Newsday's All-Long Island boys basketball first team 2025

Newsday Player of the Year: Kayden Mingo, Long Island Lutheran, G, 6-3, Sr.

For four years, Kayden Mingo poured his all into the Long Island Lutheran boys basketball program.

As LuHi reached new heights, Mingo, a Farmingdale native, was a constant.

There was the jump from independent status to the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference in 2022, which expanded into the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference in 2023.

Consistent appearances near the top of the national rankings, including the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps National Top 10 for the first time in mid-March.

And The Throne National Championship in late March, the first national crown in program history.

As a senior, Mingo averaged 13.3 points, a team-high 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals and shot 38% from three with 56 makes. In eight postseason games — between the EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament, The Throne and Chipotle Nationals — the Penn State signee averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

“Super grateful to have coached Kayden Mingo,” coach John Buck said. “Never an uncoachable moment, ever, in four years. Super respectful. Super reliable. Incredibly consistent.”

Mingo is a two-time Newsday All-Long Island first-team selection. He earned All-EYBL Scholastic second-team honors. He is a four-star recruit and the No. 38 player in the Class of 2025, per 247Sports Composite.

Mingo’s success has not come by coincidence. He and younger brother Dylan, a fellow All-Long Island first-teamer, train with older brother Dalique, an All-Long Island pick at Farmingdale in 2012 and 2013, as early as 5 a.m. daily.

Kayden took on more of a point guard role for the Crusaders this season becoming, as Buck said, “the consistent leader that I think you need on the court.”

He was also named the Gatorade New York Player of the Year, meaning his name will permanently remain on the wall next to former LuHi greats inside Visscher Gym.

“For him to have his name on the wall in the gym going forward is just a great way to commemorate his special career here,”Buck said.

Suffolk Player of the Year: Dom Pennzello, Mount Sinai, G/F, 6-2, Sr.

He had just finished turning an airtight Suffolk Class A semifinal at the half into a blowout against Bayport-Blue Point by erupting for 27 of his career-high 43 points.

Dom Pennzello’s performance fit the occasion.

“I love when the pressure is on,” Pennzello said afterward. “I love the big moments.”

There were more big moments to come and he delivered.

Pennzello averaged 26.7 points across six postseason games.

So he was the biggest reason Mount Sinai was there in Binghamton in March. The Mustangs faced Glens Falls for first prize in state Class A boys basketball after claiming the program’s first Suffolk and Long Island championships and surviving a double-OT test in the state semifinals. They ended up falling in the final.

“He was our leader all year, same thing with last year as well,” coach Ryan McNeely said. “Just a guy that we had confidence giving the ball to in crunch time. Could never speed him up. He kind of played at his own pace.

“There were times he saw double teams. There were times he saw face guards. But he just kind of played through it all and worked hard to get open and made plays when we needed him to.”

His season averages in the Mustangs’ 23-3 season came out to 22.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and he hit 51 threes. The four-year starter averaged 22.1 points as a junior.

“He could score at all three levels,” McNeely said. “… He’s obviously an excellent free-throw shooter, too, which helps. I think it’s pretty tough to slow him down.”

Pennzello will depart as the program’s all-time leading scorer, delivering 1,591 points in a Mount Sinai uniform. He will be taking his game to D-III Drew in New Jersey where he will play for Kings Park alum and former St. Joseph’s of Patchogue coach Mike McSloy.

“They went to the NCAA Tournament, so that’s a big-time program,” McNeely said. “… He obviously has the skill set to succeed at that level. Once he gets a little stronger, which I’m sure he’ll work on in the offseason, I’m sure he will have a great career there.”

FIRST TEAM

Kiyan Anthony, Long Island Lutheran, G, 6-5, Sr.

Anthony, the son of Class of 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, averaged a team-high 15.7 points along with 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists and hit 31 threes. The Syracuse signee missed 11 games after suffering a groin contusion in LuHi’s season opener, but the Crusaders went 18-2 with him in the lineup. Anthony was named Finals MVP of The Throne and averaged 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in eight postseason games. “He scores so easily,” Buck said. “It’s fluid. You kind of struggle to appreciate it sometimes. … He’s just got a presence that makes you, your teammates more confident when he’s out there.”

Nigel James, Long Island Lutheran, G, 6-0, Sr.

James, a two-time All-Long Island first-team selection, averaged 11.3 points. The Huntington native and Marquette signee also averaged 3.5 rebounds and had team-highs in assists (4.5) and steals (2.4) while shooting 39% from three. In 11 Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference games, James averaged 10.0 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals. He was named the EYBL Scholastic Sixth Man and Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s an incredible athlete, and he uses that on the court,” coach John Buck said. “He plays with incredible passion and a will to win.”

Dylan Mingo, Long Island Lutheran, G, 6-5, Jr.

Mingo averaged 14.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals and shot 39% from three (44 makes). He made the winning three in a 68-65 home win over No. 6 IMG Academy on Feb. 15. Mingo was named to the MaxPreps Junior All-America Third Team. In eight postseason games, he averaged 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Mingo is a five-star recruit and the No. 9 player in the Class of 2026, per the 247Sports Composite ratings. “He arguably is our best player on many of nights on the floor,” Buck said. “The amount of winning plays he makes, when I review film, is incredible.”

Jesse Roggendorf, Great Neck South, G, 6-1, Sr.

Roggendorf averaged 24.1 points and led the Rebels to an undefeated regular season. Roggendorf, who made 65 threes, was named the Nassau AA-III Co-Player of the Year by the coaches. He had four 30-point games and scored 46 against Valley Stream Central on Jan. 27. The Cortland commit leaves GNS as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,460 points. “He will go down as one of the best all-around basketball players in Great Neck South’s history,” coach Mike Holleran said. “Was a human highlight player with his insane leaping ability.”

Chase Timberlake, Baldwin, G, 6-1, Sr.

Timberlake, who led Baldwin to the Long Island Class AA title, averaged 19.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.2 steals. Timberlake, named the Nassau AA-III Co-Player of the Year by the coaches, was a 2024 All-Long Island second-team pick. He finished with 1,224 career points, the second most in program history behind Bruins coach Darius Burton, and won three county titles in three seasons. “He surely will be missed,” Burton said. “He was a gamer who found a way to get it done. Someone will be very lucky to have him at the next level.”

Brandon Varlack, Half Hollow Hills East, G, 6-0, Sr.

Varlack averaged 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 4.0 steals for the Suffolk Class AAA champions. He was voted the Suffolk Class AAA Player of the Year by the coaches and posted two triple-doubles. The three-year varsity starter will attend prep school next year. “He has helped sustain the success within the program,” coach Mike Marcelin said. “His best days are ahead of him and we wish him the best.”

Jerimiah Webb, Wyandanch, G, 5-11, Sr.

Webb averaged 21 points and made 37 threes for a Wyandanch team that won 19 games and went a perfect 16-0 in Suffolk League V. He had three 30-point games, including a 38-point performance against East Meadow on Jan. 11. Webb, who was voted as the Suffolk Class AA Player of the Year by the coaches, posted a triple-double against East Hampton on Jan. 24. Webb, who also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 steals, drilled the winning three at the buzzer in a 57-56 win over Amityville on Jan. 14.

“Beyond his on-court achievements, Jerimiah’s work ethic and team-first mentality have earned him recognition as an outstanding teammate and leader,” coach Barry Baker said. “We are extremely excited to see what Jerimiah is able to accomplish at the collegiate level as he has options to where he wants to play next year.”

Carter Wilson, Bay Shore, G, 6-1, Sr.

The lone senior in the Marauders’ rotation, Wilson averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 assists and 6.6 rebounds. The 2024 Newsday Suffolk Player of the Year and two-time All-Long Island first-teamer had a triple-double against Commack on Feb. 7. He surpassed 1,000 career points this season and led Bay Shore to a 45-3 record over his final two seasons. “Carter’s dedication and performance have left a lasting impact on Bay Shore’s basketball program,” coach Ken Parham said.

Nassau Coach of the Year: Sean Dooley, Port Washington

Port Washington fell in Nassau championship games in 2023 and 2024, but this turned out to be the year of the Vikings. Dooley guided them to the program’s first county championship since 1947, the program’s first Long Island Championship since 1946, and to the state Class AAA final in Binghamton. The team fell by just five there to Shaker and finished at 21-5.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Ryan McNeely, Mount Sinai

The Mustangs had never won a Suffolk championship coming into this season. But McNeely led his latest group to not only the program’s first county crown, but also its first Long Island title. After outlasting Byram Hills in double overtime in the state Class A semifinals, Mount Sinai lost to defending champ Glens Falls in the title round, completing a memorable 23-3 season.

NSCHSAA Coach of the Year: Sal Lagano, St. Anthony’s

It had been five years since St. Anthony’s won the NSCHSAA tournament and 20 years since the program last called itself a state champ. But the Friars ended both those droughts under Lagano’s direction. After sharing the NSCHSAA regular-season title with St. Dominic, they defeated the Bayhawks for the tournament title. They rallied to beat St. John’s Prep for the state CHSAA Class A championship, putting a huge exclamation point on a 25-3 run.