Just a few weeks into the season and it’s all about Brooklyn. Big surprise, we know. Brooklyn AA’s best are already knocking each other around – South Shore has two losses – and Boys & Girls picked up a huge road win at nationally ranked Christ the King.
Additionally, undefeated Eagle Academy of The Bronx makes its 2011 debut in place of Queens power Bayside, which drops out after a shocking loss to Campus Magnet. For the entire rundown, read below:
1. Lincoln (3-0) (Last week: 1)
Everyone focused on who Lincoln brought in this fall, from forwards Tafari Whittingham and Travis Charles to point guard Da’Shawn Suber. Not enough attention was paid to who was coming back, notably junior guards Ethan Telfair and Shaquille Davis. After solid summers on the AAU circuit, the two have returned much improved and it showed in Saturday’s 58-41 win over South Shore. With Isiaah Whitehead out for academic reasons, the two combined for 23 points, 11 assists and seven steals.
Next: No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (Dec. 13, 6 p.m.)
2. Boys & Girls (5-0) (2)
We saw it in the summer: Leroy (Truck) Fludd went through a metamorphosis. He added perimeter skills to his rugged inside game. Christ the King bore witness to those improvements in Saturday’s loss as Fludd exploded for 23 points and was the best player on the floor in Middle Village – no small feat with UConn-bound Omar Calhoun and Isaiah Lewis on the opposition.
Next: @ Grady (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
3. Thomas Jefferson (3-1) (6)
The Orange Wave is a fun team to watch. Jefferson shares the ball, it plays hard and trusts one another, winning tenets that were lacking in previous years. After Thursday’s upset of South Shore, East New York will be rocking Tuesday night when undefeated Lincoln comes by for a visit.
Next: No. 2 Lincoln (Dec. 13, 6 p.m.)
4. Cardozo (3-0) (4)
Unlike Brooklyn’s best, Cardozo doesn’t get challenged on a nightly basis. Queens AA is down and the Judges are reaping the reward, one 20-point win after another. That being said, Jermaine Lawrence, Tajay Henry and Co. could get pushed this week as they visit Campus Magnet Tuesday and host rival Bayside on Thursday – their two toughest games by far up to this point.
Next: @ Campus Magnet (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
5. Curtis (6-0) (5)
Aside from a season-opening 10-point win over St. Peter’s, Curtis has dominated its opposition thus far. Coach Rich Buckheit isn’t doing cartwheels – the Warriors should be taking care of the opponents they have faced thus far. Real tests, such as two-time defending city champion Boys & Girls and Bronx AA power Eagle Academy, await later on this month.
Next: @ Susan Wagner (Dec. 13, 7 p.m.)
6. South Shore (4-2) (3)
The Vikings didn’t expect to have two league losses so early in the year, but such is life in Brooklyn AA, when teams with multiple Division I prospects can struggle. South Shore took a tough loss at home against Jefferson on Thursday and never found a rhythm in a lopsided defeat to Lincoln Saturday. It doesn’t get any easier – when does it ever in this division? – as it hosts red-hot Boys & Girls Thursday.
Next: @ George Westinghouse (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
7. Wings Academy (6-0) (7)
In front of several Division I college coaches at Baruch College, Justin Jenkins broke out of his mini-scoring slump with 22 points in a 53-46 victory over Bishop Loughlin in the Big Apple Basketball CHSAA-PSAL Challenge. We’ve been saying it all along: Jenkins is a Division I player. But maybe now some coaches can agree with us and offer the talented guard a scholarship.
Next: Lehman (Dec. 13, 6:30 p.m.)
8. Transit Tech (3-3) (9)
Different year, same old story: Transit Tech gets close, pushes Brooklyn AA’s best, but can’t figure out how to get over the hump. They’ve fallen by three in overtime to South Shore and by eight at Lincoln. Even the 18-point setback against Boys & Girls was close late in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Express, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Next: Robeson (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
9. Eagle Academy (4-0) (NR)
Senior wing Najee Senior is off to a remarkable start, averaging 23 points and seven rebounds per game. This coming from someone who managed five points per game last year – clearly he put the work in since last winter, and Eagle is tied with Wings Academy, in part, because of the large strides he’s made.
Next: @ No. 10 John F. Kennedy (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
10. John F. Kennedy (4-1) (8)
Thursday’s six-point loss to Wings Academy was disappointing, but there were positives. Kennedy was down 16 at one point, played poorly, yet still was there in the end with a chance to pull off a shocking comeback. It’s still early for this young group, which should be better suited to handle Wings when the two Bronx rivals meet again on Jan. 17.
Next: @ No. 9 Eagle Academy (Dec. 13, 5 p.m.)
New: Eagle Academy (4-0)
Dropped out: Bayside (4-1)
On the bubble: Wadleigh (3-2), Bayside (4-1), Brooklyn Collegiate (7-0), Robeson (3-5), Campus Magnet (4-2) and Beach Channel (4-2)