The 2024 Preview contains:
- Commentary
- What's New
- Player Movement
- Returning 2023 All-Centercourt Players
- 25 More Players to watch in 2024
- A League-by-League look at returning All-League selections
(MMA, Yale Cup, ECIC, NFL, N-O, CCAA)
- Coaching Changes
- Classification Changes
- Preseason Top 10 Large & Small Schools
- Predictions
Commentary
When I tell the story of how Centercourt came to be, one of the words that always comes out in the process is relationship. It’s impossible for me to describe what I do all winter without using the word relationship, because it’s such a big part of what makes this time of the year special to me. As I now enter my 17th year of coverage, it is with a very heavy heart. Over a decade long stretch of my first 16 years on the high school scene, the most organic friendship I ever formed and enjoyed was with Coach Gabe Michael. I’m forever grateful for this time each winter that my life provides me and Coach Gabe was a true blessing in the lives of so many. I thank God for placing that relationship in my life. I love you Coach Gabe, Woooo!
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In the late 1980's when I was still young, I was fortunate enough to see the great Ritchie Campbell play for the Burgard Bulldogs multiple times. The legendary scorer began his high school career at Desales in Lockport, before finishing in the City of Buffalo at Burgard, where his high school career ended with 2,355 points. He set and held the all-time WNY scoring record, and it was a mark that stood for 28 years.
I’ll never forget being at Buff State in 2013, where I saw a fresh-faced eighth grader from Cheektowaga go coast-to-coast under the bright lights and throw down a roaring #BOOM that exclaimed, "I’m next"! What followed over the next four seasons, was the brilliant career of Dom Welch, the current WNY all-time scoring leader, who surpassed Campbell’s record in his final high school game played at Buff State in a Class A2 Semifinal. Welch, who now plays at Alabama, entered his senior season needing 648 points to own the all-time record. He dropped a game-high 45 that evening and took his in history at the top, ending his career at 2,376 points.
Exactly 21 months later, the clock on history would start again when a seventh grader at West Seneca East scored 21 points in his first ever varsity contest. That young man was Jaiden Harrison, now the standout for the defending Manhattan Cup Champion Timon Tigers, after transferring there following his freshman season in West Seneca. Harrison enters the final season of his brilliant high school career and it could truly be a special one for him. His team, which competed for a Catholic state championship in 2023, returns three Top 25 players and is widely considered by myself and anyone with a basketball pulse to be the best team in the area entering the season. Harrison has an opportunity to not only lead his team to a repeat of last season's success, but also beyond with that state championship appearing to be an attainable goal.
The other thing that is most attainable is the all-time scoring record. Harrison stands just 450 points shy of history, and with a guaranteed 25 games this season assuming health, he would need to average just 18 points per outing to get there. For some perspective, Harrison averaged 22.1 per outing as a junior. If he simply continues to score at his average from last season, the all-time record would fall in his 20th game of the 2024 season. His 19th game this season is in the 6th Annual Centercourt Classic...
****
On the afternoon of the 5th Annual Centercourt Classic during the 2023 season, I was asked as the second game of the afternoon was winding down, if I thought the third game would be a blowout. The contest featured Nichols taking on a little small school from the Southern Tier, called Randolph. My reply was simple, "I wouldn’t have scheduled the game if I expected a blowout". In the most entertaining game of the event, Randolph claimed an overtime victory. The Cardinals went on to win the NYSPHAA Class C state championship. How rare is it for a Section VI public school to win a state championship? It’s something that has only happened 9 times since 2008 and was just the fourth time it’s happened in a decade.
Despite Randolph’s ultimate success at both the state level and in the Classic last season, the inevitable chirps could still be heard following the release of the All-Centercourt Team about kids on “bad” teams playing no competition and running up numbers. I can tell you from experience, there’s nothing quite like taking a long drive to the Southern Tier, watching great basketball, and then returning home to hear shortsighted comments. Just to provide some basic context, Nichols had wins at Canisius & Aquinas and vs. St. Joe’s on its résumé last season. Randolph had losses to Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone last season. Fredonia advanced past Salamanca and Allegany-Limestone and also a talented group from Lew-Port to advance in the state playoffs. My point here is a simple one, some of the best best basketball in WNY is taking place in the CCAA leagues. The 2024 season features three current players who have already achieved First Team All-State honors in their playing careers: Westfield's Carson Swanson, Randolph's Drew Hind and Salamanca's Lucus Brown. Take a road trip to the Southern Tier sometime and enjoy it for yourself, or just take my word for it.
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What's New ??
The Centercourt Classic venue shifts to St. Joe's and will be broken into three sessions, with one on Friday, February 2nd and two sessions on Saturday, February 3rd.
Regionals are hosted by Section VI this season at Buff State and with the addition of Class AAA, regionals are now a two-night event, Friday & Saturday, March 8th & 9th.
The Manhattan Cup Playoffs will follow a format very similar to last season. The biggest difference this season being the semifinals and championship game (tentatively at Canisius College) are both dropped right in the middle of Buff State Week. The top two seeds from the regular season will receive a bye directly to the semifinals. Any team that wins 8 league games is automatically in Class AA. The winner of the Manhattan Cup Final advances to the CHSAA Class AA state semifinal.
There will be one game played the night after the Manhattan Cup Final to determine the MMA state representative for the CHSAA Class A state championship game.
Timon & Nichols are both considered Class AA by the NYSSWA for the purposes of state rankings & end-of-season all-state selections.
The NYSPHAA has added a sixth classification. There will now be a Class AAA with a grand total of two squads duking it out for the right to advance to the Far West Regional. The addition has shaken up the entire landscape of where teams are classified, with over half the teams in Section VI moving to a new classification.
A fifth ECIC division (ECIC V) has been added with a pair of charter schools (Global Concepts & Tapestry) joining the existing 29 teams in ECIC. With 31 teams, a fifth division allows teams more freedom to schedule nonleague contests.
The race for the Charter Cup is over. Three of the five teams that once vied for the Cup now moved into existing leagues and there is no longer a home & home series scheduled between all of those schools.
This season, the Section VI Class D Quarterfinals will be played one night earlier than usual, taking place on Thursday, February 22nd. The rest of the sectional quarterfinals are evenly spread out over the following two days.
Every night of Buff State Week will now feature triple-headers. Games will begin each evening at 5 pm, 15 minutes earlier than the traditional triple-header start times of the past.
Championship Friday now includes 3 games at Buff State. The evening begins with one girls final, followed by boys championship tilts in Class AAA and Class A1.
Championship Saturday now concludes with a pair of Class AA Finals in Class AA1 & Class AA2.
Crossover Tuesday is now a triple-header with the addition of the split Class AA adding the third game that will follow crossovers in Classes B & A.
Glens Falls now features 18 games over four days and for the first time, starts on a Thursday night!!
West Valley is back. After combining with Ellicottville in recent seasons, the Wildcats return to Section VI hoops for 2024 season in Class D.
Archbishop Walsh has closed its doors. The private small school from the Southern Tier had a varsity basketball program and some of those players will be on rosters Section VI teams from that area this season.
Not much varsity to varsity player movement that I'm aware of from last season. However, three names that did change teams and will positively help their new programs are Jordan Alexander (Second Team All-CC in '23 moves from Amherst to Lancaster), Payton Bradley (Cattaraugus-Little Valley to Salamanca) and Laferald Hines (St. Francis to Lackawanna).
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League changes
Niagara Falls: NFL ---> Independent
Health Sciences: Charter Cup ---> Yale Cup I
Tapestry and Global Concepts: Charter Cup ---> ECIC V
Maritime and BASCS: Charter Cup ---> Independent
West Seneca West: ECIC I ---> ECIC II
Williamsville South & West Seneca East: ECIC II ---> ECIC III
Iroquois: ECIC II ---> ECIC IV
Lackawanna & Depew: ECIC III ---> ECIC IV
East Aurora: ECIC III ---> ECIC V
Holland, JFK, Eden, & Cleveland Hill: ECIC IV ---> ECIC V
West Valley: joins CCAA II East
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Returning All-Centercourt Talent
*** Over 1/3 of the 2023 All-Centercourt Top 60 return to the WNY high school hoops scene this season, including 6 of the Top 11 players, 9 of the Top 25 players , & 13 more players that received Honorable Mentions following last season.
Returning First Teamers
Jaiden Harrison - Timon, Senior
Junior Season Stats
22.1 PPG
6.9 RPG
4.0 APG
2.6 SPG
The stage is set in South Buffalo for the finale campaign of a brilliant six-year varsity career to be both special and historic in many ways.
Jakye Rainey - Nichols, Senior
Junior Season Stats
27.4 PPG
6.1 RPG
3.6 APG
2.4 SPG
I cannot wait to watch what's in store from this must-see baller in the last of his four varsity seasons after banging 181 treys the last two seasons and scoring over 50 points on three occasions as a junior.
Returning Second Teamers
Jordan Alexander - Lancaster, Senior
Junior Season Stats
23.2 PPG
5.7 RPG
3.5 SPG
2.1 APG
After leading Amherst in the Far West Regional a season ago, Alexander moves to Lancaster to lead the Legends in the against Niagara Falls in the new Class AAA after chasing a league title in ECIC I.
Lucus Brown - Salamanca, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
20.5 PPG
7.2 RPG
2.8 SPG
2.0 APG
Already the school's all-time scoring leader, Brown enters his 5th varsity season on a mission to return to Glens Falls in a higher classification after leading the Warriors there in Class C as a sophomore.
Amir Moye - Health Sciences, Sophomore
Freshman Season Stats:
17.9 PPG
4.3 APG
4.0 RPG
2.0 SPG
As a varsity freshman, Moye consistently displayed an all-around skill set at both ends and a court sense beyond his years. His game is the perfect blend of poise & athleticism.
Jacob Humphrey - Timon, Senior
Junior Season Stats:
15.6 PPG
3.4 APG
3.0 SPG
2.5 RPG
An absolute dog that challenges the opposition every second he's on the floor. The floor general and emotional leader of the Tigers, capable of taking the game over himself when the team needs that spark.
Returning Third Teamer
Nakyhi Harris - Timon, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats:
18.7 PPG
6.8 RPG
2.9 APG
1.9 SPG
An natural scorer with a slashing style that is impossible to stop when he gets moving down hill. His arrival at Timon last season shifted the balance in the Monsignor Martin Association, where the Tigers are now considered the best team in Buffalo.
Returning Fifth Teamers
Drew Hind - Randolph, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats:
17.1 PPG
6.1 RPG
4.0 APG
3.3 SPG
Earned First Team All-State honors as the floor general who guided the Cardinals to the NYSPHAA Class C state championship in 2023, dishing 8 assists (including the winning dime) in the victory.
Carson Swanson - Westfield, Junior
Sophomore Season Stats:
27.7 PPG
5.9 RPG
5.1 SPG
4.1 APG
Erupted in his sophomore season as the team's only returning starter after reaching the Far West Regional as a freshman. A competitor who makes everyone around him better and routinely destroys defenses game-planned against him.
Returning 2023 Honorable Mentions
Derek Ebersole - North Collins, Senior
23.4 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 3.9 APG / 3.1 SPG * as a junior
Ray Cortes - Silver Creek, Senior
23.1 PPG / 12.5 RPG / 2.8 APG / 2.4 SPG * as a junior
Shamere Davis - MST Seneca, Senior
18.5 PPG / 5.3 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.1 APG * as a junior
Parker Rey - Nichols, Senior
16.4 PPG / 10.3 RPG / 2.0 APG / 1.0 SPG / 1.0 BPG * as a junior
Sajon Beasley - McKinley, Senior
16.4 PPG / 3.0 APG / 2.7 SPG / 1.8 RPG * as a junior
Nate Errington - Frontier, Senior
15.7 PPG / 12.6 RPG / 1.2 SPG / 1.0 BPG * as a junior
Davion White - Fredonia, Senior
13.9 PPG / 6.7 RPG / 2.1 APG / 1.3 SPG * as a junior
Daryl Montgomery - Cheektowaga, Senior
13.6 PPG / 5.7 RPG / 1.7 APG / 1.0 SPG * as a junior
Omarion Ralands - Niagara Falls, Senior
11.9 PPG / 4.6 RPG / 2.0 SPG / 1.8 APG * as a junior
Shawn Watson - Niagara Wheatfield, Senior
11.3 PPG / 8.5 RPG / 2.9 APG / 1.6 SPG * as a junior
Sam Platt - Pioneer, Junior
19.5 PPG / 8.4 RPG / 1.8 APG / 1.5 SPG * as a sophomore
Jaydian Johnson - Jamestown, Junior
12.9 PPG / 4.7 RPG / 3.7 APG / 2.0 SPG * as a sophomore
Justus Kleitz - Iroquois, Sophomore
17.4 PPG / 3.2 RPG / 2.7 APG / 2.5 SPG * as a freshman
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25 More Players to Watch
More impact players for 2024 not already mentioned above
Jarrell Green - Park, Senior
Chris McDonald - Orchard Park, Senior
Ephraim Strong - Niagara Falls, Senior
Ben Dickinson - Newfane, Senior
Michael Whitt - Health Sciences, Senior
Sean Gilmartin - Clarence, Senior
Mason Evans - Williamsville East, Senior
Cameron D'Hilly - Cleveland Hill, Senior
Emir Lindsay - IPrep, Senior
Jussean Pearsall - East, Senior
Mike Hahn - Fredonia, Senior
Luke Walck - Niagara Wheatfield, Senior
David Washington - Hutch Tech, Senior
Trekwon Guilford - Burgard, Senior
Nicholas Purdie - Canisius, Junior
Jaymier Goosby - St. Joe's, Junior
Gioni Zelasko - St. Joe's, Junior
Antonio Andrews - Amherst, Junior
Sam Platt - Pioneer, Junior
Jaykwon Kyle - Middle College, Junior
Stash Foster - Williamsville North, Junior
Cohen Vogel - Starpoint, Junior
Carter Brink - Panama, Junior
Charlie Croff - Lockport, Sophomore
Benjamin Gerstung - Akron, Sophomore
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League-By-League: Returning All-League Talent
Monsignor Martin Association
Large Schools - CLASS AA
Timon - Jaiden Harrison 12, Jacob Humphrey 12, Nakyhi Harris 11
Nichols - Jakye Rainey 12, Parker Rey 12
St. Joe's - Jaymeir Goosby 11, Gioni Zelasko 11
St. Francis - Jerimiah Neely 12
Canisius
Small Schools - CLASS A
The Park School - Jarrell Green 12
St. Mary's
Cardinal O'Hara
Section VI
YALE CUP I
Health Sciences - Michael Whitt 12, Montrice Webster 12, Dwayne Thrist 12, Jakari Lott 11, Amir Moye 10
McKinley - Sajon Beasley 12, Davonte Hughes 11
East - Jussean Pearsall 12
I-Prep - Emir Lindsay 12
Hutch-Tech - David Washington 12, Yarsiah Kerkulah 12
Middle College - Jaykwon Kyle 11, Zymir Purdue 11, Desean Johnson 10
Bennett
South Park
YALE CUP II
Burgard - Trekwon Guilford 12, Ashton Taylor 12, Najai Starks 12, Maurice Woods 11, Demario Gray 11
MST Seneca - Shamere Davis 12
Olmsted - Ezekiel Alexander 12, Tacari McCray 10, Izeal Bullock 11,
City Honors - Karin Saminur 12
Buffalo Arts - Jordan Rodgers 12, Jalen Robinson 12, Jaiden Daniels 11
Riverside - Anthony Cabell 11, Nelson Camacho 11, Javon Elliott 10
Emerson - Cincere Brown 12, Jamiere Robinson 11
ECIC I
Jamestown - Jaydian Johnson 11
Lancaster - Jordan Alexander 12
Clarence - Sean Gilmartin 12
Williamsville North - Stash Foster 11
Orchard Park - Chris McDonald 12
Frontier - Nate Errington 11
ECIC II
Amherst - Antonio Andrews 11
Starpoint - Cohen Vogel 11, Jack Kempf 11
Williamsville East - Mason Evans 12
Hamburg - Evan Meader 12, JacobKhuu
Sweet Home - Tysean Viverette 12
West Seneca West - Ryan Vanderlip
ECIC III
Pioneer - Dalton Giboo 12, Sam Platt 11, Karter Giboo 10
Williamsville South - Michael Munzert 12, Nate Wilemski 10
Cheektowaga
Maryvale - Malachi Ladson 12
Lake Shore
West Seneca East
ECIC IV
Iroquois - Justus Kleitz 10
Lackawanna
Depew
Springville - Max Perry 12
Alden - Tim Boucher 12
Tonawanda - Casey Wright 12
ECIC V
East Aurora - Hunter Gould 12
Holland - Dax Bengart 12, Brady Wiskup 11
Cleveland Hill - Cameron D'Hilly 12
Eden - Taesyn Slating 12, Chris Krencik 11, Kobe Genco 8
Global Concepts - Kobe Torres 12, Darius Brown 12
Tapestry Nahsaan Young 10
JFK - Kamauri Avery 12, Michael Mingle 11
Niagara Frontier League
Niagara Division
Niagara Wheatfield - Shawn Watson 12, Luke Walck 12
Lockport
North Tonawanda
Kenmore West - Nick Argenio 12
Frontier Division
Lew-Port
CSAT
Kenmore East
Grand Island - Jayce Wylke 11
Niagara-Orleans
Newfane - Landon Braman 12, Ben Dickinson 12, Nate Snow 12, Konner Courtemanche 12
Roy-Hart - Remington Albee 12
Barker - Luey Castro 12, Aiden Mescall 12
Wilson - Blake Martin 12
Akron - Trace Hill 12, Benjamin Gerstung 10, Blake Gerstung 10
Albion - Blake Preston 12
Medina
CCAA I West
Salamanca - Lucus Brown 12, Jaxson Ross 12
Olean
Fredonia - Davion White 12, Mike Hahn 12
Allegany-Limestone - Michael Frederick 12, Carson Kwiatkowski 11
Southwestern
Dunkirk - Greg Orcutt 11
CCAA I East
Randolph - Roan Kelly 12, Drew Hind 11, Griffin Nelson 11
Silver Creek - Ray Cortes 12
Frewsburg - Gavin Smith 12, Garrett Brink 12
Falconer - Mathis Baehr 11, Roger Markham 10
Portville
Cassadaga Valley - Hunter Johnson 12, Ace Pierce 12
Gowanda - Quentin Centner 12
CCAA II West
Panama - Bryce Hinsdale 11, Carter Brink 11, Alex Barmore 11, Tate Cantanese 11
Clymer - Jonathan Massing 12
Westfield - Logan Tuah 12, Carson Swanson 11
Sherman
Chautauqua Lake - Nick Jacobson 10
Maple Grove - Marcus Laney 12
Brocton - Michael Garcia 11, Jeremy Weisner 11
CCAA II East
Ellicottville - Owen Chudy 12
North Collins - Derek Ebersole 12
Franklinville - Noah Shenk 12, Beau Bielecki 12, Bretton Blecha 11
Forestville
Cattaraugus-Little Valley - Payton Bradley 10
Pine Valley - Jon Sheldon 12, Miles Volk 12
West Valley
Independent Teams
Niagara Falls
Maritime - Jamayne Corbett 12, LeSean Braxton 11
BASCS
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Teams with New Coaches (12)
St. Joe's - Cooper Calzonetti
Jamestown - Billy Miley
St. Mary's - Frank Propis
Ken East - Daniel Hannon
Maryvale - Andrew Crombie
West Seneca East - Dathan Madding
JFK - Skeet Whitlow
Maple Grove - Graham Soffel
Global Concepts - Joe Scarsella
Cassadaga Valley - Jake Wilcox
West Valley - Alex Marino
BASCS - Conor Wood
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Classification Changes (62)
(54 of the 91 teams from Section VI move up in classification)
5 Teams move up from Class A to Class AA:
Timon, Nichols, Canisius, St. Joe's, & St. Francis
3 Teams move up from Class B to Class A:
St. Mary's, Cardinal O'Hara, & The Park School
2 Teams move up from Class AA to Class AAA:
Niagara Falls and Lancaster
3 Teams move up from Class A1 to ClassAA1:
Niagara Wheatfield, McKinley, and Hutch Tech
7 Teams move up from Class A1 to Class AA2:
Williamsville East, North Tonawanda, Ken West, West Seneca West, Hamburg, Sweet Home, and I-Prep
1 Team moves up from Class A2 to Class AA2:
Starpoint
4 Teams move up from ClassB1 to Class A1:
Cheektowaga, Pioneer, Lake Shore, & Riverside
11 Teams move up from Class B1 to Class A2:
Lew-Port, Lackawanna, Olean, Depew, Maryvale, Dunkirk, City Honors, Iroquois, Tonawanda, Alden, and Albion
1 Team moves up from Class B2 to Class A2:
Springville
9 Teams move up from Class B2 to Class B1:
Fredonia, Newfane, Akron, Southwestern, Bennett, Olmsted, Medina, Burgard, and Buffalo Arts
1 Team moves up from Class C to Class B1:
BASCS
7 Teams move up from Class C to Class B2:
East, Silver Creek, Wilson, MST Seneca, JFK, Portville, and Maritime
8 Teams move up from Class D to Class C:
Panama, Westfield, Ellicottville, Maple Grove, Barker, Franklinville, North Collins, and Brocton
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Preseason Rankings
** Seven of the 10 teams that appeared in the 2023 Preseason Large School Rankings were Top 10 teams when the season ended (although two I missed were Timon & Nichols...had they been large from the start, it would've been 9 of 10), and I was 4 of 10 predicting Top 10 small schools in 2023 -- but again, Timon & Nichols were my preseason 1 & 2 among the small schools).
Large Schools
1. Timon
2. Health Sciences
3. Canisius
4. Niagara Falls
5. Nichols
6. Amherst
7. St. Joe's
8. Clarence
9. Jamestown
10. Orchard Park
Small Schools
1. Randolph
2. Fredonia
3. Salamanca
4. Newfane
5. Cardinal O'Hara
6. Panama
7. Park
8. Westfield
9. Akron
10. Bennett
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Predictions
* The 2023 Preview correctly predicted 9 of the 13 league champions
MMA - Timon
Yale Cup I - Health Sciences
Yale Cup II - MST Seneca
ECIC I - Jamestown
ECIC II - Amherst
ECIC III - Pioneer
ECIC IV - Lackawanna
ECIC V - East Aurora
NFL - Niagara Wheatfield
N-O - Newfane
CCAA I West - Salamanca
CCAA II West - Panama
CCAA I East - Randolph
CCAA II East - Franklinville
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* I was 6 of 8 predicting these end-of-year champions in the 2023 Preview
Manhattan Cup
Final Two:
Canisius & Timon
** Timon **
Class AAA
Final Two:
Niagara Falls & Lancaster
** Niagara Falls **
Class AA1
Final Four:
Orchard Park, Jamestown, Clarence, & McKinley
** Clarence **
Class AA2
Final Four:
Starpoint, Health Sciences, Williamsville East, & Ken West
** Health Sciences **
Class A1
Final Four:
Amherst, Williamsville South, Pioneer, & Cheektowaga
** Amherst **
Class A2
Final Four:
Olean, Lackawanna, Depew, & Iroquois
** Lackawanna **
Class B1
Final Four:
Fredonia, Akron, Newfane, & Bennett
** Newfane **
Class B2
Final Four:
Salamanca, Allegany-Limestone, East, & Tapestry
** Salamanca **
Class C
Final Four:
Randolph, Panama, Westfield, & Holland
** Randolph **
Class D
Final Four:
Pine Valley, Clymer, Sherman, & Forestville
** Clymer **
-centercourt
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