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PSAL Preview

Contenders
  
I'm going to start off with the defending champs, the Grady Falcons. They lost their 3 best players guards Tyquawn Goode, Woody Souffrant and big man Mike Clarke, but they return Quincy Douby and Kimani Blaize. Douby has been brilliant so far this year highlighted by his 63 point performance against FDR including 18 3's!!!! Blaize doesn't put up the kind of numbers that Douby does but he is a very good player. He is strong and can score around the basket. While I don't think Grady will repeat as PSAL champions I do think they will be a tough out.
  
The team that many people thought were going to win the PSAL championship last year was Paul Robeson. Robeson made it to the championship only to be blown out by Grady. They lost big men Kenny Adeleke as well as Lovell Nimmons, but they return the only person that showed up to play against Grady, 6'1 PG Gary Ervin. Ervin is one of the 3 best players in the PSAL, and is a candidate for PSAL player of the year. His play is a given but the key for Robeson is transfer big man Shakeim Mitchell. Mitchell is the best big man in the PSAL. He can score inside, block shots and rebound very well. Shooting guard Ontea Gates gives Ervin a target to pass too when he penetrates. Gates can shoot the lights out. His shooting will extend defenses and open it up inside for both Mitchell and Ervin. Robeson is definitely the best team in the PSAL and barring any players becoming academically ineligible I expect Robeson to run the table in the PSAL.
    Lincoln is another contender from Brooklyn. They are led by everybody's preseason PSAL player of the year Sebastian Telfair. Telfair brings a lot of offense whether creating it for himself or his teammates with his pretty no look passes. The player who will benefit the most from his passes is transfer Elliah Karron Clarke. Clarke played last year at Springam in DC after playing at Banneker the year before. Clarke is an athletic 6'6 swingman who will make a lot of noise in the PSAL this year. Lincoln has maybe the best shot at knocking off Robeson.
    The best team outside of Brooklyn in my opinion is not FDA but Park West. Park West was the best team outside of Brooklyn last year and is once again this year. They were the 5th seed and lost to Lincoln in the quarterfinals. They return their two best players Ramel Bradley and Knowledge Miller. Bradley is probably the most underrated player in the PSAL, he might be the best scorer. He can shoot and can take pretty much anybody off the dribble. Miller is an excellent shooter but he leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end. I hear Bradley will be ineligible in the playoffs, if that is true then Park West won't go far but if he is eligible don't be surprised to see them in the Garden.
    The team that many consider the best outside of Brooklyn is Frederick Douglass Academy. They are led by 6'6 athletic big man Sam Edwards. Edwards is a matchup problem for nearly everybody in the city. The MVP of the team is Alonzo Brown. He is the best defensive guard in the PSAL and maybe the city. He is the only player I saw this summer completely shut down Sebastian Telfair. Brown is also a great leader on the court. FDA will go as far as Brown takes them.

PSAL Team Rankings

1

Robeson

2

Park West

3

Lincoln

4

Frederick Douglass

5

Grady

6

Canarsie

7

Roosevelt

Championship Prediction
  
Robeson will be the #1 seed and the PSAL champion this year, but the question is who is going to play them. If Ramel Bradley is eligible it will be Park West as the #4 seed. If he is not eligible it will be Lincoln as the #2 seed.

Player of the Year and PSAL First Team
  
The player of the year this year will be a sophomore, Sebastian Telfair. He will not win it without stiff competition from players like Gary Ervin, Quincy Douby and Ramel Bradley. The first team consists of four guards, showing how talented the guard position is in the PSAL. Other talented guards in the PSAL that did not make the first team are Rob White at Canarsie, Alonzo Brown from FDA, Knowledge Miller from Park West and Ed Berrios from Roosevelt to name a few.

Pos.

Player

School

G Sebastian Telfair Lincoln
G Gary Ervin Robeson
G Quincy Douby Grady
G Ramel Bradley Park West
C Shakeim Mitchell Robeson