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The Apple's Best Ballaz
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 |
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