Justin Jenkins hopes to lead No. 1 Wings Academy to a third striaght Bronx borough crown. (Denis Gostev)
NYPost.com PSAL boys basketball beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down this week’s borough playoffs.
BROOKLYN
Favorite: No. 1 Thomas Jefferson
The Orange Wave has won eight straight games, it has defeated preseason title favorites South Shore, Lincoln and Boys & Girls in that time and may have the top 1-2 scoring punch in the entire city in Jaquan (Son Son) Lynch and Thaddeus Hall.
Sleeper: No. 4 South Shore
The Vikings would own Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island and be right there with Wings Academy in The Bronx. South Shore is loaded with talent, up to as many as five Division I prospects are on its roster, and of its four league losses (the fifth was a double forfeit) to top seeds Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln and Boys & Girls, were right there in three of them. Forward Shamiek Sheppard is enjoying an all-city caliber season.
Player to watch: Leroy (Truck) Fludd, No. 3 Boys & Girls
The 6-foot-4 forward is a Player of the Year contender because of his big numbers and clutch performances. Boys High has rallied to beat Jefferson, Lincoln and South Shore by forcing overtime late in regulation and Fludd has had a hand in each comeback.
Prediction:
No. 3 Boys & Girls over No. 4 South Shore
Of the four boroughs, this is the most difficult one to pick by far. Any of the top four can win the title and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise – after all, Jefferson, Boys High, Lincoln and South Shore are the top four ranked teams in our PSAL boys basketball rankings.
South Shore had Jefferson beat in each meeting, only to falter down the stretch. Coach Lawrence (Bud) Pollard was hoping to avoid the Vikings, since it is so difficult to beat a team three times in one year. Look for Shamiek Sheppard and Wayne Martin to have a field day. On the other side of the bracket, Boys & Girls will get by Lincoln, which will be without star sophomore Isaiah Whitehead (ankle), as Coney Island’s own Leroy (Truck) Fludd has a big game.
All in all, Fludd has been the borough’s best player, and possibly the best player in the city as well. He’ll continue his memorable senior season this week, leading the Kangaroos to the borough crown.
BRONX
Favorite: No. 1 Wings Academy
Depth, size, and explosive guard play – Wings Academy has all the components to win a city title. Justin Jenkins makes the Bronx dynamo go, wings Jaequan Brown and Marvilio Berroa are dynamic offensive pieces and forwards Steven Gomez and Damien Davis are formidable in the paint. The Wings were tested just twice by Bronx foes all year, rallying to beat No. 2 John F. Kennedy and No. 3 Eagle Academy, and enter the tournament heavy favorites to win a third straight borough crown.
Sleeper: No. 5 Mott Haven
Coach Doug Porter’s club can flat-out score. It broke the century mark in six of its last nine games – all wins – and has a number of offensive weapons led by do-it-all point guard Robert Lloyd and potent sixth man Taquan Givens. A win over No. 4 Lehman wouldn’t be an upset if you ask us.
Player to watch:
Justin Jenkins, No. 1 Wings Academy
The combo guard enjoyed an all-city caliber regular season, leading Wings to its second straight undefeated league season by averaging 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game. The year began with him overlooked by Division I schools, but Jenkins now has scholarships offers from St. Peter’s, Fairfield and LIU and strong interest from Manhattan, Hofstra and Quinnipiac.
Prediction: No. 1 Wings Academy over No. 3 Eagle Academy
Wings wasn’t wiping opponents off the court down the stretch like it did earlier in the year. That’s a credit to John F. Kennedy and Eagle Academy, but it also shows how tough the Wings are that they found ways to wins when not at their best. Wings will get back to bullying the rest of the borough this week. Wings is rested and will roll to another borough title as Justin Jenkins continues to elevated his already high stock.
MANHATTAN
Favorite:
No. 1 Wadleigh
Coach Mike Crump loves the way his team is playing these days. Freshmen Lenny Kadisha and Donovan Wilkerson are beasts in the paint, point guard Basil Harley is an unselfish floor general and senior Louis Costen has mid-major Division I talent.
Sleeper:
No. 4 Graphic Communications
The three-time Manhattan A Northwest champion won a round last year and nearly upset Wadleigh in the semifinals. The Devils are back, led by high-scoring seniors Grady King and Rashawn Johnson.
Player to watch: Basil Harley, No. 1 Wadleigh
The pint-sized Harley makes the Tigers go, on each end of the floor. He’s the offense’s engine, a surprisingly accurate shooter from deep despite his odd form and a fleet-footed pick-pocketer. When he’s on his game, Wadleigh is difficult to contain.
Prediction:
No. 1 Wadleigh over No. 2 Manhattan Center
Call this borough the Wadleigh Invitational – the Tigers aren’t losing. They are 20 points better than everyone else. Here’s our idea: Let Wadleigh be an honorary member of The Bronx. Not only would that make Manhattan more competitive, but it would translate into a great Bronx final with Wadleigh taking on Wings. Plus, Wadeigh is a stone’s throw from the Boogie Down anyway.
QUEENS
Favorite: No. 1 Bayside
The Commodores have won 11 straight games, four without star Austin Williams, and are peaking at the right time. Ryan Tomlin, Brandon King, Uzonna Akazi and Co. have all took turns filling in for the talented Williams, who should return this week.
Sleeper: No. 5 Long Island City
The Bulldogs deserved a home game – No. 4 Beach Channel isn’t better – and will use last year’s experience, a two-point loss at Campus Magnet, to its benefit. LIC has tons of shot makers, all of them seniors, to make big plays late.
Player to watch: Tajay Henry, No. 2 Cardozo
The 6-foot-5 forward has emerged as the Judges top rebounder, scorer and defender with the loss of nationally ranked junior Jermaine Lawrence. Cardozo is reeling somewhat entering the boroughs, with losses in two of its last three contests.
Prediction: No. 1 Bayside over No. 2 Cardozo
We can see both of these teams struggling in each round – that’s how much we think of Class A programs such as Construction, John Adams, Springfield Gardens and Long Island City. Yet, there is a reason both are at the top as they feature size up front and skill in the backcourt. Bayside is the hottest team in the PSAL and will be confident against Cardozo with its rout of the Judges so recent.