Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
It's a wrap
By CHARLIE De BIASE JR.
The 2018-19 high school boys' basketball season had its share of story-lines and SILive.com is giving its readers one last review on the campaign.
Check out the players who joined Staten Island's 1,000-point club, as well as the seniors who just missed. We also give a 1,000-point preview of next season and have a tidbit or two that caught our attention.
You'll also get an updated list of the 113 players who are on the Island's coveted 1,000-point list.
Check it out!
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Adeleye Oyekanmi, Curtis
Oyekanmi, a four-year varsity player for the Warriors, finished his career with 1,432 career points ... currently good enough for 15th on Staten Island's all-time list.
Oyekanmi, who scored a career-high 458 points as a junior, buried 88 threes during his his tenure. He had a career-high 35 from behind the arc as a junior.
Perhaps most impressively, the three-year starter boasted a 92-27 record with the Warriors during his career. He helped Curtis to at least 20 wins all four seasons with a career-best 25-win campaigns as a sophomore and junior.
He was also an solid defender and rebounder over the course of his career.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Darnell Askew, Curtis
The three-year varsity player finished his career with 1,132 career points, which is currently good enough for 63rd on Staten Island's all-time list.
The Warriors' big man enjoyed a highly productive senior year in which he finished with 604 total points. He finished with a career-high 50 points in a win over Cardozo last season.
Just like senior teammate Adeleye Oyekanmi, Askew was instrumental in the Warriors' success as they were 70-20 (.778 winning percentage) over the course of his career.
Askew was also an exceptional rebounder and defender as well.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Kalique Mitchell, MSIT
Mitchell only played two seasons of varsity ball after transferring from Monsignor Scanlan after his freshman season, but had a huge impact on the Seagulls.
The senior finished in a three-way tie for 99th overall on Staten Island's all-time list with 1,020 points. He scored an Island-leading 703 points as a senior.
Mitchell was best known for his slashing and ability to get to the charity-stripe, but still drained 33 treys over the course of his career.
Mitchell finished with a career-high 47 points in a win over Robeson as a senior.
MSIT was 35-19 overall over the course of his two seasons.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Adam Kukaj, Tottenville
Kukaj (10), who played just two varsity seasons for the Pirates, finished in a three-way tie for 99th overall with 1,020 points.
In fact, both Kukaj and the aforementioned Mitchell entered the PSAL playoffs with 990 career points and both finished with 1,020 career markers to tie former Moore Catholic star Tesfa Brown.
Kukaj tallied a career-best 633 points as a senior, including a career-high 48 in a win over CSIM.
Although Kukaj could score in a number of ways, he was an exceptional three-point shooter who finished with 82 in his career, including a career-best 51 as a senior.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Chris Clancy, St. Peter's
The reigning Jaques Award winner, who will be honored at the annual Jaques Dinner on May 3, fell short of the 1,000-point plateau after finishing his three-year varsity career with 952 points.
But he never fell short on winning.
The sharp-shooting Clancy won SIHSL championships in each of his three seasons and boasted back-to-back MVP performances during his junior and senior years. He became only the second player in SIHSL Tourney history to win MVP twice (former SP star OD Anosike was the other) and averaged 17.3 ppg. in three SIHSL title games.
Clancy, for what it's worth, won 10 consecutive Island championships through his senior year, including six during his CYO days at St. Charles and the SIHSL freshman crown with the Eagles.
In addition to the Jaques and MVP awards, Clancy was also the Island CHSAA MVP (he was named to the all-borough team as a junior) and SIHSL South division Player of the Year as a senior.
He helped the Eagles to a 58-24 record over his three seasons, including 38-4 against Staten Island competition.
Clancy, who finished with a career-best 561 points as a senior, ended his high school career with a whopping 146 three-pointers, including a high of 81 this past season. He had at least one trey in 52 of 55 games over the last two campaigns, including all 27 senior year.
In addition to his offensive prowess, Clancy was also a strong defender who did his share of rebounding for the Eagles as well.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Justin Besignano, CSI/McCown
The two-year varsity player entered his senior season as Staten Island's top returning scorer and turned in another high-scoring campaign with 460 points.
Besignano, a guard, finished his career with 886 points, including a career-high 38 in a double overtime, non-league victory over New Utrecht.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Latrell Thompson, New Dorp
The two-year varsity player was solid offensively as a junior, but turned up his game a notch this past season after finishing the campaign with 477 points.
Thompson, in fact, completed his career with 786 points, including a career-high 34 in a win over Petrides.
What made Thompson's career total most impressive was he wasn't a three-point shooter as he canned only four from behind the arc in two seasons.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Most improved
It's a tie between Monsignor Farrell's Chris Edwards and St. Peter's Thomas Lotito, both of which saw significant increases in minutes during their senior seasons.
Both Edwards and Lotito were two-year varsity players who landed starting roles during the 2018-19 campaign.
Edwards finished the year averaging 7.9 points per game and experienced a magical run during the CHSAA A playoffs when he twice hit last-second buckets to give the Lions the victory. In fact, the second game-winner, which came via a three-point play, helped propel the Lions to the A Intersectional crown via a 53-51 overtime win over Fordham Prep.
More often than not, Edwards guarded the opposition's top scorer this season as well.
Lotito, meanwhile, played a pivotal role in helping the Eagles capture their third consecutive SIHSL championship last season.
The senior point guard not only averaged 7.0 points per game, but recorded a team-leading 6.3 assists per contest (169 total) and was routinely among the Eagles' top rebounders with a 5.4 per game average (second highest on the team).
Lotito often guarded the opposition's top guard and scored several key buckets during SP's SIHSL-title run.
Staten Island Advance/Amanda Steen
Looking ahead ...
There's several players within striking distance of 1,000 points returning next season, including:
Susan Wagner's Bleron Lata (above, shooting) -- The sharp-shooting junior, who led the Island with 86 three-pointers last season, has 814 career points. The three-year varsity player (he played a handful of games on varsity at the end of his freshman year) scored a career-high 419 as a junior and will enter his senior year with 162 treys to his credit.
New Dorp's David Shkolniy -- The sophomore has already scored 746 points after two seasons of varsity ball, including a career-high 450 this past season. Shkolniy has already buried 115 threes, including a career-best 68 as a soph.
St. Joseph by-the-Sea's Gerard Nicholson -- The junior has poured in 688 points over his first two seasons on varsity, including a career-high 393 this past season. Nicholson is also one of the Island's top three-point threats as well with a total of 108. He connected for a career-high 63 treys as a sophomore.
Monsignor Farrell's Justin Zieris -- The junior has some work to do to hit the coveted 1,000-point plateau, but with 464 career points, it's certainly possible. The two-year varsity player has also been among the Island's top three-point shooters the last two seasons after draining 88 from behind the arc, including a career-high 54 last season.
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Meanwhile, one of the Island's surprising 1-2 combos of the 2018-19 season aren't within striking distance of a 1,000 points individually, but it will be interesting to see what Port Richmond's Maxdylan Butler and Ibrahima Diallo do for an encore next year.
Butler scored 306 and Diallo 274 for a combined total of 580 as juniors. In addition, Butler and Diallo finished with 40 and 39 three-pointers, respectfully, to put themselves among the Island leaders last season.
Courtesy of CC Arcuri
Magical run for Sea frosh
St. Joseph by-the-Sea's freshman basketball team enjoyed a magical run of its own during the CHSAA A playoffs this past season.
The Vikings, who were coached by Steve Cunningham and Jeremy Panzella, finished 17-8 overall and made an impressive run to the CHSAA A Intersectional championship game along the way.
Following a first-round bye, Sea topped Xavier in the quarterfinals before meeting top-seeded Monsignor Farrell in the semis. The Lions defeated the Vikings twice during the regular season.
In the semifinal contest, Danny Marinaccio and Christian Zanone finished with 11 points apiece while both draining two treys to lead the Vikings to a 52-48 win.
Kendall Arcuri added 10 points and team-high seven rebounds while John Cappello nailed a clutch three-pointer after the Lions took their first and only lead in the fourth.
Sea squared off against Fordham Prep in the championship game and despite jumping out to a two-point lead after a period, the Vikings trailed by eight (41-33) entering the final eight minutes.
Marinaccio wound up hitting a clutch game-tying three with just over two minutes left, but the Rams hit a late bucket, then added two free throws to hold on for a 51-47 win.
John Molloy's double-double led the way for Sea in the title game (17 points, 11 rebounds) while Marinaccio chipped in with 11 (two threes).
Courtesy of Dwayne Archbold
Updated 1,000-point list
Staten Island's
1,000-POINT CLUB
1. Kyle McAlarney (Moore, 2005) 2,566
2. Malik Martin (Curtis, 2018) 1,918
3. Drew Hughes-Brock (SIA, 1997) 1,827
4. James Melillo (SIA, 2001) 1,685
5. Trevor McGhie (Petrides, 2014) 1,684
6. Osa Izevbuwa (MSIT, 2013) 1,653
7. Hansae Catlett (SIA, 2007) 1,602
8. Nakye Sanders (Tottenville, 2015) 1,513
9. Terry Garrett (SIA,1985) 1,473
10. John Young (SIA, 1990) 1,467
11. Moses Dayee (New Dorp, 2005) 1,462
12. Andy Benanti (New Dorp, 1984) 1,459
13. Doug Elwell (Farrell, 2005) 1,447
14. Steven Mitchell (St. Peter's, 1999) 1,442
15. Adeleye Oyekanmi (Curtis, 2019) 1,432
16. Greg Pedro (St. Peter's, 1983) 1,406
17. John Engles (St. Peter's 1972) 1,399
18. Steve McGoy (SIA, 1983) 1,399
19. Reilly Walsh (St. Peter's, 2015) 1,390
20. Cliff Brantley (Port Richmond, 1986) 1,378
21. Jim Cronin (St. Peter's, 1966) 1,370
22. Quamaine Tomlin (CSIM, 2011) 1,353
23. Ron Chase (Curtis, 1981) 1,342
23. Devin Nicholson (Sea, 2018) 1,342
25. Jacob Carey (Adelphi, 1978) 1,327
26. Ken Page (McKee, 1977) 1,324
27. D.C. Nisbett (Petrides, 2005) 1,309
28. Enijah Patterson (Susan Wagner, 2015) 1,299
29. Ramsey Hill (New Dorp, 2005) 1,288
30. Nick Corbett (Farrell, 2016) 1,276
31. Steve Rossiter (Farrell, 1979) 1,271
32. Marcus Jacobs (SIA, 1991) 1,270
33. Willie Lee (SIA, 1982) 1,269
34. Willie Spellman (New Dorp, 1994) 1,268
35. Herb Lewis (Curtis, 1994) 1,263
36. Bob Mahala (Farrell, 1978) 1,251
37. Jim Sparrow (McKee, 1971) 1,238
38. O.D. Anosike (St. Peter's, 2009) 1,230
39. Brian Antonelli (Moore, 2002) 1,228
39. Sean Caputo (Petrides, 2009) 1,228
41. James Bertucci (Susan Wagner, 2014) 1,224
42. Dylan Bulger (SIA, 2009) 1,216
43. Kenny White (Farrell, 1988) 1,215
44. Ed Pavia (Sea, 1982) 1,214
45. Jeff Ford (Curtis, 1989) 1,212
46. Jonathan Myers (Port Richmond, 2005) 1,206
47. Vin Conte (SIA, 1988) 1,204
48. Tim Hepworth (St. Peter's, 1982) 1,199
49. DaShawn Richmond (Curtis, 2012) 1,190
50. Michael Trancucci (SIA, 2018) 1,190
51. Atigi Moore (MSIT, 2010) 1,184
52. Mikhail Bradshaw (Moore, 2008) 1,180
53. James Morisano (SIA, 2014) 1,178
54. Ademola Afonja (Petrides, 2015) 1,178
55. Bernard Carter (McKee, 1975) 1,167
56. Eddie Joyce (Tottenville, 1993) 1,166
57. Josh Bibbins (Petrides, 2009) 1,160
58. Gregg Testaverde (Sea, 1996) 1,150
59. Larry Cubas (Curtis, 1973) 1,148
60. Matty White (LaSalle, 1953) 1,140
60. Elijah Bryant (Petrides, 2012) 1,140
60. Sam Majekodunmi (Curtis, 2017) 1,140
63. Darnell Askew (Curtis, 2019) 1,132
64. Erik Sorensen (Curtis, 1993) 1,130
65. Monte Cumberbatch (PR, 2007) 1,115
65. Dave Hyman (SIA, 1977) 1,115
67. John Semerad (Farrell, 1975) 1,110
68. Heyward Dotson (Stuyvesant, 1966) 1,109
69. Jim Keane (St. Peter's, 1988) 1,105
70. Bruce Beschner (New Dorp, 1981) 1,091
71. Scheraun King (Curtis, 2005) 1,090
72. Carl Althoff (SIA, 1977) 1,088
73. Neil Smith (New Dorp, 1987) 1,079
74. Chris Ortiz (Tottenville, 2001) 1,078
74. Duane Singleton (McKee, 1990) 1,078
76. Jamele Allen (Port Richmond, 1998) 1,074
77. Ryan Hennessey (St. Joseph Sea, 2006) 1,073
78. Joe McCoy (Tottenville, 2018) 1,069
78. Ralph Menar (St. Peter's, 1973) 1,069
78. Steve Richter (SIA, 2004) 1,069
81. Hassan Wilkerson (Curtis, 1997) 1,062
82. Mike Kuhens (Sea, 1994) 1,061
83. Danny Anderson (Susan Wagner, 1995) 1,054
83. Rommel Santos (Moore, 1990) 1,054
85. Joe Stabach (Sea, 2010) 1,051
86. Vernon Avery (SIA, 1994) 1,048
86. Dave Stoebling (Farrell, 1969) 1,048
88. Ben Lenning (SIA, 2007) 1,045
89. Chris Velasquez (Moore, 2018) 1,043
90. Andrew Wisniewski (St. Peter's, 1999) 1,042
91. Dammell Lenoir (MSIT, 1997) 1,041
92. Nick Bruno (Port Richmond, 1957) 1,039
92. Bob Collier (Moore, 1976) 1,039
94. Gleb Nepomnyashchy (Tottenville, 2006) 1,035
95. Halil Kanacevic (Curtis, 2009) 1,032
95. Bill Seaman (Augustinian, 1967) 1,032
97. James Hett (Farrell, 2007) 1,026
98. Adnan Javid (Tottenville, 2015) 1,023
99. Tesfa Brown (Moore, 1998) 1,020
99. Adam Kukaj (Tottenville, 2019) 1,020
99. Kalique Mitchell (MSIT, 2019) 1,020
102. Lafayette Curtis (St. Peter's, 2014) 1,018
103. Bo Kinard (New Dorp, 1994) 1,014
104. Tom Fricke (Tottenville, 1988) 1,012
105. Lawrence Borha (MSIT, 2003) 1,011
106. Joseph Besignano (CSIM, 2015) 1,009
107. Bill Murtha (St. Peter's, 1962) 1,007
108. Tyler Summers (Petrides, Curtis, 2013) 1,004
109. Ken Aponte (St. Peter's, 1997) 1,003
110. Anthony Passalacqua (Susan Wagner, 2004) 1,001
110. Roland Westrick (MSIT, 2002) 1,001
110. Mike Matrangolo (Sea, 2017) 1,001
113. Cliff Wilford (Moore, 1998) 1,000
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