Top Boys and Girls teams to look out for in 2010-11
Time for the speculation to begin for next season. As we all know, many things can change during the Spring and Summer with players transferring, going to prep school, or getting injured. But assuming things remain the same going into the start of next season, here are the Top Boys and Girls teams to look out for 2010-11. Teams are listed in no particular order, we'll wait until Fall to start the pre-season rankings.
Boys
St. John's Prep - The core group returns for the #4 Eagles led by star Pat Connaughton, guards Stephen Haladyna and Conor Macomber and shooter Michael Carbone.
Acton-Boxborough - The Colonials had a nice run last season, losing to eventual champion Central Catholic in the DI North Semis. Michael Duffy and Kevin McGovern graduate, but Sam Longwell, Wes Schroll, and Kevin LaFrancis return for A-B.
Central Catholic - No Carson Desrosiers, but the cupboard is not bare for Coach Rick Nault with Jimmy Zenevitch, Jaycob Morales, and defensive standout Luis Puello returning.
Cambridge - Size and athleticism return for the Falcons led by Jacquil Taylor and Deondre Starling. The loss of scorer Jason Nunes will hurt on the perimeter, but all the Freshmen and Sophomores that Coach Lance Dottin played this year now have much needed experience.
New Mission - All-purpose forward Samir McDaniels returns along with super athletic Charles Gunter and guard Darius Davis. Point guard Osmel Odena and Center Ousmane Drame will be sorely missed however.
East Boston - Superb wing players Dimitry Coronel and Jeff Amazon return along with plenty of quickness and defense in the backcourt.
Andover - Point guard D.J. Fazio is gone, but the Golden Warriors return solid players in Jimmy Johnson and Joe Bramanti.
Wareham - Big time prospect Jules Tavares will be the focal point and looks to lead the D3 Champs back to the title.
Newton North - Greg Kelley and Kourtney Wornum-Parker leave, but big man Tevin Falzon and point guard Michael Thorpe are back for a solid Tiger squad.
Everett - Assuming Nerlins Noel comes back fully healthy from his leg injury the Crimson Tide will have a nice team coming back with Ernu Deshommes in the front court and Kenny Calaj in the back court.
Other teams to watch closely: Brockton, Watertown, Lexington, Lynn English
Girls
Andover - Not that it has to be said again, but the defending champs return almost everyone and will be the clear cut favorites in DI next season.
New Bedford - Alyssa Roach can really play and she will look to lead the Whalers farther in the playoffs next season.
Central Catholic - Anytime a team returns four starters it is a good thing, unfortunately losing BC bound Katie Zenevitch leaves a big hole. Still the Lady Raiders will be a team to reckon with.
St. Mary's - Only one key player gone in Bria Tiro and now they have much needed experience to make a serious run at a title.
Newton South - The Lions return a solid core group of players led by Kendall Burton and will be a force in the DCL next season.
Durfee - Just like Newton South, four starters return from a team that surprised everyone late in the season.
Reading - Fab Freshmen Olivia Healy is now a Super Soph and along with Carlene Kluge they look to be the early favorites in the Middlesex League.
Marshfield - Supremely talented Nicole Beresford returns, enough said.
Newton North - Djaidah Wynn is fun to watch and she will have her running mate back as well in Brianna Hunt.
Lincoln-Sudbury - Another team with the core nucleus returning. They will battle Newton South for the Dual County League title.
Other teams to watch closely: Franklin, Woburn, Pentucket, Fontbonne
2009-10 Final Boys Basketball Top 25
1. Central Catholic
2. Madison Park
3. New Mission
4. St. John's Prep
5. Wareham
6. Mansfield
7. Lynn English
8. Cardinal Spellman
9. Newton North
10. Brockton
11. Acton-Boxborough
12. Cambridge
13. East Boston
14. Catholic Memorial
15. Winthrop
16. Falmouth
17. Abington
18. Milton
19. Scituate
20. North Andover
21. Medway
22. Masconomet
23. Franklin
24. Belmont
25. Whitman-Hanson
2009-10 Final Girls Basketball Top 25
1. Andover
2. Oliver Ames
3. Central Catholic
4. Pentucket
5. Westford
6. Fontbonne
7. Mansfield
8. Foxboro
9. Wellesley
10. Melrose
11. Arlington Catholic
12. Peabody
13. Cohasset
14. Reading
15. St. Mary's
16. Archbishop Williams
17. Durfee
18. Newton North
19. Stoneham
20. Medfield
21. Newton South
22. Brockton
23. New Bedford
24. Lynn English
25. New Mission
Time for the speculation to begin for next season. As we all know, many things can change during the Spring and Summer with players transferring, going to prep school, or getting injured. But assuming things remain the same going into the start of next season, here are the Top Boys and Girls teams to look out for 2010-11. Teams are listed in no particular order, we'll wait until Fall to start the pre-season rankings.
Boys
St. John's Prep - The core group returns for the #4 Eagles led by star Pat Connaughton, guards Stephen Haladyna and Conor Macomber and shooter Michael Carbone.
Acton-Boxborough - The Colonials had a nice run last season, losing to eventual champion Central Catholic in the DI North Semis. Michael Duffy and Kevin McGovern graduate, but Sam Longwell, Wes Schroll, and Kevin LaFrancis return for A-B.
Central Catholic - No Carson Desrosiers, but the cupboard is not bare for Coach Rick Nault with Jimmy Zenevitch, Jaycob Morales, and defensive standout Luis Puello returning.
Cambridge - Size and athleticism return for the Falcons led by Jacquil Taylor and Deondre Starling. The loss of scorer Jason Nunes will hurt on the perimeter, but all the Freshmen and Sophomores that Coach Lance Dottin played this year now have much needed experience.
New Mission - All-purpose forward Samir McDaniels returns along with super athletic Charles Gunter and guard Darius Davis. Point guard Osmel Odena and Center Ousmane Drame will be sorely missed however.
East Boston - Superb wing players Dimitry Coronel and Jeff Amazon return along with plenty of quickness and defense in the backcourt.
Andover - Point guard D.J. Fazio is gone, but the Golden Warriors return solid players in Jimmy Johnson and Joe Bramanti.
Wareham - Big time prospect Jules Tavares will be the focal point and looks to lead the D3 Champs back to the title.
Newton North - Greg Kelley and Kourtney Wornum-Parker leave, but big man Tevin Falzon and point guard Michael Thorpe are back for a solid Tiger squad.
Everett - Assuming Nerlins Noel comes back fully healthy from his leg injury the Crimson Tide will have a nice team coming back with Ernu Deshommes in the front court and Kenny Calaj in the back court.
Other teams to watch closely: Brockton, Watertown, Lexington, Lynn English
Girls
Andover - Not that it has to be said again, but the defending champs return almost everyone and will be the clear cut favorites in DI next season.
New Bedford - Alyssa Roach can really play and she will look to lead the Whalers farther in the playoffs next season.
Central Catholic - Anytime a team returns four starters it is a good thing, unfortunately losing BC bound Katie Zenevitch leaves a big hole. Still the Lady Raiders will be a team to reckon with.
St. Mary's - Only one key player gone in Bria Tiro and now they have much needed experience to make a serious run at a title.
Newton South - The Lions return a solid core group of players led by Kendall Burton and will be a force in the DCL next season.
Durfee - Just like Newton South, four starters return from a team that surprised everyone late in the season.
Reading - Fab Freshmen Olivia Healy is now a Super Soph and along with Carlene Kluge they look to be the early favorites in the Middlesex League.
Marshfield - Supremely talented Nicole Beresford returns, enough said.
Newton North - Djaidah Wynn is fun to watch and she will have her running mate back as well in Brianna Hunt.
Lincoln-Sudbury - Another team with the core nucleus returning. They will battle Newton South for the Dual County League title.
Other teams to watch closely: Franklin, Woburn, Pentucket, Fontbonne
2009-10 Final Boys Basketball Top 25
1. Central Catholic
2. Madison Park
3. New Mission
4. St. John's Prep
5. Wareham
6. Mansfield
7. Lynn English
8. Cardinal Spellman
9. Newton North
10. Brockton
11. Acton-Boxborough
12. Cambridge
13. East Boston
14. Catholic Memorial
15. Winthrop
16. Falmouth
17. Abington
18. Milton
19. Scituate
20. North Andover
21. Medway
22. Masconomet
23. Franklin
24. Belmont
25. Whitman-Hanson
2009-10 Final Girls Basketball Top 25
1. Andover
2. Oliver Ames
3. Central Catholic
4. Pentucket
5. Westford
6. Fontbonne
7. Mansfield
8. Foxboro
9. Wellesley
10. Melrose
11. Arlington Catholic
12. Peabody
13. Cohasset
14. Reading
15. St. Mary's
16. Archbishop Williams
17. Durfee
18. Newton North
19. Stoneham
20. Medfield
21. Newton South
22. Brockton
23. New Bedford
24. Lynn English
25. New Mission