2019 CHSAA A Division Semifinal Top Performers Notes
On Tuesday, Recruit the Bronx paid a visit to St. Raymond High School in The Bronx to check out the Catholic High Schools Athletic Association (CHSAA) A Division semifinal games. The teams that were featured in the games were La Salle Academy (Manhattan), Fordham Prep (The Bronx), Nazareth (Brooklyn) and Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island). The winners of the games, Fordham Prep and Monsignor Farrell, will be playing in the championship this Friday, March 1st, at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in The Bronx. Here were the standouts from the semifinal games:
Josiah Chandler, 5-11, Shooting Guard, La Salle Academy, Class of 2019 - chandler is quick and fast and gets up and down the floor in rapid succession. He ttacks the basket when going up to score and is good for passing the ball to his teammates. Shoots at a very high volume, especially from long range.
Jimmy Romero, 6-2, Forward, La Salle Academy, Class of 2019 - Romero is an undersized forward who makes good moves to the basket, but also shows versatility by being able to put the ball on the floor. He also has the ability to step out and shoot from long range.
Amadou Kouyate, 6-0, Shooting Guard, La Salle Academy, Class of 2020 - Kouyate is a guard who gets to the hole and looks to score every time. He struggles with finishing at the basket, but does not hesitate to get into the low post for rebounds.
Jake Struthers, 6-3, Shooting Guard, Monsignor Farrell High School, Class of 2020 - Struthers has an affinity to shoot from long range and can also step into the paint and grab rebounds. He makes good movements out on the wing that free him up for open shots.
Justin Zieris, 5-11, Shooting Guard, Monsignor Farrell High School, Class of 2020 - A good shooter from long range who has quickness and moves well on both ends of the court. He shows plenty of playmaking skills, in terms of passing the ball to his teammates.
Michael Carothers, Jr., 5-9, Point Guard, La Salle Academy, Class of 2021 - Carothers is a point guard who is never afraid to take a big shot or make the right play. He has a strong shooting stroke from long range. Although he lacks strength, he makes up for it with effort.
Jaden Ault, 6-2, Forward, La Salle Academy, Class of 2019 - Ault is an undersized forward who attacks the glass and cleans up the boards with putback layups. He is a solid defender who always his hands up and is very alert on the defensive end.
Matthew Filipowski, 6-9, Forward, Fordham Preparatory School, Class of 2021 - A forward who towers over his high school opponents and is a physical presence in the low post. He looks to block shots and grab rebounds in the paint.
Kyle Filipowski, 6-6, Swing, Fordham Preparatory School, Class of 2021 - Filipowski is a wing player who can make good moves in the low post, but also play like a guard. He has plenty of versatility in his game and attacks the hole with precision when penetrating to the lane. He is also is a dangerous shooter from three-point range.
Khalil Brantley, 5-10, Point Guard, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - Brantley is a lead guard who can make plenty of good plays and direct his team. He also has the ability to shoot from three-point range. Knows where to be on the court and where to pass to his teammates. Sometimes, Brantley struggles with decision making on both ends of the court and can be turnover-prone.
Jaqai Murray, 6-5, Forward, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - This is a forward who has plenty of strength and can bang inside of the paint. He has good passing skills and can mix it inside and out. A player who can get to the basket by using force and by absorbing physical contact while putting the ball on the floor.
Ikenna Ude-Smith, 6-5, Forward, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - Ude-Smith is a slender forward who can go into the low post and play bigger than his frame. He attacks the boards with reckless abandon and finds ways to score.
Dontae Prescott, 5-9, Point Guard, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - This is a diminutive point guard with a quick first step and can attack the basket with plenty of fearlessness. He also shows the ability to shoot from long range.
Alex Russo, 6-0, Point Guard, Fordham Preparatory School, Class of 2021 - A speedy guard that is a solid defender and can attack the lane. Struggles with finishing at the basket and decision making when going to the hole. Is a clutch free throw shooter.
Ziare Wells, 6-4, Shooting Guard, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - Wells plays aggressive defense and has a good jumper from long range. He is a player who finishes strong in the lane as he can absorb physical contact when getting to the hole. He makes plenty of hustle plays when it comes to loose balls.
Mark Osime, 6-1, Point Guard, Fordham Preparatory School, Class of 2020 - Osime plays lockdown defense, which results in steals and can force the opposition to their weak side. On offense, he finds teammates for good passes.
Ty-laur Johnson, 5-10, Point Guard, Nazareth High School, Class of 2022 - A tiny guard who can penetrate through the lane and can get through taller defenders. He has the ability sink clutch jumpers and can dish to his teammates in the right places.
Tymel Stevenson, 6-7, Forward, Nazareth High School, Class of 2021 - Stevenson makes plenty of hustle plays on the defensive end. He looks to block shots and attack the glass with precision. He is known as the team’s glue guy. He has athletic ability on both ends of the court.