L J S A
Well-known member
Probably Derek Pauling, who played D2 I think.
Newsday's Long Island All-Decade boys basketball players
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guinness77
Well-known member
The funny thing about this list (other than some blasts from the past) is that there are so many misspellings and mistakes. I can tell you with certainty that the ‘95 Suffolk team, the first name, first-team, says Darryl Bell, we had nobody by that name on our team. We had Darryl Alleyne who is Naheim’s dad. That’s who that’s supposed to be lol. His name would go there alphabetically too.
I haven't seen Joe Blocker's name in ages. I went to grade school with him and his brother. He was a multi sport superstar in high school and was supposedly going to Syracuse on a football scholarship when he got caught burglarizing a home. A few years later I saw him selling beer in the stands at Shea Stadium.Newsday's All-Decade boys basketball players: The 1950s
NBA, NFL and MLB Hall of Famers are among the Island's best high school hoops players of the 1950s.
Newsday's Long Island All-Decade boys basketball players: The 1950s
NBA, NFL and MLB Hall of Famers are among the Island's best high school hoops players of the 1950s.www.newsday.com
Newsday will do one of these for seven decades on boys basketball (they are also doing girls for five decades). The decisions on selections of players were made based on the totality of their careers, not just their high school accomplishments.
The 1950s
Some familiar names but at least two for other sports. The article includes their bios.
Players
Joe Blocker, Hempstead High School
Jim Brown, Manhasset High School
Larry Brown, Long Beach High School
Mike Cingiser, West Hempstead High School
Connie Dierking, Valley Stream Central
George Emma, Freeport High School
Reggie Giddens, Oyster Bay High School
Art Heyman, Oceanside High School
Bill Thiebem, Sayville High School
Carl Yastrzemski, Bridgehampton High School
Coach
Dick Crowley, Oyster Bay High School
You played against a lot of great HS players. Respect.
guinness77
Well-known member
I played CYO, high school, summer league from ‘92-‘95 and went to a high school that annually made the playoffs so, not that I wasn’t good, but it was more of just playing good competition. I played for Jack Loth who was around forever (won the state twice in the 80s) so a lot of our non-league games were tough games because he had relationships with all the coaches on LI. I/we hated our non-league schedule but we mowed through our league (Bay Shore was always our toughest game) because he set us up to be ready which you don’t realize when you’re a teenager.
He also forced me to go to camps which is why I was lightly recruited by UNC-Greensboro and SMU because when I was away I didn’t have the partying to distract me. I was so unmotivated and skinny at that age, it ruined any chance I had. I played 2 summers with a Hills East team too which got me into a lot of these tournaments.
I’m in better shape now than when I was a teenager. I was in insane shape like 8-10 years ago, but for 48, I can still play. Can’t jump like I did. I wish to God I had this will when I was 17 but you know, the youth is wasted on the young and I was stupid. I was on 2 teams that won my age group Suffolk/Nassau/Queens too with the footie and I captained one of them and I threw that away too, lol
Did you camp at Gus Alfieri’s camp or play against his St. Anthony’s team?
guinness77
Well-known member
No. We played St. Mary’s and St. John the Baptist as part of our non-league schedule. I do recognize the name though. We played Lutheran too, but that’s Nassau. The big camp I went to was in Oneonta.
I should probably mention I’m 6-foot-7. That had a lot to do with it too.
Can’t teach size.
guinness77
Well-known member
I was a 70+% free throw shooter too. Just saying…
But could you move laterally?I was a 70+% free throw shooter too. Just saying…
guinness77
Well-known member
lol, I tried hard, but I’d say that’s a resounding NO. I was useful at the back of 2-2-1 press, but I probably moved the least of the 5 guys on the courtBut could you move laterally?
.
The listed criteria used included the body of work not just in high school but post high school career.
So you went to and played for North Babylon. Barry Baker the two sport star who went to Syracuse on a football scholarship.
Yes he did.
guinness77
Well-known member
Yes. He was an 8th grader when I was a senior. I played with Naheim’s dad who is my age. We lost in the county finals to Northport who went on to win the state and, yes, Barry was our starting PG even at his age.
GeorgiaRed
Well-known member
Similar experiences for me. Played against Tim Kempton, Billy Donovan, Bernard Woodside Frank Williams, Dennis Ahern, Richie Guerin Jr, Jim Christian, Pat Langlois, Greg Venerable and all the guys at Ward Melville back then. Long Island really had a stable of talent.No. We played St. Mary’s and St. John the Baptist as part of our non-league schedule. I do recognize the name though. We played Lutheran too, but that’s Nassau. The big camp I went to was in Oneonta.
I should probably mention I’m 6-foot-7. That had a lot to do with it too.
Newsday’s All-Decade boys basketball players: 2010’s
Newsday's Long Island All-Decade boys basketball players: The 2010s Part 11 of Newsday's look back at Long Island's best basketball players for each decade.
This is Part 11 of Newsday’s look back at Long Island’s best basketball players for each decade, a series that will take you through seven decades for the boys and five decades for the girls. Parts 1 through 4 and 9 were on the boys while Parts 6, 7 and 8 (not included in this thread) were on the girls.
One short term Johnnie and one who has Johnnie ties (his parents are graduates and his older brother played as a graduate student after earning All American honors and a National Title in another sport at another school and, spent his 2nd grad year as a grad assistant) and one who started his career with a BE rival. I’ve included the write ups connected to St. John’s. The other player write ups and other narrative are contained in the article.
Players
KC Ndefo, Elmont HS
Sean Braithwaite, Center Moriches, HS
Andre Curbelo, Long Island Lutheran HS
His career was a highlight reel on both ends of the floor. Curbelo was a two-time All-Long Island first-team pick and a two-time Newsday Nassau Player of the Year. He averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists as a senior. Curbelo played for Illinois for a year, earning Big Ten Conference sixth man of the year and All-Freshman awards. He also played for St. John’s and Southern Mississippi.
Cheick Diallo, Our Savior New American HS
Kenton Facey, Upper Room HS/Long Island Lutheran HS
Devonte Green, St. Mary’s HS/Long Island Lutheran HS
Aidan Igiehon, Lawrence Woodmere Academy
Michael O’Connell, Chaminade HS
The point guard’s journey from Chaminade to Stanford to North Carolina State was loaded with memorable moments. The CHSAA Player of the Year in 2019 and Newsday All-Long Island first-team selection played three years for Stanford, making 76 starts and leading the team in assists and steals. He graduated from Stanford early and played his fourth collegiate year at N.C. State, starting the final 21 games and keying an improbable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2024. His buzzer-beating three-pointer sent the ACC Tournament semifinal game against Virginia into overtime. That shot propelled the Wolfpack to the ACC title and into the NCAA Tournament. He recently signed to play professionally in Puerto Rico.
Tavon Sledge, Half Hollow Hills West HS
Lucas Woodhouse. Harborfields HS
Achraf Yacoubou. Long Island Lutheran HS
Coach
John Buck, Long Island Lutheran HS
Newsday's Long Island All-Decade boys basketball players: The 2010s
Newsday's look back at Long Island's best basketball players for each decade.
www.newsday.com
This is Part 11 of Newsday’s look back at Long Island’s best basketball players for each decade, a series that will take you through seven decades for the boys and five decades for the girls. Parts 1 through 4 and 9 were on the boys while Parts 6, 7 and 8 (not included in this thread) were on the girls.
One short term Johnnie and one who has Johnnie ties (his parents are graduates and his older brother played as a graduate student after earning All American honors and a National Title in another sport at another school and, spent his 2nd grad year as a grad assistant) and one who started his career with a BE rival. I’ve included the write ups connected to St. John’s. The other player write ups and other narrative are contained in the article.
Players
KC Ndefo, Elmont HS
Sean Braithwaite, Center Moriches, HS
Andre Curbelo, Long Island Lutheran HS
His career was a highlight reel on both ends of the floor. Curbelo was a two-time All-Long Island first-team pick and a two-time Newsday Nassau Player of the Year. He averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists as a senior. Curbelo played for Illinois for a year, earning Big Ten Conference sixth man of the year and All-Freshman awards. He also played for St. John’s and Southern Mississippi.
Cheick Diallo, Our Savior New American HS
Kenton Facey, Upper Room HS/Long Island Lutheran HS
Devonte Green, St. Mary’s HS/Long Island Lutheran HS
Aidan Igiehon, Lawrence Woodmere Academy
Michael O’Connell, Chaminade HS
The point guard’s journey from Chaminade to Stanford to North Carolina State was loaded with memorable moments. The CHSAA Player of the Year in 2019 and Newsday All-Long Island first-team selection played three years for Stanford, making 76 starts and leading the team in assists and steals. He graduated from Stanford early and played his fourth collegiate year at N.C. State, starting the final 21 games and keying an improbable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2024. His buzzer-beating three-pointer sent the ACC Tournament semifinal game against Virginia into overtime. That shot propelled the Wolfpack to the ACC title and into the NCAA Tournament. He recently signed to play professionally in Puerto Rico.
Tavon Sledge, Half Hollow Hills West HS
Lucas Woodhouse. Harborfields HS
Achraf Yacoubou. Long Island Lutheran HS
Coach
John Buck, Long Island Lutheran HS
Was the camp you went to in Oneonta the Golden Valley Camp?No. We played St. Mary’s and St. John the Baptist as part of our non-league schedule. I do recognize the name though. We played Lutheran too, but that’s Nassau. The big camp I went to was in Oneonta.
I should probably mention I’m 6-foot-7. That had a lot to do with it too.
guinness77
Well-known member
It was a “big man” camp. I don’t remember the name of it but you had to be at least 6-foot-5 to be invited. It was drills all day and they would trot out point guards to play with us and they would select like a daily “all-star” team to play a game at the end of the afternoon session. I went twice.