-40 the rest of the way, earning a 77-55 victory. Suddenly, the Panthers were just 1-2 on the season.
Nelson needed to get his team back in the lab as he called it, the intense practice sessions where he believes championships are won. The bright lights in March were just where they celebrated titles. He believed firmly in the value of the entire team, not just the players getting the minutes on the floor in games. The guys pushing each other every day at practice that didn’t always get as many minutes were every bit as valuable to him.
There were still 22 games ahead if they were to reach the promised land. The team adopted the mantra eat glass. They broke down their huddles that way, believing if they can rebound, they can run. They became a machine in transition, rebounding and running teams into the ground. Nelson would tell his group, I need you to be 1/5 part of that machine when you’re on the floor. Just over a month later, the Panthers would go on the road to avenge that loss in an intense game against Westfield. That victory earned Panama a share of the league title in CCAA I West.
The final home game for the 11 seniors at Panama was February 13th against defending Section VI Class B2 Champion Falconer, a team very similar to the Panthers, with size, experience, and a standout. That night was also senior night at the school. After ceremonies prior to tip honoring those seniors and as the game was close to beginning, Nelson was approached by his sister. His father had suffered a medical emergency and Nelson had to leave immediately. Later that evening, Nelson lost his father to a heart attack. In his absence, the Panthers earned an overtime victory.
“My dad was our biggest fan and my best friend. Losing him was a big shock to me right before playoff started. You have a big empty space in your soul. I knew when I lost my dad that night, I was missing the team as well. Even though you always say it, I really did think of them as family, like extended sons of myself.”
Wyatt Eggleston, a junior on the team, had also lost his father earlier that week. Both Eggleston and Nelson came to practice the day after losing their father because being with the team felt like being with family. It was where they needed to be.
“Our country wasn’t built by people who quit during hard times. The only way to honor someone is to keep moving forward, because you never stay in the same place – if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving moving backward.” said Nelson.
Nelson had told his team during the season that the enemy of good was great and they didn’t want to be good. Later that season, they no longer wanted to be great – they wanted to be the enemy of great, which was legendary. Nelson came back to practice with some other motivational things in mind to say, but a look in his player’s eyes showed him there was something intrinsically motivating those young men beyond anything he was going to say. He had a team of champions that were ready to enter the Lion’s Den and start eating hearts.
Five nights later, the team was in Cheektowaga for a nonleague game that had been pushed to the end of the season, due to football. It was originally part of a showcase in early December. That was another Centercourt ‘Game of the Week’ I was on hand to broadcast, eager to see how Panama would fair against a significantly larger school from Class A that was also a league champion in ECICIII. Panama won that game in what felt like clinical fashion. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the eat glass or rebound and run mentality, but I said during the broadcast how proficient they were in transition after a rebound, stating: “they leak, they look, they space and attack.” I also speculated again during that broadcast of a state championship in their future.
I left that evening convinced it was happening, and when game photos were sent to me by my photographer, Shawn Turri, a great picture of Ed Nelson with his team appeared. I immediately sensed that I was looking at a coach of the year photo. I didn’t learn until the following day that Nelson had lost his father tragically less than a week prior. But what I did learn that day, was this Panama team was just different. They were a determined looking buzzsaw, led by an alpha male.
After claiming the Section VI Class D championship at JCC, Panama entered the Far West Regional to face Fillmore, a team that sat right next to them in the state rankings all season. Many viewed it is the de facto state championship. Fillmore came out firing and sinking 3-pointers at an alarming rate, making three in the first two minutes of the game, and jumping out to a 9-3 advantage. However, Panama was completely unwavered during the early blitz. Instead of playing on their heels, they just kept counter punching until they were the team punching harder. By the end of the first half, the Panthers had knocked down nine 3-pointers and eventually cruised to a 17-point victory.
The victory placed the team of destiny back in Binghamton, where they had fallen short six seasons prior. This team and everything about this trip would be different. Panama started the NYSPHAA Class D semifinal fast and then poured it on in the second half, claiming a 21-point victory over Sackets Harbor to reach the state championship game. After seeing that and the team they would be playing the following day, my confidence began spilling over into outright guarantees on my social media account.
Bridgehampton was their opponent, a team returning to the state championship game from the prior season, who arrived on an 18-game win streak with 16 of those victories coming by double figures. They hadn’t faced adversity in a game in over two months. Panama was entering another Lion’s Den…time to eat!
Their opponent was a squad that liked to overwhelm teams with speed and a full court press. After a competitive start to the game, it was Panama doing the overwhelming. All fifths of the machine were well-oiled as the team ate glass & attacked. The culmination of being together at the varsity level since eighth grade was playing out before my eyes as I sat front row for the big show. By halftime, the Panthers had taken a 41–22 lead. They increased that advantage to 22 points after three quarters.
When the final horn sounded, the players and coaches began jumping up and down, moving their way toward the middle of the floor, coming together for an embrace. They had made history together, not just becoming the first basketball state champion in program history, but also giving Panama the distinction of being the only team from Section VI to win a state title in both football and basketball in the same scholastic year. They accomplished it by staying together as a family during the toughest trials that two of their family members had ever faced. They did it for each other and for their beloved head coach on his final tour behind the bench. A head coach and 11 seniors walked onto to the court for one final game together as Panthers and walked off of it as state champions.
They kept the family together into the early hours of the morning, taking their celebration straight to Texas Road House for a champion’s steak dinner and then immediately boarding the bus to drive home that evening. About 10 miles outside of town, they approached flashing lights. The fire department was on hand to escort the team back into town. A championship parade in the middle of a cold night in small town, USA. Family and community members were waiting at the school to give them the hero’s welcome they deserved.
Welcome home to Panama, NY, where champions are born. Ed Nelson is your 2025 Centercourt Coach of the Year. Congratulations on an outstanding 18-year career that included five sectional titles, three regional titles and a NYSPHAA Class D State Championship.
-🏀centercourt🏀
