Najee Larcher is still playing the waiting game with his basketball future.
The Xaverian senior forward didn’t see a significant uptick in this college recruitment after playing a big role in the Clippers reaching the Brooklyn-Queens boys’ basketball final and its first Catholic city title game since 2005. The 6-foot-7 Larcher has just a scholarship offer from LIU Post, a Division II school. Siena, Maine, Fairleigh Dickinson and New Haven are still showing interest.
“Nothing has really changed,” Larcher said. “It’s the same thing. It’s the same schools.”
He was surprised that interest didn’t pick up after the season he had with the Clippers. Larcher scored 12.9 points per contest and displayed the ability to rebound and block shots. The second-team All-League selection was dominant inside during a diocesan semifinal win over Holy Cross and in a title game loss to Christ the King. His consistent play earned him a spot on the league’s all-tournament team and the Catholic League’s roster for the Mayor’s Cup senior all-star game.
“I feel like I personally played very hard during our whole run in the city playoffs and championships,” Larcher said.
But it apparently hasn’t been enough to sell college coaches on him.
He is hoping to take that momentum into the spring travel-ball season. Larcher and Xaverian teammate Sayon Charles will both be playing with New Heights in the hope of securing more offers. Chris Alesi, assistant coach for both New Heights and Xaverian, thinks coaches need to consider how much growth there still is to be seen in Larcher’s game, and not just the numbers he is putting up right now.
“His upside is scary,” Alesi said. “He just turned 17, can shoot it, can handle, and is still growing. I am shocked — and quite frankly, disappointed — in the lack of attention in the way of offers he’s received.”
Jefferson’s McKennon stuck in neutral: Jaqaun McKennon came back to play his senior year in New York City knowing he had to prove to college coaches that he can play point guard. He feels he has done that, but doesn’t have the scholarship offers to prove it.
The 5-foot-9 McKennon, who will be taking the SAT in May, averaged 10.2 points and 6.0 assists during the regular season. He stepped things up again in the post season with 17.8 points per contest and 5.5 assists. Jefferson reached the Public School Athletic League Class AA semifinals. McKennon tallied 13 points to help lead his league to a victory over the Catholic schools’ senior all-stars in the Mayor’s Cup game on April 1.
“A lot of people said I was selfish, I wasn’t a point guard,” he said. “I just took it on to myself to show people that I am a point guard and I can get people involved.”
There are still plenty of potential suitors out there. McKennon has a scholarship offers from Binghamton and Canisius. Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Rutgers have all shown interest.
There are suitors out there — McKennon has a scholarship offers from Binghamton and Canisius. Miami, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Rutgers have all shown interest — but he was hoping for more solid commitments by now.
“I’m really disappointed,” he said. “All four years I did really well in my high school career and AAU season. I feel like I am being underrated right now.”
St. Edmund star holds own against city’s best: Alexandra Jacques admits that she had never played with — or even heard of — most of the other girls playing in the girls’ basketball Mayor’s Cup all-star game.
St. Edmund plays in the second division of Brooklyn-Queens, and don’t see the league’s and the city’s Division I talent. Jacques led the Eagles to the program’s first diocesan title since 2002, but hasn’t been exposed to players like Molloy’s Aryn McClure (Quinnipiac), Bergtraum’s Ashanae McLaughlin (Seton Hall) and Moore Catholic’s Dina Montrechuk (Rhode Island).
“Once I first got here, I didn’t now what to expect, honestly,” said Jacques, who will play at Division III Brooklyn College this fall. “Once I got on the court, I felt the momentum was going and we were all working together, and I felt like I belonged here.”
She certainly played that way. The forward scored 12 points and hit an array of jumpers while helping the Catholic team to a win over the public school squad. Bishop Loughlin’s Kiana Clark led all scorers with 18 points.
“I didn’t take too may shots, but I felt confident when I was,” Jacques said.
