No. 1 Cardozo hopes forward Ryan Rhoomes can lead the Judges past No. 9 Curtis. (Damion Reid)
PSAL boys basketball beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down the Class AA quarterfinals at St. John’s University.
11 a.m. – No. 6 Lincoln vs. No. 3 Wings Academy
1 p.m. – No. 7 Wadleigh vs. No. 2 Boys & Girls
3 p.m. – No. 12 Transit Tech vs. No. 4 Thomas Jefferson
5 p.m. – No. 9 Curtis vs. No. 1 Cardozo
No. 6 Lincoln Railsplitters
Head coach: Dwayne (Tiny) Morton
Record: 17-9
Player to watch: G Shaquille Stokes
No. 3 Wings Academy Wings
Head coach: Billy Turnage
Record: 23-5
Player to watch: F Krystian Foriest
Outlook: The opener of the quadrupleheader is the most fascinating matchup. On one side is even-balanced Wings, which after consecutive frustrating postseasons, seems poised to make a long run. On the other is Lincoln, the four-time defending champion playing its best ball of the season.
The Wings clearly have the edge in depth, but Stokes is the best player on the floor. He crushed No. 11 McKee/Staten Island Tech on Saturday with 32 points and has sent two games into overtime with clutch 3-pointers. The Railsplitters edged the Wings in overtime earlier in the year, and have the edge as far as playoff experience goes.
The matchup to watch is inside: Foriest against 6-foot-8 Lincoln power forward Kamari Murphy. Foriest has emerged recently, producing big numbers in the Bronx borough champions’ last three wins, including 27 points and 11 rebounds in an 88-75 victory over No. 19 South Shore on Thursday. Murphy, however, has three inches on the senior.
No. 7 Wadleigh Tigers
Head coach: Mike Crump
Record: 21-6
Player to watch: G David Burgos
No. 2 Boys & Girls Kangaroos
Head coach: Ruth Lovelace
Record: 25-5
Player to watch: G Mike Taylor
Outlook: Boys & Girls dominated the first matchup, 68-52, back on Jan. 18 in the Frank Mickens Classic. Wadleigh has come on since then, with wins over No. 8 Forest Hills and No. 10 Robeson, two of the better teams in the city. Its entire frontcourt – Malik Thomas, Karim Rowson and Tyrie Orosco – put up double-doubles in Saturday’s 84-74 win over Robeson, but Burgos, a junior point guard, may be their most important player against The High.
Boys & Girls loves to press and trap, so it will be essential for the left-handed floor general to control the game’s pace and handle pressure. With their plethora of high risers between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-6, the Kangaroos usually are the most athletic team on the floor, but that may not be the case against Wadleigh’s length.
No. 4 Thomas Jefferson Orange Wave
Head coach: Lawrence (Bud) Pollard
Record: 20-9
Player to watch: G Dave Coley
No. 12 Transit Tech Express
Head coach: Mike Perazzo
Record: 17-9
Player to watch: F Barry Posey
Outlook: This is the rubber match between these Brooklyn AA rivals with each winning on the other’s home court. Don’t let the seeding fool you; Transit Tech belongs among the final eight. After all, beating No. 5 John F. Kennedy on the road is no easy feat.
If Posey can build off of his 26-point effort from Saturday, the Express will be in good shape. Keeping shot-blocking menace and Manhattan College commit Rhamel Brown on the floor is also a must. Transit Tech did a solid job against JFK’s backcourt of Naquan Pierce and Jeffrey Short; now they get another top duo, Coley and Davontay Grace. The two combined for 47 points in a 96-79 win over No. 20 Thomas Edison, and they will need to come close to that number again.
The X-factor may be Corwin Austin. A defensive specialist and unsung rebounder, he went off for 19 points on Saturday. The senior’s scoring output adds depth to already versatile attack Transit Tech can’t match.
No. 9 Curtis Warriors
Head coach: Rich Buckheit
Record: 26-4
Player to watch: G Jonathan Annan
No. 1 Cardozo Judges
Head coach: Ron Naclerio
Record: 22-7
Player to watch: F Ryan Rhoomes
Outlook: Curtis has been preparing to see Cardozo since its thrilling victory over No. 8 Forest Hills on Thursday. Don’t expect fatigue to be a factor, though: the Judges hardly broke a sweat in systematically taking apart No. 17 West 50th Street Campus, 71-30, on Saturday. Naclerio even had his players watching film after the victory. Talk about a celebration.
The Warriors, the SISHL champions who are back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995, won’t be an easy out. They are strong, well-coached, disciplined and stingy defensively. Annan is the most underrated lead guard in the city; he has a habit of making big plays, such as his game-winning running jumper to knock out Forest Hills.
Cardozo is still the clear favorite. Look for the 6-foot-8 Rhoomes, who is receiving plenty of Big East interest, and 6-foot-7 Dwayne Brunson to neutralize Curtis’ success off the glass, and for the Judges’ guards – namely Malcolm Brooks, Shelton Mickell and Reynaldo (Junior) Walters – to create Annan enough problems to slow him down. When he isn’t at his best, neither is the Staten Island power.