NYPost.com PSAL boys basketball beat writer breaks down Sunday’s Class AA semifinals at CCNY in Harlem. For real-time Twitter updates, click here.
SCHEDULE
3 p.m. – No. 2 Long Island City vs. No. 3 Brooklyn Collegiate
5 p.m. – No. 1 Mott Haven vs. No. 4 Bedford Academy
No. 2 Long Island City Bulldogs
Head coach: Harley Watstein
Record: 26-3
Player to watch: Arthur Santanna
No. 3 Brooklyn Collegiate Lions
Head coach: Jake Edwards
Record: 24-5
Player to watch: Rashaad John
Outlook: The two teams met back on Jan. 21 in the PSAL Class A Showcase and Long Island City prevailed, 63-61, behind 22 points from Sadji Camara, one of four of the Bulldogs’ interchangeable senior starters. LIC is looking to get back to the ‘A’ finals – it fell to Midwood last year – and while last season’s star Aaron Williams graduated, forward Arthur Santanna is healthy this time around. He will be extremely important against Brooklyn Collegiate’s size.
Unlike LIC, Brooklyn Collegiate is in uncharted territory after surviving Springfield Gardens, 74-72, in a thriller in the quarterfinals. Senior forward Ervin Mitchell has been arguably the ‘A’ league’s most consistent player, averaging 26 points per game during the regular season, but sophomore guard Rashaad John may be the Lions’ most important player. The underclassman has come alive in the playoffs, scoring at least 22 points in each contest, and he stretches opposing defenses.
No. 1 Mott Haven Mavericks
Head coach: Doug Porter
Record: 23-5
Player to watch: Robert Lloyd
No. 4 Bedford Academy Panthers
Head coach: Rob Phelps
Record: 24-5
Player to watch: Sean Snagg
Outlook: Mott Haven is the top seed, but Bedford Academy has played like the true No. 1 this postseason. The Panthers closest contest is a 12-point win over No. 20 John Adams. They blasted talented fifth seed Evander Childs, 72-46, and in forwards Neil Veira, Ellis Everett and Darien Best, have an ‘AA’-size frontcourt. Throw in steady sophomore point guard Darren Thomas, explosive senior off-guard Sean Snagg, and reserves Ian Roach and Iran Duncan and Bedford can go small as well.
It will be interesting to see how Bedford coach Rob Phelps plans to match up with Mott Haven. The Mavericks have two speeds: fast and faster. They press from start to finish, shoot 3-pointers like most teams take layups and run on everything: made shots, missed shots, out of bounds plays.
Mott Haven wasn’t expected to have this kind of year, with senior point guard Robert Lloyd its only returning starter. John F. Kennedy transfer Hakeem Grant developed quickly into a lethal threat inside and out, improved forward Jessey Okeagu became a viable difference maker inside and sixth man Taquan Givens, a smooth sophomore, brings lightning off the bench.