At a Glance: PSAL Brooklyn AA league game
Where: Boys & Girls HS, 1700 Fulton St., Brooklyn
When: Thursday, Jan. 15 @ 5 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Orange Wave
Head coach: Record: 12-3
Player to watch: Joel (Air Jamaica) Wright
Head coach: Record: 12-4
Player to watch: Tyler Young
Outlook:
The biggest difference for The High, however, is the inside duo of Tyler Young and Leroy Isler, a pair of versatile 6-foot-6 big men who can shoot the mid-range jumper and leap with anyone. More than any other Kangaroos, the two were instrumental in last week’s victory over Lincoln in Bed Stuy.
Jefferson just keeps on getting better. Wright has continued to excel at power forward, posting close to 20 rebounds on a daily basis. Then there is the sensational backcourt of Keith Spellman – who went over 2,000 points for his career in Tuesday’s win over Robeson – and Davontay Grace. The two are playing well off one another, a characterization that couldn’t be made last season. Plus, if not for Lance Stephenson, Spellman may be the PSAL’s best player. He is working diligently on the defensive end, sharing the ball and picking his spots to take over.
Prediction: This game will be won in the paint. Each side’s plethora of guards will be a wash. Expect Taylor to drain his usual array of 3-pointers and Spellman to get his points. Samuell and Grace should make an impact for their respective clubs, too.
The question for Boys is can they handle Wright inside. When the two teams first met he went off for 24 points and 23 rebounds, almost singlehandedly turning the showdown in Jefferson’s favor down the stretch. But if Tyler can get the better of James Padgett, Lincoln’s 6-foot-8 Maryland-bound center, he should be able to do the same to Wright.
Plus, the game is in Bed Stuy this time around – an advantage for Boys that shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a tough to gym to win at, even for the experienced Orange Wave. The Kangaroos are playing so well at home it’s almost impossible to pick against them.
There is a lot on the line for the two teams, ranked third and fourth in our New York City boys' basketball rankings. The winner has the inside track to the Brooklyn AA crown and the overall top seed in the city while the loser will likely finish third in the division.
Look for neither side to be able to build much of a lead, for momentum to switch hands at least a dozen times. And for a memorable fourth quarter. Boys will make the clutch plays late in this one as Young continues to shine against the very best.
Boys & Girls 70, Thomas Jefferson 67
