January's 5ive “Must-See” Games
With us now a couple days into the month of January it's time to really look and focus in on the games that truly stand out as the best of the best from what looks on paper to be a busy month of fantastic matchups.
We honestly could've talked about nearly a dozen games, but that doesn't make the games we put on here special so after careful deliberation here are the five games to watch as we analyze what makes each of them special and must see.
Thursday, January 3rd- South Shore @ Thomas Jefferson
It's a battle for PSAL Brooklyn AA superiority as if anyone is going to knock off the Vikings it must be the Orange Wave in their building. For one it's never easy to play in East New York, and then you focus in on the styles the two teams play and it's bound to be a classic. South Shore has the size and skill balance both in the frontcourt and backcourt led by Isaiah Richards '19 and Kadary Richmond '19, but Jefferson will more than likely try and make this a track meet and a fast up tempo type of game with Jaquan Carlos '21 and Kareem Welch '19 leading the way, which hasn't been the kind of game that the Vikings want to play. South Shore are the clear and prohibitive favorites in the PSAL this season though if anyone is going to fight them for that spot expect it to be the Orange Wave, with this game on the 3rd their best chance to make a statement.
Sunday, January 13th- South Shore vs. Long Island Lutheran @ Tip of the Hat Hoops Classic
While it wasn't our plan to focus in so much on South Shore this is going to be the second of three times that they get the attention in our five games to watch. This is a matchup, to be played at Adelphi University, of what many consider to be the top two teams in New York State this season, and a potential preview of the New York State Federation Tournament of Champions Class AA title game. The Vikings couldn't handle the pressure and the intensity of the Crusaders last season, with Andre Curbelo '20 really coming out and proving himself as a major recruit at this point last year, this time around though South Shore is deeper and readier to handle any sort of defensive mixes that Long Island Lutheran are to throw at them. Both teams’ matchup well size wise inside, with both able to try grow multiple 6'7+ players on the floor at one time, while each also have the ability to have multiple confident ballhandlers on the court at once making this a fascinating midseason game.
Sunday, January 13th- Christ the King @ Bishop Loughlin
The 13th of the month is one of the busiest days of big-time basketball that anyone will see, with this big CHSAA league matchup a game that has all the makings of a possible title game preview. There is a very good chance that the Lions come into this game undefeated in league play, with the possibility existing that if they can win the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Basketball Classic in Louisiana this week, that they could be entering this one undefeated overall. Christ the King might be at full strength in this one if they get back Moussa Cisse '21 who would be a game changer inside, but even without him the Royals have been playing much better basketball as of late. The Champagnie twins are both contenders for Player of the Year in the CHSAA, and if Loughlin wants to cement themselves as a team to beat, a win over Christ the King here would go a long way.
Monday, January 21st- Cardinal Hayes @ South Shore- Martin Luther King Jr. Classic
Our third time talking about South Shore, this is a CHSAA vs. PSAL battle that could be another possible New York State Federation Tournament of Champions title game preview as Hayes is among the Catholic favorites, with South Shore as we spoke about earlier the considered favorites in the Public League. What makes Hayes so tough is their backcourt depth as Joe Toussaint '19 is considered the to be the best senior guard in New York City, if not the best senior player overall, while they boast a strong perimeter shooting trio as well who can hurt you from the outside. They may not be as big or deep inside as South Shore but have the size to hang in the paint with the Vikings who will be playing on their home court here and will be looking to make yet another major statement as the team to beat this season.
Saturday, January 27th- Albany Academy vs. The Park School @ Zero Gravity North/South Classic
This is our one Upstate battle to watch and it will be played on a Saturday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center. It's a part of a big day of six games to be played but in terms of competitiveness this is the one to watch as it pits our top teams in out NYCHoops.net Upstate Rankings, plus it's a rematch of last season's thrilling NYS Federation Tournament of Champions Class A title game won by Park at the buzzer on a Noah Hutchins '19 runner. Hutchins is back though he did lose a lot of his supporting cast, though the young athletic wings the Pioneers have are doing a great job stepping up into their bigger roles. Albany Academy has the sharpshooter in August Mahoney '19, and the rim rocking wing in Andre Jackson '20 making this a game we could see once again in the same building at Fed's come the end of March.
