Defending Bronx AA champion Wings Academy is working in four new starters. Perennial power John F. Kennedy lost its top player, Muhammed Ahmed, to prep school. And Eagle Academy, which finished second last year, graduated leading scorers Donte Adams and Stedman Allen.
That means one thing to Gompers coach Ned Jackson.
“I think with our experience we could go to the top and stay there,” he said. “I really think that simply because we’re not gonna be in awe of anybody.”
The Panthers return three starters, including high-scoring Carlos Galan, a junior who lit up Bronx AA for 25 points per game last year. The 6-foot-1 lead guard is joined by 6-foot-4 senior Pierce Smith and 6-foot-5 wide body Jordan Webb. The three led Gompers to a fourth-place finish last year and opening-round playoff win over Beach Channel before falling to runner-up Lincoln in the Round of 16.
Junior Fernando Jimenez, a 6-foot-4 forward, is Gompers’ best rebounder and will be called upon to replace graduated senior Ohno Smith. Junior guard Yohan Almont, whose former role was Galan’s translater, has improved and will split time with Galan at the point. Jackson is high on Alex Pocasangre, a 5-foot-8 combo guard who averaged 22 points on the junior varsity last winter.
A big part of Jackson’s confidence stems from chemistry. Pocasangre, Jimenez, Galan and Almonte played together in junior high school and the entire team spent July and August together playing in various summer leagues, including one in New Jersey that included Lincoln and St. Anthony of Jersey City, which finished No. 1 in the nation last year.
“It’s a very experienced team,” Jackson said.
It will likely only go as far as its shooting will take it. Tired of teams playing zone and double-teaming Galan, Jackson emphasized perimeter shooting, and has liked what he has seen in the preseason. Galan, Pocasangre, Webb and Smith can all stroke it from deep.
“As a whole, this team is built around shooting the basketball,” he said.
If it’s built on shooting, it’s centered on Galan. Though he is only a junior, he will age out, and likely attend prep school next fall. Since his arrival two years ago, Galan has thrived, finishing in the top five in scoring in The Bronx each of the last two years, and was first last winter in the entire ‘AA’ of the PSAL.
“He’s gotten older, his body has matured, he’s stronger, he’s looking at his last year of eligibility and so he’s motivated to impress the prep schools – they’ve been looking at him,” said Jackson, who is entering his 25th season. “He’s going to command double teams from the beginning. They have to send two people, there is no way one guy is going to guard Carlos. In addition to being a great shooter, he is an excellent passer. He’s become more dangerous is because as he attacks, he’s going to open it up for his teammates.”
He would like nothing more than to finish atop Bronx AA. Jackson is hopeful that can happen, though Gompers did lose to Wings Academy in a fall league and lost three times to its rival last year, as well.
“I’ve coached a long time,” he said, “and I’ve never had as many weapons.”