Fieldston recently scrimmaged PSAL Bronx AA power John F. Kennedy and Salesian, last year’s New York State Federation Class B runner-up from the Catholic league. It will open up against PSAL Manhattan AA program Manhattan Center on Friday.
The point to all of this, coach Steve Bluth said, is rather simple.
“By playing these teams, it will toughen us up,” he said. “There is intent there, to get us to be more physical, get us to play harder than we’ve played the last couple of years.”
Talent-wise, Bluth feels Fieldston can get to Albany for the New York State Federation tournament. He has three experienced, versatile and talented guards in juniors Will Savage and Michael Bregman and senior Grady Smith. Senior A.J. Santos has made huge strides, adding a back-to-the-basket and improved jump shot to go with his previous strengths, rebounding and blocking shots.
“He can be a real significant player in the league,” Bluth said. “His moves around the basket are so much improved. He’s got the potential to be great.”
Of course, Fiedston was talented last year, too. It beat four-time NYSAISAA and Federation champion Collegiate during the regular season. But when the two teams met in February in the NYSAISAA semifinals, the Dutchmen cruised to an easy victory.
“They know how to win, they know when to know how to win,” the 15th-year coach said. “Do I think we can do it? Yes.”
Not that Bluth is looking past any games. With Collegiate, Poly Prep and Riverdale primed to field top talent, he thinks this is the most depth the Ivy Prep League has enjoyed in several years. But he is confident in this group, especially after the recent scrimmages with Kennedy and Salesian.
“If we stay healthy, I think we’re tough to beat,” Bluth said. “Our guards are gonna be very difficult for teams to defend and with A.J. in the middle, people are going to have to do a lot of different things to defend us.”
Riverdale’s expectations aren’t quite as high as Fieldston’s, though coach Andrew Marinos said he is “excited” for what this team is capable of. With senior starters Russell Johnson, Henry Stevens and Armando Perez back, he expects to have balanced scoring, good leadership and poise.
“We’re practicing well and I’m anxious to get the season started,” he said. “We’re gonna get scoring from everybody this year. We can get eight, 10, 12 points from five different positions. … I’ve never had a team like this before. It’s a nice perk to have as a coach.”
The 6-foot-2 Perez, a standout baseball and football player, does a little bit of everything, Johnson is a 6-foot-6 forward and Stevens is a skilled 5-foot-10 guard. Combo guard Kyle Friedman has enjoyed a terrific preseason, Marinos said, and he expects Marsh Walsh to be an integral component.
“He’s the type of glue guy you need,” said Marinos, who moved Riverdale up to ‘B’ this year after losing to Columbia Prep in the NYSAISAA Class C final last February. “Offensively we run our stuff better with him in the game. He does all the things you ask kids to do. He’s instinctive, a terrific screen, terrific passer. He’s a great defender.”
Once Columbia Pre
p won the NYSAISAA Class C crown last year, upsetting Ivy Prep League power Riverdale, Ryan Petit decided it was time to move up to Class B in the state qualifications. The seventh-year coach was returning three starters, including sharpshooter Brian Lissak, and felt his players would be up to facing the likes of four-time NYSAISAA champion Collegiate, Poly Prep and Fieldston.
“I thought it made sense,” he said. “It’s a nice thing to strive for. It’s obviously a bigger challenge for us. I think our kids are willing to work hard and accept that challenge.”
The three-time New York City Athletic League champions (the league broke away from the ISAL) are primed for another solid season, behind Lissak and fellow returning starters, senior forwards John Mark and Tyler Shasha. Columbia Prep will also be depending on point guard Matt Fascitelli, who came off the bench last year, and center Tonio Vassilaros, who Petit described as a “rebounding machine.”
Ultimately, Columbia Prep’s key will be Lissak, a 6-foot-4 dead-eye shooter who has drawn interest from numerous Division I and Division II schools.
“He’s gotten better, his best attribute is the fact that he’s not only a tremendous scorer, but a very unselfish player,” Petit said. “He shoots the ball extremely well and he can rebound the ball well.”
Like Columbia Prep and Lissak, Y
ork Prep depends on an elite shooter, 6-foot-4 Manhattan College-bound senior Shane Richards. He led the Manhattan private school in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and blocked shots.
“You name it, he can do it,” York Prep coach Doug Hill said. “He really means everything to us. He’s really worked his butt off to become an all-around player and it’s totally paid off.”
The Independent Schools Athletic League (ISAL) program does have help for Richards in returning starter Luke Cohen, a 6-foot-5 forward headed to Division III Muhlenberg College, and much improved center Elie Mamiye. York Prep, which is ‘C’ in the state qualifications, is looking for its first state title since 1992.
“We’re maybe not as deep as last year, but everybody’s gotten better who’s returning,” Hill said. “Winning states is always the goal.”
Other teams to keep an eye include Dwight, Dalton of the Ivy League and UNIS.