Suffolk III boys basketball preview
Huntington's Kenny Charles, left, passes the ball around Commack's Brandon Kenney. (Dec. 4, 2013) Credit: Barry Sloan
CENTEREACH COUGARS
Coach: Ed Miller
Last season: 2-16
G Jon Agostino 5-6 Jr.
G Kevin Callahan 6-2 Sr.
G Justin Eck 6-1 Sr.
F Ryan Wheeler 6-2 Jr.
F Jake Marzocca 6-2 Sr.
Outlook: Callahan, Eck and Marzocca are each three-year starters, giving the Cougars significant experience as they try to improve on last year’s last-place finish.
HUNTINGTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Brian Carey
Last season: 16-4
Key players
G Nate Amato 6-1 Soph.
G Dan Mollitor 5-11 Sr.
G Kenny Charles 6-4 Sr.
G Quincy Nelson 6-0 Sr.
F Kevin Lawrence 6-4 Jr.
Outlook: Charles, a talented scorer, is the only returning starter from last year’s Suffolk AA quarterfinalist. Huntington is a Suffolk III newcomer, moving up from Suffolk IV.
NEWFIELD WOLVERINES
Coach: Anthony Agostino
Last season: 10-9
Key players
G Denzel Williams 5-10 Sr.
G Marty Colleran 5-10 Sr.
F Ryan Acevedo 6-2 Sr.
F Anthony Vintis 6-3 Sr.
F Kyle Stemke 6-2 Sr.
Outlook: A very athletic squad, with eight players from the Class II Long Island championship football team, Newfield will look to Williams and others to help replace the production of the program’s all-time leading scorer, Jarrell Cowell.
NORTH BABYLON BULLDOGS
Coach: Brendan McCaffrey
Last season: 13-6
Key players
G Christian Berry 5-8
G Brandon Sobotker 6-1
G Jared Zeigler 6-1
F Tyree Grimsley 6-2
C Billy Muller 6-5
Outlook: Grimsley is the only starting senior on a young Bulldogs team that will look to get out and run. North Babylon reached the Suffolk AA quarterfinals last year.
RIVERHEAD BLUE WAVES
Coach: John Rossetti
Last season: 6-12
Key players
G Will Sanders Jr. 5-10 Jr.
G Lintell Brown 6-2 Sr.
G Sharron Trent 5-11 Sr.
F Tyrese Kerr 6-2 Sr.
C Steven Asconia 6-3 Sr.
Outlook: Kerr, who averaged 12.4 points and 11 rebounds per game last year, leads a team that will look to trap and press to get out in transition.
SMITHTOWN EAST BULLS
Coach: Keith Reyling
Last season: 4-14
Key players
G Conor Wooley 5-7 Sr.
G Connor DeSimone 5-10 Jr.
G Sam Wahba 5-10 Jr.
F Simon Wahba 6-0 Sr.
F Kevin Keese 6-3 Sr.
Outlook: Keese averaged 15.3 points per game last season. The Bulls hope he will take over games offensively, but Wooley’s shot-making ability and the addition of junior forward Andrew Smith should help ease the burden.
SMITHTOWN WEST BULLS
Coach: Michael Agostino
Last season: 10-10
Key players
G Chris Crespo 6-1 Soph.
G Nick Grande 5-11 Sr.
F Kyle LaGuardia 6-3 Jr.
F Matt English 6-4 Sr.
C Doug Levy 6-5 Sr.
Outlook: The Bulls have an experienced lineup — even Crespo averaged six points and three assists per game as a freshman. The team will rely on its ballhandling and shooting ability to compete for a league championship.
WEST ISLIP LIONS
Coach: Tom Cross
Last season: 5-13
Key players
G Andrew Cassidy 6-1 Sr.
G Kevin Cunningham 6-1 Jr.
G Joe Diggle 5-10 Jr.
F Joe Valentino 6-3 Jr.
C Jake Russo 6-6 Jr.
Outlook: The Lions will run their four-out, one-in offense through Russo, who has the potential to average a double-double. Defensively, West Islip has the athleticism to gamble.
