All-Bronx Boys’ Basketball Honors

The Bronx remained home to a plethora of the city’s top teams and players during another exciting season on the hardwood.

Cardinal Hayes surprised much of the city by winning the CHSAA Archdiocesan regular season and diocesan title with a very young roster filling in around senior stars. St. Raymond didn’t have the year everyone expected, but still reached the diocesan title game and lost a double overtime thriller to Christ the King in the Intercessional quarterfinals.

Wings made another run for a PSAL Class AA city title, despite losing its three top players from a team that won the Federation crown in 2015. The Wings reach the semifinals before losing to eventual champ Jefferson.

The Bronx did see one citywide champion when KIPP NYC took home its first PSAL Class B crown to cap a perfect league season. The senior-laden Bulldogs saw their season end in heartbreak when a questionable late whistle cost them a chance to play for a state title.

All these amazing years means plenty of incredible players. Here are the ones dubbed the best in The Bronx:

All-Bronx
Player of the Year
Clive Allen,
Cardinal Hayes

Sure the Cardinals had plenty of good young players, but they don’t have the year they did without the steady play of the Robert Morris-bound senior. Allen still averaged 21 points per game while make his teammates better around him. He had 28 points in just three quarter versus St. Ray’s at home and had 18 of his 20 points in the second half of the diocesan title game. Allen carried Hayes when he needed too.

All-Bronx
Coach of the Year
Joe Lods,
Cardinal Hayes

This easily could have been a down year for the Cardinals and no one would have though twice because of their youth. Instead Lods and assistant coach Tim Phillip trusted their young players and let them learn on the job. He pushed his senior to lead and Hayes won 11 straight league games before losing to Xaverian in the Intersectional quarterfinals.

All-Bronx
First Team
F Pedro Marquez,
Cardinal Hayes

The senior wasn’t a household name when the year began be he shot his way into the upper echelon of players the CHSAA. Marquez averaged 10 points per game but picked up his play in some of the year’s biggest games. He had eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter against St. Ray’s and beat the Ravens at the buzzer the second time.

G Boubacar Kamissoko,
Wings Academy

The junior guard took his game up to another level in the post season. Kamissoko went from averaging 12 points to 16 in the playoffs. He was an explosive scorer who collects points in bunches, especially when his three-balls are going down. That was huge in a Bronx borough final win over Kennedy.

F Jose Perez,
Wings Academy

Perez filled the leadership void and near for dependable scorer after all that Wings left. The junior averaged 17.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game to help his team to another division and Bronx title. Perez, a smooth shooter, made scoring 20 points look easy in a quarterfinal win over Construction.

G Isaiah Washington,
St. Raymond

Washington shook of a sluggish sophomore season and matured into one of the city’s most dynamic all-around players. The junior point guard averaged 16.8 points per game and often carried the scoring load for the Ravens. He did that while still making his teammates around him better.

F Sidney Wilson,
St. Raymond

Wilson was one of the city’s most dynamic players. The junior continues to score inside and out and posted a 42-point game this season. Wilson, also an excellent shot blocker, averaged a team-leading 17.1 points per contest. He helped the Raven reach the Archdiocesan title game for the second straight year.

Second Team
G Justin Batiz,
Kennedy

The senior wing was the real deal and one of the city’s most underrated players. Camera could stroke a three as easily as he could get to the hoop for two when he was going well. The excellent rebounder and defender averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.

F Teshaun Beckles,
Eagle Academy

Beckles was the lynch pin to the Eagles attack. He averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest during the regular season and upped both those numbers in the post season. The Eagles are going to miss his presence.

G Elijah Buchanan,
Mount St. Michael

The junior enjoyed a big-time breakout season. He was second in the CHSAA Class AA league in scoring with 466 points, good enough for 21.2 per game. The Mountaineers found a star that is only getting better.

G Baron Goodridge,
Cardinal Hayes

The dependable Goodridge was a big reason for the Cardinals’ success. He provided needed leadership while averaging 10 points per contest. The senior was instrumental in orchestrating the Hayes offense.

G Kevin Saylor,
Wings Academy

Saylor emerged as a quiet force for Wings this season. The silky smooth senior was consistently one of the team’s leading scorers and a big-shot maker. He averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game.